The NFL draft is a time of uncertainty. With no guarantee of success and plenty to go wrong, the Packers have been forced to send players away before they’re ready. The team will now pass on potential prospects who might not make it in the league early, making their first pick more valuable than ever
Aaron Rodgers’ contract with the Packers was signed in 2021. The new deal is worth $134 million over five years, which includes a record $100 million signing bonus. The contract also features a player option for the sixth year, meaning that if Rodgers doesn’t play well enough to get an extension by then, he can leave Green Bay and sign elsewhere.
The specifics of Aaron Rodgers’ new deal with the Green Bay Packers are yet unknown. What we do know is that he’s committed to returning next season, and he’ll reportedly sign a cap-friendly deal with the Packers.
While the conditions of the deal are important in terms of how the Packers can construct a roster around Rodgers, they are unlikely to have an influence on Green Bay’s draft strategy in 2022. The fact that Green Bay knows Rodgers will return is a significant component, and the Packers can structure their draft strategy around that.
Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers need to go all out to find an outstanding receiver.
The Georgia Bulldogs’ George Pickens #1 vaults over the Cincinnati Bearcats’ Darrick Forrest #5 | Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
The last time the Packers selected a wide receiver in the first round was in 2002, over two decades ago.
Javon Walker was the choice at the time, and he had one Pro Bowl season in four years with the Packers. In retrospect, he was talented, but not worth the 20th overall choice.
The Packers were either scared or felt they could get better wideouts later in the draft. Second-round choices Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, and Randall Cobb. Oh, then there’s Davante Adams, who was drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Packers.
The Packers hold the 28th overall selection in the first round, which is essentially a second-round pick. They’re definitely betting big on Rodgers, which means they’ll need to sign a top wide receiver for the first time in 20 years.
No disrespect to Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard, but they’re “just people” in the world. Outside of Adams, no wide receiver on Green Bay’s current roster commands much respect, but the Packers can alter that by bringing in one of this class’s top rookie wide receivers.
There’s also good news in that sense, since the wide receiver class is deep. Garret Wilson of Ohio State, who might wind up being a top 10-15 choice, may not be available to Green Bay. Green Bay could theoretically choose Drake London (USC), Chris Olave (Ohio State), Treylon Burks (Arkansas), or James Williams (Alabama) at No. 28. Williams, in particular, is a talented wideout who may suffer a setback as a result of an injury he sustained during the College Football Championship Game.
We also know that general manager Brian Gutekunst isn’t afraid to trade up a few places on the draft board in order to grab his preferred player.
All of the wide outs listed might be an excellent No. 2 option for Rodgers right away. Jahan Dotson (Penn State), John Metchie III (Alabama), George Pickens (Georgia), Skyy Moore (Western Michigan), and Wan’Dale Robinson (Kentucky) are all fascinating late-first-round options, depending on Green Bay’s opinion.
The point is that the skill exists, and Green Bay is in desperate need of it. It’s time to arm Rodgers with additional weapons if they’re going all-in on him.
An offensive lineman is the second-best late-round choice.
During the game against the San Francisco 49ers, Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers searches for a receiver. In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Packers must go all-in on providing Aaron Rodgers weapons. | Getty Images/San Francisco 49ers/Michael Zagaris
Because the wide receiver class is so deep, Gutekunst could realistically wait until the second or third rounds to choose a wide receiver. It’d be a risk since skill fades over time, but if there’s a 1B priority to the 1A of picking a wide receiver, it’s securing some offensive tackle certainties.
Last season, David Bakhtiari only appeared in half of the games due to his recovery from an ACL injury sustained the year before. When he’s healthy, he’s an All-Pro, but there are serious doubts about his ability to return to that level of performance.
For a long portion of the season, Elgton Jenkins was an excellent left tackle replacement, but he tore his ACL. Jenkins might face the same difficulties as Bakhtiari experienced. If the Packers expect him to be gone for a year, that would put him out until November of 2022.
Dennis Kelly is a free agent who rarely played last season, while Billy Turner is in the last year of his contract.
It’s critical for the Packers to find a quality tackle who can start at right tackle right away and be ready to play left guard or possibly left tackle depending on Bakhtiari’s rehabilitation.
If Trevor Penning of Northern Iowa slips that far, he will be a great pick at No. 28. He stood 6-foot-7 and weighed 321 pounds at the combine. That kind of size and athleticism can’t be taught.
Protecting Rodgers as he grows older will be critical for Green Bay’s success in the future, especially if his deal is long-term.
The Packers must find a game-changing tight end for Aaron Rodgers.
In one day, Aaron Rodgers and Jermichael Finley:
– 8 targets, 7 receptions, 85 yards, 3 touchdowns – The Bears are still a mess.
This duo could’ve been special… pic.twitter.com/FSXfoBIbAa
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) July 2, 2021
Rodgers is a fan of Robert Tonyan Jr., but he’s a free agent who isn’t obligated to return to Green Bay. The fact that he was injured for most of last season may benefit Green Bay in discussions, but he’s still a danger for the Packers because of it. In Green Bay, he’s had one terrific season out of four. Will he be able to repeat his 11 touchdowns in 2020 after returning from a serious injury?
Moving down the depth chart, Marcedes Lewis is displaying his stamina at Father Time, despite the fact that he’s more of a run blocker anyhow. Josiah Deguara has shown the ability to be the “swiss army knife” fullback/tight end the Packers hoped for when they selected him in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but he’s wildly unreliable and has a history of injuries.
Rodgers is said to perform best when he has a strong tight end. Consider what he did with Jermichael Finley before he was injured and retired. Rodgers had a tense relationship with Jared Cook.
Tight ends don’t have a lot of value in the first or even second round, so Green Bay has a strong chance of getting a solid one in the third or even fourth.
Gutekunst has to find a tight end who can be a pass-catching threat from day one, regardless of who is available, and there are several good choices.
There will no longer be any developing chess pieces.
From the start, the Packers need to pick the largest, most athletic receiving threat they can locate in order to provide Rodgers with a deep threat across the middle.
ESPN and Pro Football Reference provided the statistics. Spotrac provides contract information.
Greg Jennings Is Still Attacking ‘Very Selfish Guy’ RELATED: Greg Jennings Is Still Attacking ‘Very Selfish Guy’ Aaron Rodgers is a quarterback in the NFL.
Aaron Rodgers is the Packers’ starting quarterback. He has been with the team for 10 years now and will be staying in Green Bay for at least another 2 seasons. The Packers have a new deal that was signed by Aaron Rodgers that shapes their draft plan. Reference: aaron rodgers 2022.
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