One draft pick is changing the Packers’ future

What Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst turned the 45th overall pick into may define this team moving forward.

We’re still just in the early returns phase, but the Green Bay Packers’ 2023 draft haul looks well above average. If you’re a kind grader, there are up to nine future starters brought in with the Packers’ 13 picks from April — if you include kicker Anders Carlson as a “starter.”

If you’re looking at the Packers’ draft picks, from a value perspective, their most important pick was one they never ended up using: the 45th selection in the draft. On Day 2 of the draft, Green Bay turned that 45th overall pick into the 48th and 159th, by way of the Detroit Lions — who took slot defender Brian Branch. When the 48th pick came up on the clock, they turned that into the 50th pick and the 170th pick, by way of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — who took offensive lineman Cody Mauch.

Ultimately, the 50th, 159th and 170th overall picks turned into receiver Jayden Reed, receiver Dontayvion Wicks and defensive lineman Karl Brooks, quite a crop for what was originally just one selection.

Despite playing a mostly slot receiver role for the Packers, Reed is currently leading Green Bay with 463 receiving yards in 2023. He’s also recorded three 10-plus-yard carries as a rookie and has been nominated as the NFL’s offensive rookie of the week in back-to-back weeks after Packers’ last two games.

Wicks is currently playing the fourth receiver role for the team, but is still out-gaining the likes of Christian Watson at the position, despite playing many fewer snaps than either Watson and Romeo Doubs. According to ESPN’s receiver metrics, Wicks is actually the team’s highest-graded receiver this season, despite running 120 fewer routes than Doubs.

On the defensive line, Brooks has been crucial as a depth piece as a rookie. After the Atlanta Falcons caved in fellow rookie Colby Wooden in Green Bay’s first loss of the season, the Packers moved Brooks up to the first defensive lineman off the bench. He’s made several splash plays this year and was given a 81.0 grade by Pro Football Focus last week, the best mark of any rookie defensive lineman this season and the second-best mark among any rookie defender in 2023.

On Thanksgiving, general manager Brian Gutekunst should make it a point to shake the hands of the Lions’ decision makers in person. He couldn’t have done it without them. Like a magician’s assistant, Detroit helped Gutekunst turn one draft pick into three quality players — who will hopefully chance the Packers’ fortune moving forward.