Official 2023 NFL Draft Thread

[Fritz]

Packers visiting with OT Kadeem Telfort. Big, talented guy with a checkered past. Packers probably want to get a sense of his attitude/commitment.

A 1.59 RAS? For real?

I think I might have a higher RAS than that.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Tariq Woolen was a "not my guy" for me last year.

[Fritz]

Tariq Woolen was a "not my guy" for me last year.

Harv, last year I recall you were really, really excited about Christian Watson, and even moreso when they drafted him. You seem to have been right about the guy (I thought he was injury prone, and he did start that way, but basically I was wrong about him), so I wonder - who is THE one guy this year that you hope will become a Packer (and that has a reasonable chance of being drafted by the team, as opposed to a guy who will be gone in the first ten picks)?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Harv, last year I recall you were really, really excited about Christian Watson, and even moreso when they drafted him. You seem to have been right about the guy (I thought he was injury prone, and he did start that way, but basically I was wrong about him), so I wonder - who is THE one guy this year that you hope will become a Packer (and that has a reasonable chance of being drafted by the team, as opposed to a guy who will be gone in the first ten picks)?

I appreciate you asking. My perfect Packers draft would probably go something like this:

Round 1 - EDGE Myles Murphy
Round 2a - DT Mazi Smith or DT Keeanu Benton
Round 2b - WR Jonathan Mingo
Round 3 - Best available TE (Kincaid, Mayer, Washington, Musgrave, LaPorta, Kraft, or Schoonmaker)
Round 4 - RB Roschon Johnson or RB Kendre Miller
Round 5a - OT Nick Saldiveri or OG Jon Gaines
Round 5b - TE Brenton Strange or TE/WR Elijah Higgins
Late Rounds - QB Clayton Tune, FB/TE Hunter Luepke, WR Grant DuBose, WR Matt Landers, TE Payne Durham, CB Darrell Luter, S Jason Taylor, S Jordan Howden. They'd probably have to trade up from their 7th round picks to get some of these guys.

I like these guys, so I'm thinking some will go higher than projected--but this is sticking to the general range of when they are projected to get drafted.

[HarveyWallbangers]

My sleeper S, Jason Taylor, had an awful game against Kansas State. I liked his tape in other games I watched, but man that was rough. I'm about halfway through safeties to finalize my rankings.

[Deputy Nutz]

Safeties are pretty low budget this year. Seems like they either can't cover but can show up in the run game, or they can't tackle but they can play a little man to man on the slot. Even the guys that were supposed to be high end athletes turned in subpar combine and work out numbers

[HarveyWallbangers]

My guy, WR Grant DuBose, getting some love from PFF's Mike Renner (a Packers fan):

https://twitter.com/PFF_Mike/status/1649008466680324100

On the @EstablishTheRun pod last week I said Charlotte's Grant Dubose was my favorite Day 3 WR

He's got the size (6-2, 201 with a 6-6 wingspan), fluidity (6.89 3-cone), and body control to find a starting role in the league

There's a video embedded within the tweet with some highlights.

[Fritz]

Tariq Woolen was a "not my guy" for me last year.

On that note, which first-round selection would make you feel a little sick to your stomach?

[call_me_ishmael]

I appreciate you asking. My perfect Packers draft would probably go something like this:

Round 1 - EDGE Myles Murphy
Round 2a - DT Mazi Smith or DT Keeanu Benton
Round 2b - WR Jonathan Mingo
Round 3 - Best available TE (Kincaid, Mayer, Washington, Musgrave, LaPorta, Kraft, or Schoonmaker)
Round 4 - RB Roschon Johnson or RB Kendre Miller
Round 5a - OT Nick Saldiveri or OG Jon Gaines
Round 5b - TE Brenton Strange or TE/WR Elijah Higgins
Late Rounds - QB Clayton Tune, FB/TE Hunter Luepke, WR Grant DuBose, WR Matt Landers, TE Payne Durham, CB Darrell Luter, S Jason Taylor, S Jordan Howden. They'd probably have to trade up from their 7th round picks to get some of these guys.

I like these guys, so I'm thinking some will go higher than projected--but this is sticking to the general range of when they are projected to get drafted.

I'd be pretty happy with this. I really like the idea of Mazi Smith and LaPorta. I think LaPorta is going to be a good player. If they could find a way to pull this off AND add Hendon Henderson, they've got a stew going.

[Deputy Nutz]

My guy, WR Grant DuBose, getting some love from PFF's Mike Renner (a Packers fan):

https://twitter.com/PFF_Mike/status/1649008466680324100

There's a video embedded within the tweet with some highlights.

He is rated relatively high on on The Draft Network, ranked as their 84th prospect overall. Pro Football Network has him like 837.

[Deputy Nutz]

IF you are the Packers, and the Giants offered you the 25th pick in the draft, the 57th pick, and a third round next year, would you take that trade?
I would. This draft doesn't have home runs after the top 10 picks, even those are sketchy. The Packers have to get a better overall talent level on their roster and I think the more 2nd and 3rd round picks you can get the better. There seems like a blurry line between for sure 1st rounders and possible 2nd and 3rd rounders in 2023

[Deputy Nutz]

Also, I am sort of locked on Jack Campbell for some reason, mostly its his size and athleticism to where I think you could keep him on the field in different roles all three downs. Our Current Campbell could just be replaced by a bigger more athletic Campbell.

Packers most likely won't take him. Not a completely viable need at the moment, but I tell you I like him better than Simpson or Sanders.

[HarveyWallbangers]

He is rated relatively high on on The Draft Network, ranked as their 84th prospect overall. Pro Football Network has him like 837.

TDN is the only site that has him high. TDN = #14 WR, CBS = #46 WR, ESPN = #31 WR, NFL = #38 WR, PFF = #46 WR, The 33rd Team = Not Ranked. I don't trust TDN as much this year since they lost their top two guys, Kyle Crabbs and Joe Marino, but they are the only ones aligned with me on DuBose.

It's funny that Renner tweeted that DuBose is his favorite day 3 WR--yet PFF has him ranked #351 overall. Renner is the guy who sets the PFF draft rankings.

[HarveyWallbangers]

IF you are the Packers, and the Giants offered you the 25th pick in the draft, the 57th pick, and a third round next year, would you take that trade?

Easily. The Packers could then take Mayer, Kincaid, a WR at a spot where it's better value--and get extra draft capital. I'm not sure there will be a lot of teams interested in trading up for the #15 pick--unless one of the QBs fell.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Also, I am sort of locked on Jack Campbell for some reason, mostly its his size and athleticism to where I think you could keep him on the field in different roles all three downs. Our Current Campbell could just be replaced by a bigger more athletic Campbell.

Packers most likely won't take him. Not a completely viable need at the moment, but I tell you I like him better than Simpson or Sanders.

He's my #1 LB--although I liked him and didn't love him. He's the only guy with size and serviceable athleticism in this draft--besides Noah Sewell. Trenton Simpson will get overdrafted. I'm higher on Henley than Simpson. There is limited size and length in this class.