It has been another offseason where the media has their sights zoomed in on the Green Bay Packers.
Last season was called “The Last Dance," but an early playoff exit did not leave fans satisfied. It apparently didn’t leave Aaron Rodgers satisfied either, as the back-to-back MVP decided to return to Green Bay.
Shortly after that, the Packers’ unwillingness to give guaranteed money to a 29-year-old wide receiver led to Davante Adams getting traded to Las Vegas.
That move has the Packers heading in the wrong direction in terms of competing right now. General manager Brian Gutekunst has stuck to his philosophy, however, as he continues to build the team with an eye on the future.
Here’s what Green Bay did to address its roster holes in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Packers NFL Draft Picks 2022
- Round 1, Pick 22 (22nd Overall): Quay Walker, LB, Georgia
- Round 1, Pick 28 (28th Overall): Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
- Round 2, Pick 2 (34th Overall): Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
- Round 3, Pick 28 (92nd Overall): Sean Rhyan, OL, UCLA
- Round 4, Pick 27 (132nd Overall): Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada
- Round 4, Pick 35 (140th Overall): Zach Tom, OL, Wake Forest
- Round 5, Pick 36 (179th Overall): Kingsley Enagbare, LB, South Carolina
- Round 7, Pick 7 (228th Overall): Tariq Carpenter, S, Georgia Tech
- Round 7, Pick 13 (234th Overall): Jonathan Ford, DT, Miami
- Round 7, Pick 28 (249th Overall): Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State
- Round 7, Pick 37 (258th Overall): Samori Toure, WR, Nebraska
After trading Davante Adams to the Raiders, the Packers were desperately looking to add a wide receiver. Landing Christian Watson in the second is great, but I really wanted them to grab a higher-end wideout with one of their first two picks.
Watson can be a nice red zone threat and absolutely lit up the NFL Combine. He’s 6’4 and could afford to add some size, but he’s explosive and has a lot of upside. He’s a bit raw and has some issues with drops at times, but overall I think he’s a solid player. Romeo Doubs out of Nevada is an underrated wide receiver who could also potentially make some noise, especially given the state of this Green Bay WR corps.
Quay Walker is an explosive playmaker and is extremely physical, while Devonte Wyatt is very fast for his size. Both former Georgia Bulldogs could make an instant impact. The Packers’ ability to stop the run was less than stellar last season, and these two big, athletic pieces should really help out in this regard. Locking up veteran De’Vondre Campbell was huge and he’ll be someone these two rookies can learn a lot from.
I would’ve liked to see Green Bay draft an offensive lineman earlier than they did, but they did select Sean Rhyan at the end of the third round. They also added two more depth pieces with Zach Tom (Round 4) and Rasheed Walker (Round 7).
It’s hard to argue against the linebacker and defensive tackle value in the first two rounds and then drafting a wide receiver was obviously a massive need. Overall, the Packers did a fine job with their draft and they have several rookies who can make an immediate impact.
Sportsbook Play of the Day
Before placing your next 2022 NFL Futures bet, you should know that Caesars Sportsbook is one of the best around. Take advantage of Caesars’ outstanding welcome bonus and get up to $1,500 in first bet insurance when you use our promo code .
Read Chris Wassel’s Caesars Sportsbook review for more insight and get your welcome bonus below, or continue reading our NFL Draft analysis.
Note: The Packers NFL Draft predictions below were published before the 2022 NFL Draft.
Pre-Draft Packers NFL Mock Draft Predictions 2022
- Round 1, Pick 22 (22nd Overall): Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
- Round 1, Pick 28 (28th Overall): Tyler Smith, OT/G, Tulsa
- Round 2, Pick 21 (53rd Overall): George Pickens, WR, Georgia
- Round 2, Pick 27 (59th Overall): Logan Hall, DE, Houston
- Round 3, Pick 28 (92nd Overall): Micheal Clemons, EDGE, Texas A&M
More Possible Packers Draft Targets: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama; Zion Johnson, OL, Boston College; Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas; George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
Pre-Draft Packers Team Needs 2022
1. Wide Receiver
The Packers haven’t drafted a wide receiver in the first round since 2002 (Javon Walker), but it’s time. Green Bay traded away Davante Adams and lost Marquez Valdes-Scantling to Kansas City in free agency.
Currently, Allen Lazard is the team’s top wideout, and he is mostly known as a blocking receiver. With Randall Cobb being the only other target worth mentioning, the Packers need a true WR1 and a deep threat for their offense to even function.
2. Right Tackle
Billy Turner was a cap casualty for the Packers this offseason. Dennis Kelly is also an unrestricted free agent after really struggling when called upon.
This absolutely could be a position Green Bay decides to address via free agency. However, drafting depth will be important regardless.
3. EDGE
Another cap casualty for the Packers this offseason was Za’Darius Smith. While he was out most of last season with a back injury, the Green Bay defense would really thrive by adding talent to this rotation.
With many talented edge rushers in this draft, look for the Packers to find one on Day 2.
Packers May Also Consider Drafting: Offensive Guard, Inside Linebacker, Defensive Line