Around the NFC North: Packers Draft Preview
Who will be the next Bears owner?
By Mike Price

I don't often write about the Packers directly here but how many ways are there to say that the Lions have a good offensive line and the Vikings have good receivers and the Bears will never be good? Let's write about the Packers and we'll squeeze in some NFC North references to keep it honest.
First Round
There are two ways to think about this from an NFC North perspective: do the Packers draft to mimic the other good teams in the division or do they draft to combat them? (Of course I know that they'll draft the BPA adjusting for need but who wants to read about that for the 87th time?)
Let's say they've seen how great the Lions and Vikings have been on offense despite starting a QB who has been considered league-average or worse for the vast majority of their careers. How have they done it? Great play-calling, great offensive line and great receivers. The Packers have the great play-calling already. They also have already spent a ton of capital on the offensive line (they have the second-highest paid center, the sixth-highest paid guard and they just spent a first on another guard) so that leaves receiver.
Tetairoa McMillan or Emeka Egbuka falling to them would be perfect or they could be convinced Matthew Golden is a faster Chris Olave, who they reportedly loved. This could be the year they get serious about beefing up the receiver corps.
Obviously, it's far more likely that they take a left tackle with a great short shuttle and long enough arms but we can dream.
If they go the opposite route, and draft to combat the rest of the division, I'd guess they'd go with Derrick Harmon or Maxwell Hairston. Harmon is the mock draft favorite but I think Hairston might be the best fit considering Gutekunst's past. He's the fastest player in the draft. He's tall enough. He had a ton of picks in college. They need someone with an attitude on defense. And, maybe most importantly, Gutekunst loves to take someone weird in the first round. Look at all of his first-round picks:
Jaire was too short. Savage, Quay and Stokes were projected to go in the third round. Jordan Morgan was a guard. Jordan Love was a QB from Utah State. Lukas Van Ness and Rashan Gary had no college production. Devontee Wyatt was old and had off-field problems. Every one of those players had something off about them that made analysts assume they'd be off or further down the Packers' board. Hairston's weirdness is his weight/tackling ability. But you can gain weight in your twenties. Trust me, I gained like 40 pounds in my first job out of college.
Second and Third Round
The hope here is a falling player like Donovan Ezeiruaku, Walter Nolen or Jayden Higgins in the second and JT Tuimoloau, TJ Sanders or Jalen Royals in the third. Pick a spot where the Packers really need a guy and double down on it.
If they don't take a defensive lineman or wide receiver in the first, you can almost guarantee they will take one or more of both in rounds 2-5. Who they take will probably say a lot about what they think of the current roster.
If they double up on Jayden Higgins and Jalen Royals in the 2nd and 3rd, you can kiss Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs goodbye after this season. If they take a couple of defensive linemen, they've probably already got six spreadsheets working out what to do with the cap space freed up from releasing Kenny Clark after the season.
The other option here is to do a combo fight the NFC North and mimic them. Use the first and second on a corner and a defensive lineman and then pick a hidden gem offensive lineman in the third.
Fourth and Fifth Round
Of course, they could also try to find a hidden gem offensive lineman in the fourth round - a round where they have had insane levels of success in the past. Hell, do both. Double up on defense early and then double up on the offensive line in the mid-rounds.
They could then take Isaac TeSlaa or Savion Williams in the fifth to be the deep threat this year. It would be just like the Packers to use the premium rounds of the draft to take future starters at premium positions and then use a 5th for what fans think is a desperate need. Could you expect anything else?
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Mike Price is a lifelong Packers fan who recently moved from Utah to Stoughton (a Madison suberb). You can follow him on twitter at @themikeprice.
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Comments (11)
Cheezehead72
April 11, 2025 at 10:08 am
I do not see the Packers taking a WR in the first round. I do not see first round talent at that position. I also do not see them taking an OL in the first round.
That leaves DL and CB. I lean towards the DT probably Nolan or Harmon or they trade back and get Grant. Then DE or CB whichever is better.
Now here is my question to you all. First let me say I do not think it will happen and I am not sure they should do it. But if TE Loveland is available at 23 or right before that do the Packers go get him? I believe he is going to be a very good TE. I will have fun watching Warren and Loveland I just hope they go to the AFC. I like Warren because he is versitile and Lovelend because he is a true TE.
dobber
April 11, 2025 at 12:56 pm
I love the idea of leaning into the TE position in this offense with the run game. The Patriots did it with Gronk/Hernandez, and a parade of physical runners. The other piece to go with them was an outstanding slot, whether it was Julian Edelman or Wes Welker. Is Reed that guy? Do you go with one of the better slots out of this draft (Egbuka or Burden)?
