Thursday Cheese Curds: The Packers won’t draft a receiver highly in 2024 … or could they?

Given the youth and talent on the roster, it would take just the right situation for the Packers to invest another high draft pick in a receiver.

The Green Bay Packers don’t have a clear superstar on their roster at wide receiver. At least not yet. But what they do have is youth and depth — and a lot of both.

In 2023, the Packers did not have a player post 65 receptions or 800 yards or double-digit touchdowns. But they did have three players go over 500 yards and six players exceed 300, they had seven with at least 25 catches, and four with four scores or more.

Those totals point to both quantity and quality, and one of the season’s late breakouts, Bo Melton, isn’t even included in any of those groups. So given the expected development of all of the second- and third-year receivers in 2024, why would the Packers look to add to the unit under any circumstances?

In a way, it would be funny if this were the year that the Packers did actually draft a wideout in the first round — in a year when it is not a perceived need. And although it’s unlikely, it’s hardly an impossibility. Ultimately, the draft board would probably need to fall just right (or just wrong, depending on your perspective), with some quarterbacks falling, all of the top linemen going off the board early, and probably a few other key players at other positions like cornerback getting drafted before the Packers are on the clock.

That situation could leave the Packers looking to trade back, but it could also leave them with a wide receiver as the top player remaining on their board. And if we know one thing about the Packers, it’s that they are not afraid to stick to their evaluations and their board in round one.

Could someone like speedster Brian Thomas from LSU be a Packer by Friday of next week? It’s unlikely, but don’t completely dismiss the possibility.

Pre-draft picture: Packers’ investment in young pass-catchers paying off | Packers.com
The immediate contributions from last year’s rookie class was critical to the Packers’ success last season, especially as the team dealt with injuries at both wide receiver and tight end.

Redrafting the 2023 NFL Draft: C.J. Stroud over Bryce Young? Is Puka Nacua a top-10 pick? – The Athletic ($)
In fact, two of those young weapons — Jayden Reed and Luke Musgrave — go in the first round of this redraft of last year’s class.

Favorite Day 3 fits for Packers in 2024 NFL draft | Packers Wire
One of the “My Guys” for us here at APC is mentioned here, along with a safety who took an official visit to Green Bay and an interesting interior offensive lineman.

Vikings brass meeting with LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels in Baton Rouge tonight | NFL.com
Are the Vikings signaling a move up for the reigning Heisman Trophy winner? With two first-round picks (11 and 23) they have the ammo to climb the board.

Brazilian woman arrested after taking corpse to sign bank loan: ‘She knew he was dead’ | The Guardian
Yes, but the big question is whether the bank figured it out.