Which Green Bay Packers’ Draft Picks Have The Best Chance To Contribute In 2023?

The Green Bay Packers had a wild NFL Draft, selecting 13 players — its most in 23 years.

Who will play? Who will sit?

Here, I rank the draft picks in order of who’s likely to contribute the most — and least — in 2023.

1. Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State

The Packers lost Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb in free agency, and now have the youngest wide receiver group in the league.

That means Reed, a second round pick, will be given every opportunity to win the Packers’ starting job in the slot.

Reed (5-11, 187) caught 114 passes for 1,662 yards and 15 TDs his final two seasons at MSU. He has quick feet, runs well (4.45) and is extremely elusive after the catch.

“He’s strong and he’s fast, Jon-Eric Sullivan, Green Bay’s vice president of player personnel, said of Reed. “If you just want to simplify it, he’s got exceptional strength for a smaller-framed player and then he can run. He’s got good tempo.”

2. Lukas Van Ness, OLB, Iowa

Green Bay’s first round draft pick will almost certainly start in Week 1 if Rashan Gary isn’t fully recovered from his torn ACL. If Gary is back, Van Ness will be part of a potentially dynamic rotation that would include Preston Smith and Gary.

The 21-year old Van Ness ran the 40-yard dash in a sizzling 4.58 seconds at the NFL Combine. He had the largest hands (11 inches) in the defensive line group. His arms are an impressive 34 inches long.

Van Ness is a power player who can push the pocket. But he’s also been somewhat of a splash player who lacks consistency, and he’ll be moving from defensive end in a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4 outside linebacker.

“The way they’re trying to utilize me and put me on the edge, I think I could find a lot of success out there,” Van Ness said during Green Bay’s rookie mini-camp. “But it’s a learning process, a learning curve. I’m excited to see the progress.”

3. Anders Carlson, K, Auburn

The Packers used a sixth round draft pick on Carlson and fully expect him to be their kicker this season.

Whether the rookie is up to the challenge remains to be seen.

Carlson made a respectable 71.8% of his field goals while at Auburn (79 of 110). But he converted just 30-of-56 field goals from beyond 40 yards (53.6%), and 5-of-17 from 50-plus yards (29.4%).

Those numbers will get you cut in the NFL. But the Packers believe Carlson’s numbers will be much better.

“He’s a talented guy and we’re excited,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Carlson. “He’s got a big leg and certainly he’s far from a finished product. We’re just excited about the talent there.”

4. Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State

It’s tough for rookie tight ends to make a splash. It’s even harder for those with an injury history.

But Musgrave, a second round draft pick who played in just two games last year, could very well be Green Bay’s starting tight end on Week 1.

Musgrave has nimble feet, smooth hips and ran a blazing 4.61 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Musgrave also proved he was over the MCL injury that cost him most of the 2022 season.

Tyler Davis and Josiah Deguara are the only veteran tight ends on the roster, meaning the door is open for Musgrave.

“We feel like where he is now and where he can go is exciting,” Sullivan said of Musgrave. “There’s a lot of growth to be had there and think he’s going to come in and help us right away and think he will only grow and get better as time evolves.”

5. Colby Wooden, DE, Auburn

Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed combined for 1,187 snaps last season, then both left in free agency.

The opportunity will certainly be there for Wooden to play early and often.

Wooden (6-4, 273) was a highly productive, three-year starter with the Tigers. In those three seasons, he posted 15 sacks and 29.5 tackles for losses. Then he ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.79 seconds this offseason.

“I feel like versatility and depth,” Wooden said of his greatest strengths. “The fact that I can play across the line of scrimmage. It definitely helps give some of the older guys a break, that we can rotate, I can fit here or fit here if necessary or coaches can plug me in here without skipping a beat. So I feel like my versatility.”

6. Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State

Much like Musgrave, Kraft — a third round pick — will benefit from the fact Green Bay’s veteran tight ends have done little.

Kraft (6-4 ½, 254) finished his three-year career with 99 receptions for 1,218 yards and nine TDs. He runs well (4.73), is an above average blocker and tied for the most bench press reps of 225 pounds in this year’s tight end group (23).

“I will say Tucker’s very good with the ball in his hands after the catch,” Packers’ general manager Brian Gutekunst said of Kraft. “He was a really good basketball player coming out of high school. He’s got really good balance and strength to break tackles and keep himself alive.”

7. Anthony Johnson, S, Iowa State

If you’re looking for a darkhorse rookie to contribute immediately, Johnson could be your guy.

Green Bay’s safety group ranks among the NFL’s worst. And the extremely physical Johnson, who moved from cornerback to safety at ISU, started 54 games with the Cyclones.

“I think it really prepared me, covering outside receivers, to have success,” Johnson said. “It’s only going to help me as a safety.”

8. Karl Brooks, DE, Bowling Green

Brooks (6-3 ½, 296) was a game-wrecker in the Mid-American Conference, compiling 10 sacks and 18 tackles for losses in 2022. He also had four passes deflected and forced two fumbles last season.

During Brooks’ five-year career at Bowling Green, he notched 27.5 sacks, 46 tackles for loss and forced six fumbles. He also led the team in sacks all five years.

He’ll have a chance to immediately crack the rotation on a thin defensive line.

“I feel like there’s an opportunity right there in front of me,” Brooks said. “Green Bay obviously got some great D-linemen there ahead of me, so for me, taking as much information as I can from those guys and learning and just getting better.”

9. Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Virginia

Green Bay’s wide receiver group is the NFL’s youngest and most inexperienced.

Wicks could break through if he plays like he did in 2021, when he produced a 1,200-yard season. A year ago, though, he struggled with drops and had just 430 receiving yards.

“Anybody can earn a spot,” Wicks said. “It’s just about what you do with your opportunities and capitalizing on the opportunities you get.”

10. Carrington Valentine, CB, Kentucky

Valentine, a seventh round draft choice, has the size (6-0, 193) and speed (4.44) to win a roster spot. While Green Bay’s defensive backfield group is deep, he could contribute immediately on special teams.

“I’m a competitor,” Valentine said. “I’m going to go out there and grind out and be physical.”

11. Sean Clifford, QB, Penn State

The Packers hope they won’t have to play their fifth round draft pick. If they do, though, Clifford has two things going for him.

First, he was a four-year starter and a team captain at Penn State. Second, Clifford’s four months older than starter Jordan Love and will turn 25 before training camp arrives.

“Being older and that six-year guy is that I can relate to the older guys a little bit just because I’ve been thinking about life after college for a while now,” Clifford said. “I didn’t plan on being (at Penn State) for six years – happy that I was, don’t get me wrong, because we did some really special things last year, especially – but I also at the same time was ready to go. I’m really excited to be here.”

12. Grant Dubose, WR, Charlotte

DuBose was one of the feel-good stories of the draft. He worked three jobs during the pandemic in 2020 after his previous school — Miles College — canceled its season.

DuBose transferred to Charlotte, blew up the last two years, now will look to continue his upward climb in Green Bay.

“It was always, ‘What can I do next? How can I get better?’ as I worked toward a dream,” Dubose said. “I didn’t know what opportunity was going to present itself, but I knew I wanted to be ready it did.”

13. Lew Nichols, RB, Central Michigan

There won’t be many carries available with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon in the backfield.