Packers 7-round 2023 NFL mock draft with Aaron Rodgers, Trey Lance trade

Josh Downs is a phenomenal fit with the Packers wide receiver room

It’s been a refrain for many years that Green Bay needs to look at wide receivers early in the NFL Draft and, more often than not, they’ve not done it. But that can’t be the case in 2023. Not only are they looking to put two young quarterbacks — at least in this NFL mock draft — with Jordan Love and Trey Lance in the best position to succeed, but there is no one proven on the roster right now outside of Christian Watson, who came on strong as a rookie last year.

Josh Downs would be a great fit with Watson and Romeo Doubs. Though Downs is a bit undersized, he’s a crafty route-runner who is consistently getting open with footwork and fakes. Additionally, he’s great in contested-catch situations despite his size and has some of the surest hands in the class. Adding that type of possession threat to some bigger-play threats would be valuable for the young quarterbacks on the Packers.

Darnell Washington is the perfect TE to fill the massive Packers void

If nothing else, Darnell Washington is one of the most fun players in the 2023 NFL Draft class. The Georgia product is a mammoth tight end at 6-foot-7, 264 pounds, he’s not that far away from being an offensive tackle. And when he’s asked to block, you can see that. He’s virtually an extra offensive lineman when he’s asked to get out and move defenders, which is obviously an asset.

But what makes him even more intriguing is the untapped potential as a pass-catcher. With a 4.64-second 40-yard dash at the combine, Washington proved he can be a matchup nightmare, particularly as a red zone weapon. That combination of blocking and red-zone threat makes him the ideal type of player that the Packers like at tight end and he fills a major need with only one player at the position currently on the roster in Green Bay.

Aaron Rodgers-Trey Lance Trade | Round 1 | Round 5 | Round 7