Official 2023 NFL Draft Thread

[run pMc]

Packers will be hosting a pre-draft visit with TE Dalton Kincaid. Kincaid has received medical clearance for his back injury he suffered last year.

If the medicals check out, Kincaid is probably the first TE of most pundits' boards.

Looks like GB is also bringing in the Adebawore guy from Northwestern. I think he's just an athletic bowling ball, don't really care for him as a scheme fit.

[Joemailman]

Packers list of official visits so far. Last year Packers drafted 6 players they visited with.

1. TE Darnell Washington, Georgia
2. OLB Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
3. S Jordan Howden, Minnesota
4. DB Jammie Robinson, Florida State
5. WR Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia
6. RB Keaton Mitchell, East Carolina
7. S/LB Marte Mapu, Sacramento State
8. QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
9. OT Darnell Wright, Tennessee
10. OLB/DL Keion White, Georgia Tech
11. RB Lew Nichols III, Central Michigan
12. QB Sean Clifford, Penn State
13. RB Evan Hull, Northwestern
14. DL Jaquelin Roy, LSU
15. TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
16. OLB/DL Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern
17. TE Ben Sims, Baylor

[run pMc]

Packers list of official visits so far. Last year Packers drafted 6 players they visited with.

and an additional 3 players spent time on the roster/practice squad. Definitely worth watching to see who they bring in.

[HarveyWallbangers]

The Packers have years like that and then other years when they draft very few of the guys from their official visits. Daniel Jeremiah said that teams don't really play games with their visits though (i.e. bringing guys that they are not interested in to throw off who they really are interested in). He said teams will bring in about 10 guys they don't have medicals on, 10-15 guys they really haven't gotten to talk to a lot (many are guys that were off their radar, but they had big Pro Days), and maybe 5 guys that have character concerns. Basically, they bring in guys that they need more information about--filling in their scouting reports.

[run pMc]

The Packers have years like that and then other years when they draft very few of the guys from their official visits. Daniel Jeremiah said that teams don't really play games with their visits though (i.e. bringing guys that they are not interested in to throw off who they really are interested in). He said teams will bring in about 10 guys they don't have medicals on, 10-15 guys they really haven't gotten to talk to a lot (many are guys that were off their radar, but they had big Pro Days), and maybe 5 guys that have character concerns. Basically, they bring in guys that they need more information about--filling in their scouting reports.

Agree. I think a lot of times it's players they didn't know much (or enough about) and they're gathering information. Devonte Wyatt, Sam Williams and George Pickens (all visits last year) had some off-field or character concerns and they likely wanted to get a feel for them in the building. They talk to a lot of the players at the bowl games or combine but it's not a lot of time -- IIRC they get 15 minutes and that's it. I'd expect if you're going to draft someone you want to make sure they love the game and the money won't turn them into Cletidus , but also that they aren't a dirtbag who makes GB look like they employ criminal idiots. Locker room chemistry/fit plays a big part, as well as any additional medical or on-field testing they might want to do. Basically like any job interview - bringing them in for a closer look to determine if they're a good fit.

I know TT used them more for subterfuge, and occasionally they still do, but I think that's a waste of everyone's time.

[run pMc]

Packers supposedly brought/bringing in Michael Mayer for a visit.

https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2023/04/13/packers-host-official-pre-draft-visit-with-notre-dame-te-michael-mayer

[Joemailman]

Updated (not sure how up to date) list of Packers pre-draft visits. 5 TE's so far.