To answer your question, though, if they went that way I could see a TE in round 4 or earlier, but not round 1
dblbogey
April 11, 2025 at 02:18 pm
I'm hoping for a DT in the first. I don't want Tetairoa McMillan or Emeka Egbuka because their names are hard to say and spell. I had enough difficulty with Marquez Valdez-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown. Gute does need to not overreach and draft 3rd rounders in the first round this year. We need to hit on our 1st pick, and there should be a quality DL which could be BPA as well as filling a big need.
LambeauPlain
April 11, 2025 at 11:06 am
"It would be just like the Packers to use the premium rounds of the draft to take future starters at premium positions and then use a 5th for what fans think is a desperate need."
I know! Why don't the Packers draft what the fans want? And they still haven't called me...I get no respect, I tell ya!
As far as finding all the weaknesses of Gutey's "weird" first round selections, when you are routinely selecting at the bottom of draft rounds, it is very difficult to find future HOFers and "can't miss" prospects. Even then, some of those premium of premium picks earn a "bust" label.
Except for maybe Stokes (who looked good his rookie year before injuries hit), I would not label any of the remaining 1st round picks of Gutey as busts.
dblbogey
April 11, 2025 at 02:28 pm
It's hard not to consider Van Ness a bust, especially taken at 13. Stokes was a good player who lost a step and some quickness due to injuries. I'd actually consider him not a bust, just bad injury luck. Quay Walker, DeVonte Wyatt and Savage were/have been a bit disappointing. But, those 3 were drafted late in the 1st, and after the first 10-12 picks, it's kind of a crap shoot.
LambeauPlain
April 11, 2025 at 02:53 pm
Maybe Van Ness gets "busted" if he doesn't up his game this season under the tutelage of Covington.
He did have Rebrovich for his first two years and seems it wasn't just Van Ness that didn't improve. I don't think any DL player had their best year under Rebrovich...except maybe Wyatt, kinda.
I was not a fan of taking Van Ness but hoped he could be coached up beyond being just a bull rusher. Maybe Covington can add to his moves to take advantage of all the speed and strength.
splitpea1
April 11, 2025 at 11:38 am
Hairston the the first round? Yikes! Given his size limitations, the fact that he is not suited to press, and reportedly has problems tracking the ball in the air (sounds similar to Stokes), I would be shocked and very disappointed if the Packers selected Hairston with their first pick.
Other points to quibble with:
The Packers have great play-calling? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Didn't I read a stat here some time ago that reported the Packers had no third down conversions in the air via the RBs?
This HAS to be a year where the Packers beef up their receiving corps. Resigning Watson? No way.
I don't think there's a prayer of Ezeiruaku falling to the Packers in the second round without a trade up. He's a first-rounder on some boards.
Note: Of the two Texas receivers in for a visit, Golden is the more likely option for a couple of reasons, one of them being Bond has found himself in some legal trouble lately.
dobber
April 11, 2025 at 01:53 pm
"the fact that he is not suited to press,"
Should we assume that the Packers are primarily a press-man team anymore? They played a lot of zone last year under Hafley.
LambeauPlain
April 11, 2025 at 02:46 pm
Seems they were a bit of hybrid depending on the opponent. More press on the boundaries and zone in the middle and deep.
Coldworld
April 11, 2025 at 04:49 pm
We were predominantly a zone cover team with situational press. Most was a read and react approach and very little man in league terms. I agree, more press on the perimeter, but especially on vertical routes. . We are no longer a press man team that focuses on contesting the catch point rather we seek to read and break on the ball unless it’s a vertical go type route.
Hairston is a bit light, but he’s otherwise a good fit athletically for Hafley’s vision and break style. Not first round good though.
NickPerry
April 11, 2025 at 10:25 pm
Personally I'd like to see them draft a WR no later than the 2nd round. Get a CB or DT in the 1st them move up if you have to in the 2nd round to make sure you get Jayden Higgins. I don't think Higgins will be there if the Packers don't move up.
If they took the kid out of Ohio St or the other kid from Arizona were to fall, I'm not getting mad if they either one of them though I am more partial to the kid from OSU. I think he could unlock A LOT for this offense.