The Green Bay Packers were in severe need of wide receivers entering the 2023 NFL draft. Allen Lazard, and eventually Randall Cobb, left free agency to join Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. Sammy Watkins had been a huge flop during the 2022 season, and he was discharged before the season even ended. In their wide receiver room, the Packers have only 2022 NFL draft selections Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Samori Toure (along with undrafted free agent Bo Melton).
As a result, many believed the Packers would finally break with precedent and draft a wide receiver in the first round. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, later picked by the Seattle Seahawks, was a popular fan pick for the Packers at the time. Of course, those fans expecting for a first-round wide receiver were disappointed when they selected edge rusher Lukas Van Ness with the 13th overall choice.
The Green Bay Packers chose three wide receivers in the 2023 NFL draft.
Even though the Packers did not select a wide receiver in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, they did spend three draft picks on them. Jayden Reed was drafted in the second round, Dontayvion Wicks in the fifth, and Grant DuBose in the seventh.
Reed ended up setting the Packers rookie record for receptions with 64, 793 yards, and eight touchdowns. Going into 2024, several fans believe he is the best wide receiver on the club.
Wicks did not have a particularly horrible year. Wicks was able to haul in 39 receptions for 581 yards and four touchdowns, demonstrating route running abilities that could ultimately rival Davante Adams’.
DuBose did not play in 2023 because of an injury.
Rashee Rice, the future wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs, was removed from the Green Bay Packers’ draft board due to character concerns.
Rashee Rice was one of the most highly regarded wide receiver prospects. Even though he would have been an excellent match for the Packers’ system, he was supposedly removed from their consideration list owing to worries about his character. According to TMSPN:
“As reported by veteran sportswriter Bob McGinn, renowned for his extensive coverage of the Green Bay Packers over 38 years with the Green Bay Press-Gazette and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, an NFL personnel director expressed dissatisfaction with Rice’s demeanor prior to the 2023 NFL Draft.”
Rice was picked by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 55th overall pick (five picks after Reed) and finished with 79 receptions for 938 yards and seven touchdowns.
Of course, Rice led Kansas City to victory in the Super Bowl last season.
Rice, on the other hand, is in legal jeopardy this offseason after being involved in a multi-car accident and abandoning the scene. He has also been accused of violence at a Dallas nightclub, but these allegations have been called into question.
Perhaps the Packers were correct in keeping him off the board.
