And just like that, the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books. Per usual, it was a wild and unexpected ride, starting with all the Round 1 action. Day 2 and Day 3 delivered surprises of their own. Some teams capitalized on the opportunity, while others came up short. Let’s take a look at the 2023 NFL Draft recap, analysis, and grades for the Green Bay Packers. NFL Draft analysts Andrew Erickson and Thor Nystrom combine to provide their thoughts below.

• NFL Draft Grades for Every Team
• Thor’s Draft Grades (AFC | NFC)
• NFL Draft Day 1 Winners & Losers (Day 2 | Day 3)
• Fitz’s Round 1 NFL Draft Picks: Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook (Day 2 | Day 3)
• Latest Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft

2023 NFL Draft Recap, Analysis & Grades: Green Bay Packers

NFL Draft analysts Andrew Erickson and Thor Nystrom combine to provide their thoughts below.

Thor Nystrom’s Overview & Grades

Green Bay Packers | Draft Grade: C-

Green Bay’s first-round pick was vintage Packers. EDGE Lukas Van Ness’ speed-to-power machinations are going to give NFC North offensive tackles headaches. After that, things got weird.

Even though I knew it was coming from one team or another, I hated the reach for TE Luke Musgrave in Round 2. Especially since a strong receiving tight end that I ranked 17 spots higher on my big board was still available. That would be Tucker Kraft, who the Packers incredibly picked 36 selections later! That pick was as strong as the Musgrave one was suspect. I believe Kraft will be the better pro.

Speaking of suspect, in-between, the Packers egregiously reached for WR Jayden Reed. Reed developed a small cult-like following during the pre-draft process. Green Bay apparently drank a cup when the Kool-Aid was getting passed around. Bill Simmons once proposed the concept of “press box hot.” That’s exactly what Reed was in this terrible receiver class. Normal year, nobody is disagreeing that he’s a Day 3 guy. But he got hotter and hotter as folks got a full gander at the ugly 2023 receiver offering.

I didn’t agree with many picks that came after that, but I liked Green Bay’s shots on WR Dontayvion Wicks and DT Karl Brooks. Both are unorthodox players whose utility wasn’t fully appreciated by the NFL for explicitly that reason.

Andrew Erickson’s Overview & Grades

Lukas Van Ness baby. An athletic defensive lineman that is a nice addition to Green Bay’s defensive front. Van Ness’ 37 pressures on true pass sets ranked fourth in the FBS in 2022. And his true pressure rate – Sports Info Solutions’ pressure rate that isolates straight dropbacks, which are more likely to be similar across situations – tied Jalen Carter for the highest mark in the class at 16%.

Packers fans might complain they would have preferred a tight end or wide receiver instead in Round 1, but Van Ness was too good to pass up as my 11^th-ranked player at 13 overall. Van Ness and second-year Georgia DL Devonte Wyatt will fortify the Packers upfront.

The Packers continued their trend of waiting until Day 2 to draft pass-catchers, and they got Jordan Love a new check-down option with Luke Musgrave. A tight end was a BIG need for the Packers, and Green Bay got great value with Musgrave in Round 2. Based on his uber-athleticism, fantasy managers can expect the 6-foot-6 and 253-pound tight end to produce at a much higher level than he did in the college ranks. At the NFL Combine, he posted the following numbers: 4.61 40-yard dash (88th percentile), 36-inch vertical (83rd percentile) and 125 inches broad jump (94th percentile).

But the tight end additions did not stop with Musgrave, as GB also drafted Tucker Kraft. Again, I love it when teams double down on an area of need, as it greatly increases the chances of improving the position room. Especially considering both tight ends dealt with injuries in college.

My favorite receiver that the Packers drafted was Jayden Reed, who was the poster boy of my WR sleeper article. But I didn’t foresee him earning Round 2 draft capital at 50^th overall. I expect the Michigan State product to step in and be the immediate No. 2 WR alongside Christian Watson. Excellent selection by the Packers, who did everything they needed to do to set up Jordan Love in his first year as the full-time starter.

Adding big-play threat Dontayvion Wicks late in Round 5 was just icing on the cake. In 2021, The 6-foot-1 and 206-pound WR was a big-play machine, averaging 21.1 yards per reception (6th in the FBS). He ended the year ninth in yards per route run (3.25) with the 3rd-most downfield catches (18). Grant DuBose in Round 7 was also another shot at trying to find a dynamic playmaker late on Day 3. This past year, the 6-foot-2 and 201-pound WR from Charlotte was his most productive despite questionable quarterback play. He posted a 27% dominator rating with a 28% target share, which was the 10th-highest mark in the class. He also had a solid 3-cone time (63rd percentile) and 10-yard split (76th percentile). His 3-cone time trailed only WRs Smith-Njigba and Iosivas at the 2023 NFL combine.

FINAL DRAFT GRADE: A

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