NFL Mock Draft: 3 first round mistakes Packers can’t afford to make
By Ryan Heckman
The Packers could have some intriguing options in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but must act carefully
The closer we get to the 2023 NFL Draft, the more antsy Green Bay Packers fans will get.
After all, we still don’t have an answer to the Aaron Rodgers drama. Maybe Packers fans have mostly moved on, though, and it’s Jets fans who should be most worried.
Nevertheless, Green Bay has some issues. They have needs. They are far from a contender, now, with Rodgers on his way out. It’s definitely a post-Rodgers era we’re living in, and when the draft kicks off, it’ll be all about providing a basis for this franchise to build upon going forward.
The Packers hold the 15th overall selection in the first round, and at that spot, the possibilities could very well be endless, especially with some of the most recent rumors floating around. If Green Bay aren’t careful, they’ll end up making a first-round blunder, which that fan base is no stranger to in the past.
First Round mistakes the Packers can’t afford to make in 2023 NFL Draft: Picking Bijan Robinson
The first mistake the Packers can’t afford to make should be as obvious as they come, but temptation is a funny thing, sometimes.
Bijan Robinson is one of the very best running back prospects the league has seen over the past decade. He does everything well, quite literally. The speed, the burst, the tackle-breaking, the pass-catching… it’s all there.
And, Robinson could be there at No. 15 overall. That seems to be a fair value for his draft stock, in the first round, too. But, Aaron Jones has already restructured his deal and A.J. Dillon is on his rookie contract, still. There is absolutely zero reason for Green Bay to draft Robinson, even though he is a game-changing talent.
There’s something to be said about going best player available, sure. That makes sense. But, if Robinson is the best player on the board at 15, then they either need to skip to the second-best player available or trade the pick.