Packers mailbag: Draft priorities, move up scenarios, and the Rasul Douglas’ trade outcome
It's Friday, so it's time for our Green Bay Packers mailbag. Even with free agency right around the corner, Packers fans are much more interested in draft talk — and I can’t blame you guys, because Green Bay historically has put much more weight on the draft to build its roster, and rightfully so. I […]
It's Friday, so it's time for our Green Bay Packers mailbag. Even with free agency right around the corner, Packers fans are much more interested in draft talk — and I can’t blame you guys, because Green Bay historically has put much more weight on the draft to build its roster, and rightfully so.
I wouldn't take an edge rusher high, because the top of the depth is pretty good with Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, and Lukas Van Ness. But the fourth spot is wide open because Kingsley Enagbare tore his ACL in January and will miss most of next season. They have Brenton Cox as a developmental pass rusher, but he was inactive for almost every game last season.
In our fan-centric mock draft earlier this week, Packers fans picked Solomon Byrd in the sixth round. The Packers might want to get one even earlier than that, and I wouldn't be surprised whatsoever.
Philosophically, I'm not a big fan of trade ups, because it's truly hard to know which players will be good or not. I advocate for maximizing your chances, and that's what Brian Gutekunst has done over the last few years — and the reason why the Packers have gotten so many good pieces.
However, in your scenario of a big trade up to the top 10, it has to be for a real difference maker. I thought about putting Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt on my list for this exercise, but considering how well the Packers develop later-round linemen, I will only mention wide receivers Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze — presumably, Marvin Harrison Jr. will be out of reach.
Ed, that's a great question because there are two clear sides to it. Personally, I would prefer to invest in the offense with the higher picks and make whatever adjustments are needed on defense via mid-level free agency, because I think the defense will already have a decent upgrade only with the coaching change.
However, the offense is full of young pieces to develop, and they need playing time to do so.
So, for the most part, I would just keep adding talent. The best player available might sound like a cliché, and it is to a certain degree, but the Packers are in a moment of their roster-building timeline in which they just need talent.
I had a quick back-and-forth with my pal Peter Bukowski about this one. He initially hated the trade, so it makes sense that he would want Rasul back now. I understood Brian Gutekunst's process before the trade deadline, even though the compensation wasn't that good. It ended up being a bad deal in 2023 because the Packers were more competitive by the end of the season than I — and probably everyone else — predicted. But it's not a bad deal for the future. Rasul is slated to earn $10 million in 2024, and as a soft-zone cornerback, he's better suited for Joe Barry's scheme than he is to Jeff Hafley's. Douglas is a solid defender and a good presence in the locker room, so I would be fine with his return. But not for the combination of draft picks plus salary that would be required.
Thiago Assis – With Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Carrington Valentine, and a potential free agent addition, would the first draft pick be another position instead of cornerback? Wouldn't you give Jeff Okudah a chance, since he has played with Jeff Hafley at Ohio State?
Cornerback is a tough position to plan, because it is so volatile and you need three good ones. The big question mark here is Eric Stokes, because he has barely played since his rookie year — and when he did, it was bad. So I wouldn't count on him as much. Valentine is a fine starter, but the idea of upgrading isn't absurd. Ideally, the Packers have to find a player who's versatile enough to play in the slot as well, something that has been a problem for several years now.
The surprisingly perfect Round 1 draft target for the Packers
Cornerback might be a need for the roster