1. TE Darnell Washington, Georgia
2. OLB Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
3. S Jordan Howden, Minnesota
4. DB Jammie Robinson, Florida State
5. WR Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia
6. RB Keaton Mitchell, East Carolina
7. S/LB Marte Mapu, Sacramento State
8. QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
9. OT Darnell Wright, Tennessee
10. OLB/DL Keion White, Georgia Tech
11. RB Lew Nichols III, Central Michigan
12. QB Sean Clifford, Penn State
13. RB Evan Hull, Northwestern
14. DL Jaquelin Roy, LSU
15. TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
16. OLB/DL Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern
17. TE Ben Sims, Baylor
18. TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
19. OL Atonio Mafi, UCLA
20. CB Tyrique Stevenson, Miami
21. WR Cole Tucker, NIU
22. TE Josh Whyle, Cincinnati

[run pMc]

List of attendees to NFL draft night:
WR Jordan Addison, USC
EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
S Brian Branch, Alabama
DL Jalen Carter, Georgia
WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
QB Will Levis, Kentucky
CB Joey Porter Jr, Penn State
QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
EDGE Keion White, Georgia Tech
EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
QB Bryce Young, Alabama

Not a TE among them. Interesting.
Also, Keion White? I know GB brought him in for a visit, but I'm sort-of hoping he's not their pick at 15. Dude is a very raw prospect...and he's already 24.

[Fritz]

List of attendees to NFL draft night:
WR Jordan Addison, USC
EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
S Brian Branch, Alabama
DL Jalen Carter, Georgia
WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
OT Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
QB Will Levis, Kentucky
CB Joey Porter Jr, Penn State
QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
EDGE Keion White, Georgia Tech
EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
QB Bryce Young, Alabama

Not a TE among them. Interesting.
Also, Keion White? I know GB brought him in for a visit, but I'm sort-of hoping he's not their pick at 15. Dude is a very raw prospect...and he's already 24.

One of the great sources of tension on that night is watching to see which one of those guys doesn't get picked . . . doesn't get picked . . . doesn't get picked . . . and suddenly you can see the anguish in the guy's face as the other guys are celebrating being chosen so high in the draft. It's a really uncomfortable yet compelling part of the entertainment.

[run pMc]

One of the great sources of tension on that night is watching to see which one of those guys doesn't get picked . . . doesn't get picked . . . doesn't get picked . . . and suddenly you can see the anguish in the guy's face as the other guys are celebrating being chosen so high in the draft. It's a really uncomfortable yet compelling part of the entertainment.

Agree it can be good drama, but after a while you feel for some of these kids who have to sit all night. I'm not sure some of these guys should be R1 picks, but the NFL does their homework to avoid inviting guys who aren't getting sufficient interest or back-channel guarantees they'll be picked.

What I've been hearing is that by the middle of the first round, you're basically picking a Round 2 caliber player this year...so who knows.

[Fritz]

Agree it can be good drama, but after a while you feel for some of these kids who have to sit all night. I'm not sure some of these guys should be R1 picks, but the NFL does their homework to avoid inviting guys who aren't getting sufficient interest or back-channel guarantees they'll be picked.

What I've been hearing is that by the middle of the first round, you're basically picking a Round 2 caliber player this year...so who knows.

Is it just me, or has that been the case the last couple of years? Scouts or insiders saying that the first round doesn't actually have thirty-two guys with first-round grades?

I'm waiting for the day when some GM comes out and says his team has, say, thirty-nine guys with first round grades.

[run pMc]

Is it just me, or has that been the case the last couple of years? Scouts or insiders saying that the first round doesn't actually have thirty-two guys with first-round grades?

I'm waiting for the day when some GM comes out and says his team has, say, thirty-nine guys with first round grades.

It's usually the case. I'd laugh if someone said they had that many.
I've heard this is one of the weakest drafts in recent history, but there are still areas of strength within it (EDGE, TE, CB). I think it's got some decent depth in the R2-4 range, but don't think it's a strong/deep draft.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Interesting post on reddit.

https://www.reddit.com/r/GreenBayPackers/comments/12ptwgr/every_packers_predraft_visit_and_top_30_visits_as/

Every Packers Predraft Visit AND Top 30 Visits (As of 4/17/23)

East-West Shrine Bowl:
Toledo DL Desjuan Johnson
Michigan State TE Daniel Barker

Hula Bowl:
Oregon State WR Tyjon Lindsey
Lane College Edge Andrew Farmer II

Senior Bowl:
TCU QB Max Duggan
Princeton WR Andrei Iosivas
Chattanooga OL McClendon Curtis
Florida OL Richard Gouraige
Michigan C Olusegun Oluwatimi
TCU LB Dee Winters
Central Michigan EDGE Thomas Incoom

