Wicks was a boom bust pick. A probable first rounder had he declared in 2022 after a phenomenal 3rd season at VA. He returned for a 4th year and struggled with drops during a turbulent VA season (campus shootings). Looks like Gutey may have drafted the boom Wicks who was all ACC his Jr year!

More good football players added to a talented Defense that underperforms due to the scheme Barry insists on.

I really believed Brooks would contribute quickly, Wooden is a too. And Johnson, a S with CB skills was a real find. He's a keeper.

Gutey and his personnel team have stocked the Packers with talent all around. MLF is employing them to their strengths on O now, it seems. Defense, not so much.

And on the Third Day, Gute created the Packers.

Pantzin in the Dark

Love, must go nuts, thinking about what receiver to throw to next. Speed, energy, talent spread out everywhere. A DC's nightmare!
Get the power run game & lookout.
GPG!!!!!

This has been really outstanding. Of course, part of it is that these guys HAD to play simply because there were no veterans on the depth chart in front of them. But they didn't have to play this well. Valentine is the most impressive one, considering how late he was drafted. Honorable mention to Malik Heath, who has contributed as an undrafted player.

I hadn't realized that Anders Carlson was 17 of 21 on field goals. That's a pretty good percentage. Keep in mind that one of the misses was from 63 yards. And one of his three missed extra points was blocked right as the ball left his foot, so he's not doing so terrible in that department either. The extra point nowadays is not exactly a long kick but it's not a gimme, like it used to be.

Yes, this is definitely one of Gute's better hauls on the last day. We've gotten more out of two seventh-rounders in the secondary than our former first-rounders this season... Brooks has also defended four passes...Wicks: probably most of us have been pleasantly surprised...Carlson I like, especially when he make big kicks and boots the ball in to the end zone...Valentine has played all defensive snaps during our winning streak, and Johnson all in two out of three--so these guys have definitely held up and contributed greatly to our success...Looking forward, I still think we're going to need some draft help in the secondary, but at least Gute shouldn't have to reach or be forced to sign anyone he needn't.

I agree that the rookies have contributed a lot to the team.

However, when Rashan Gary was a rookie, he saw very little play time. That was not because he was not good, but because there were 2 very good vets in front of him, so there was no need for him to be on the field so much.

Carrington Valentine may possibly have had a similar low play volume if both Jaire and Stokes were healthy.

Carlson was short on his kickoffs last week. That was Masons biggest problem the last 2 years. Hopefully that gets better. Much less risk of injury if ball goes through the end zone.

Wicks has been a pleasant surprise, but instead of Wicks and Dubose I would have picked Bryce Ford-Wheaton-West Virginia, 6'4 220lbs and 4.3 40, and I would have taken Matt Landers-Arkansas, 6'5 200lbs and also 4.3 40. Both had better highlights too. Wicks and Dubose are barely over 6'0 and both ran over 4.6. Speed kills.

I like all those that Gil mentioned...

Wicks...I told my son this week Wicks is going to be a great WR in this league. He's got great hands, strong hands, and I like the way he runs after the catch. I'm starting to think by next year opposing defenses are going to be worrying a hell of a lot more about Reed and Wicks opposed to Watson and Doubs.

Valentine... I don't know what's going to happen with Stokes but that boy better be ready to play next season because he may not ever get his job back.

Brooks....I LOVE this kid. Still can't believe he was there in the 6th after the career he had at Bowling Green.

Johnson...This dude will be the starting safety next season. It seems every time he's in the game he's making a play.

There's another receiver from this year's draft who I'm excited to see- Grant Dubose. He's on the practice squad but I think we'll see him sooner or later. He got hurt in camp and didn't see action until the final preseason game. He made a nice sideline catch despite taking a big hit.

If you watch his college highlight reel, he makes some fantastic contested catches. I don't think he's a burner, but I'll take a guy who fights through contact and wins 50/50 balls consistently over a speed demon with bad hands.

I just hope nobody poaches him off the practice squad this season.

There's only one ball, and half the time it's going to the RB. Our top 3 WRs account for about 90% of the production of that unit. If Kraft and Musgrave continue to grow, they'll need to be fed more often. So I am totally looking forward to the 2024 training camp. You've got Watson, but he gets hurt a lot. You've got Doubs, who keeps improving. You've got Reed and Wicks and Heath, who won't be rookies anymore. The three best, healthiest guys are going to play. As a unit, this has the best potential, IMO, of any group since the Jennings-Jones-Jordy-Adams days.

The last two years the drafting has been top tier.

In 2019 only the high picks worked out (Gary/Savage/Jenkins), but Gary is top tier.
2020 would have also been a poor year..............excepting the Packers got Love, which trumps anything else they did.
2021 was a bit of a disappointment too, looking back, so the trend to this point wasn't especially good......until :
2022 A really excellent draft.
2023 also looking to be a very good draft indeed. Two years of drafting like 2022 and 2023 can make a huge difference to a team, especially to a team that has tended to draft late every year.

Not mentioned in the article was this type of low-round drafting skill was Ron Wolf's arena. While Wolf made some notable bombs in the early rounds(while also scoring some great players), Wolf consistently found good players(translation: less costly players) in the lower rounds.

It would not surprise me to see the Packers move on from Eric Stokes this off season because of the play of the two rookies. Ditto for other veterans as well. The youth movement is beginning to pay dividends.

Even though I would have picked WRs other than Wicks and Dubose, I am thrilled with our WR room in general. I was elated when we drafted Watson but I am concerned about his constant injuries. Maybe a little more weight would strengthen his body as he is super skinny.

Think how young and talented this team will be next year. Bahk, Jones, Campbell, and Preston Smith are 4 of our oldest Packers and due to injuries or too much money owed, will probably be gone next year. We could be dangerous for quite awhile. Go Pack!

In my mocks now since we are picking @ 20, I usually trade back for more picks since the best offensive tackles are gone. With my extra early 2nd round pick I usually snag Xavier Leggett-South Carolina. Then Jordan Morgan-OT-Arizona. Legette would be our #1 WR. He catches everything and is big @ 6'3 and 230. Still runs in 4'3s too. Morgan is our new LT.

While I love your choices and I can usually hit those also , I have been picking fatuna and worthy-I know he’s not a big physical guy but he’s very fast 4.30 forty and we could use another speed guy to cover for Watson when he’s out Fatuna can play tackle or guard I usually look for a safety or cb next and / or a linebacker to replace Campbell I like e cooper for that if I can’t get fatuna their is always beebe or Haynes for guard. I’d love Morgan also I than look for rb and dline plus more oline help still very early but it’s fun