Official 2023 NFL Draft Thread

[MadScientist]

I feel like TE is a position where you have the top 3 or 4 guys in Tier one and you are just trying to get a piece of it and not be the first one to pull the trigger on them.

That kind of thinking gets you left out in the cold. As soon as one goes, the rest in that tier will go quickly, so you may as well be the first to pick one if you can. Remember those receiver heavy drafts where the first round tier was gone by the Packers first pick, and the second round tier was gone by their next pick, leaving the Packers with no receivers in a draft full of them.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Luke Musgrave = 6'6' 253, 4.61 40, 1.58 10, 36" vertical, 10'5" broad, 4.41 shuttle, 7.09 3 cone, 19 bench
Travis Kelce = 6'5" 255, 4.61 40, 1.61 10, 35" vertical, 10'4" broad, 4.42 shuttle, 7.09 3 cone

Crazy how similar they are physically.

[MadScientist]

Luke Musgrave = 6'6' 253, 4.61 40, 1.58 10, 36" vertical, 10'5" broad, 4.41 shuttle, 7.09 3 cone, 19 bench
Travis Kelce = 6'5" 255, 4.61 40, 1.61 10, 35" vertical, 10'4" broad, 4.42 shuttle, 7.09 3 cone

Crazy how similar they are physically.

I'd be happy if the Packers get Kelce clone.

[Deputy Nutz]

Tier Two isn't so fucking bad either. Even Tier 3 has some interesting prospects that could hit big after a couple of years, but the Packers sort of need a guy or two that can play some meaningful snaps in 2023

[Fritz]

I don't know, Nutz. I think I'm ready to write off the upcoming season as Love's baptismal season. So I'd be okay with them drafting a guy with high upside who is going to take a couple years to get there.

[Deputy Nutz]

Fritz you absolutely could go that route. I would like to see the Packers unload Bak's contract then, and any other high end guys unless they restructure their contract

[run pMc]

Fritz you absolutely could go that route. I would like to see the Packers unload Bak's contract then, and any other high end guys unless they restructure their contract

They've redone Bahktiari's contract for this upcoming season, I think they want to make sure Love's blindside is covered. After that, who knows. Wouldn't be shocked if they drafted a OT to be 69's successor.
Gute likes his athletes, so I wouldn't be shocked if they go for a high upside guy at TE. Most of the TEs inside the consensus board's top 100 did very well at the combine. Unlike Jace Sternberger, they all have pretty good RAS scores.
I expect them to bring in two TEs. If I had to randomly guess I'd go with Darnell Washington and Davis Allen.

[call_me_ishmael]

That dude from Iowa is Taylor made for Wisconsin and the Packers.

[run pMc]

That dude from Iowa is Taylor made for Wisconsin and the Packers.

Sam LaPorta.
I think he would be a decent Tonyan replacement. Good receiver, good athlete, not the best blocker but will give effort. Much better after the catch than Tonyan, but so is a statue.
Read where a scout was saying that for TEs it's tough to break 4-5 TDs in a rookie season, and it's less about where you were drafted and more about the opportunities you get on your team. The TE depth chart as it stands should provide lots of opportunity for any TEs they bring in.

[run pMc]

Packers brought Darnell Washington in as one of their 30 visits.

Of the 30 players on last year's visit list, I believe 9 of them ended up spending time on the roster, either via draft or UDFA signing.
Pretty strong indication they have interest in a player.

[Sparkey]

Sam LaPorta.
I think he would be a decent Tonyan replacement. Good receiver, good athlete, not the best blocker but will give effort. Much better after the catch than Tonyan, but so is a statue.
Read where a scout was saying that for TEs it's tough to break 4-5 TDs in a rookie season, and it's less about where you were drafted and more about the opportunities you get on your team. The TE depth chart as it stands should provide lots of opportunity for any TEs they bring in.

I would hope the Packers strive for more than a replacement of Tonyan.

[run pMc]

I would hope the Packers strive for more than a replacement of Tonyan.

Fair point. I probably should have said 2020 thru pre-injury 2021 Tonyan. He was pretty good then.
LaPorta is a good receiver and try-hard blocker, he ran a 4.59 40 but I'm not sure his football speed is that fast. He's fast enough to run up the seam and do a lot of the things Tonyan did, and eventually better. He can break tackles, so he has that over Tonyan already.
One thing going against him is I think he measured in at about 6-3 245, which is basically a little bigger than Deguara. He's almost certainly a Day 2 pick, but GB probably would want a bigger dude at TE. 6-3 isn't a huge mismatch in coverage against a S or LB. Tonyan was 6-5 but LaPorta is a better athlete.

[run pMc]

Packers brought Darnell Washington in as one of their 30 visits.

Of the 30 players on last year's visit list, I believe 9 of them ended up spending time on the roster, either via draft or UDFA signing.
Pretty strong indication they have interest in a player.

Packers brought in Iowa State Edge Will McDonald IV for one of their 30 visits. Love the burst and long arms, but he's small compared to the big dudes they usually like such as Gary or Preston. ISU's D is a little different which could make him a weird eval also.
No harm bringing him in for a visit.

[Fritz]

run, I read also on ACME that they think the guy doesn't use his hands well and that he's not very aggressive and physical. I don't know. Just what they said.

[Deputy Nutz]

McDonald is a hometown kid from Waukesha WI. He is really long, mostly a 5 tech end in a 3-3-5 defense that didn't do much to make life easy on him as a premier pass rusher in college. He is the all time sack leader in the Big 12 and he accomplished that mostly by defeating double teams his senior year. Good kid, I would say overall he is a bit raw when it comes to being able to be multiple on defense. Not a nickel edge at this point, and has not been asked to play coverage ever. Packers like big edges that are really closer to defensive ends. I hope the best for McDonald but I wouldn't say he is a great fit for GB's defense and that's not his fault.