Tropical Bowl:
Oklahoma DB Justin Broiles
Vanderbuilt S Maxwell Worship

NFLPA Bowl:
ECU QB Holton Ahlers (3x)

NFL Combine:
BYU QB Jaren Hall
TCU WR Quentin Johnson
Michigan State WR Jayden Reed
Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (multiple visits)
Boston College WR Zay Flowers
Houston WR Tank Dell (informal)
Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt (Formal)
Alabama WR Jalen Wayne
Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer
Utah TE Dalton Kincaid (Formal)
Georgia TE Darnell Washington (Formal)
Oregon State TE Luke Musgrave (Formal)
Michigan TE Luke Schoonmaker (Formal)
SDSU TE Tucker Kraft
Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski (Formal)
Ohio State OT Paris Johnson Jr (Formal)
Ohio State OT Dawand Jones
NDSU OL Cody Mauch

Auburn LB Derick Hall
Alabama S Jordan Battle
Alabama S Brian Branch (Formal)
Boise State JL Skinner
Oregon State DB Rezjohn Wright (Informal)
Iowa DB Riley Moss
Georgia CB Kelee Ringo
Alabama CB Eli Ricks (Formal)
Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez
Kansas State CB Julius Brents
Iowa EDGE Luke Van Ness
Michigan DT Mazi Smith
Northwestern DL Adetomiwa Adebawore
Texas DL Keondre Coburn

Players Pro Day:
Utah State QB Luke Bonner
Appalachian State LB Nick Hamton
Mississippi State Edge Randy Charlton
Pittsburg Edge Habakkuk Baldonado
Pittsburg DL Deslin Alexandre
Iowa State DL MJ Anderson

Unspecified:
Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker
Stanford QB Tanner McKee
USC RB Travis Dye
Langston RB Tahj Davidson (Informal)
Northern Colorado RB Elijah Dotson
Northwestern RB Evan Hull (Informal)
Southeast Missouri State C Shyron Rodgers
Hawaii OL Ilm Manning
Florida LB Ventrell Miller
Florida S Trey Dean

Virtual Visits:
Arkansas WR Jadon Haselwood
North Dakota WR Garett Maag
Iowa TE Sam LaPorta
Penn State C Juice Scruggs
Minnesota C John Michael Schmitz
Maryland OT Jaelyn Duncan
Mississippi State DL Cameron Young

Top 30 Visits:
Offense:
QB Hendon Hooker - Tennessee
QB Sean Clifford - Penn State
RB Keaton Mitchell - ECU
RB Lew Nichols III - CMU
RB Evan Hull - Northwestern
WR Donatayvion Wicks - Virginia
WR Tank Dell - Houston
WR Cole Tucker - NIU
TE Darnell Washington - Georgia
TE Dalton Kincaid - Utah
TE Michael Mayer - Notre Dame
TE Josh Whyle - Cincinnati
TE Zach Kuntz - Old Dominion
TE Ben Sims - Baylor
OT Darnell Wright - Tennessee
OG Atonio Mafi - UCLA

Defense:
LB/S Marte Mapu - Sacramento State
DB Tyrique Stevenson - Miami
Safety Jordan Howden - Minnesota
Safety Jammie Robinson - Florida State
EDGE Keion White - Georgia Tech
EDGE Will McDonald IV - Iowa State
DL Adetomiwa Adebawore - Northwestern
DT Jaquelin Roy - LSU
Total: 24/30

[jklowan]

Love this draft

https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2023/4/17/23686995/green-bay-packers-2023-mock-draft-darnell-wright?utm_campaign=acmepackingcompany&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

[run pMc]

Love this draft
https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2...source=twitter

It's pretty good, except for no EDGE rusher. Not sure where that pass rush will come from without Gary, and I don't trust Barry to be clever enough to scheme something up.