As the 2023 NFL Draft approaches, the Green Bay Packers will be looking to build upon their success from recent drafts and address their areas of need in order to return to competing for a Super Bowl championship. The Packers draft class must address these positions in order to position themselves for success in 2023 and beyond.

Safety

The Packers’ safety room has mutated into a weakness for the team in recent years. The defense has struggled to find consistent production from their safety position, leaving a hole in their defense. While they still have the ultra-athletic and inconsistent Darnell Savage, the team lacks depth and playmaking ability at the position with Adrian Amos still a free agent. This gap was evident throughout the 2022 season, where the lack of playmaking ability at safety was a factor in much of the defense’s failings.

In order to improve their defense, the Packers will need to address this area of need during the draft. They could potentially target a safety early in the 2023 NFL Draft, with former Alabama teammates such as Brian Branch and Jordan Battle being potential potential options. Unfortunately, the overall safety class this year is not thought of as particularly good or deep, so the Packers are going to have to take some risk in order to find talent. Adding meaningful talent to the position will help shore up the backend of the team’s pass defense, provide more playmaking ability, and give them more depth at the position.

Wide Receiver

The Packers have been skilled at finding talented wide receivers over the years years, including Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. It’s early, but it looks like the may have struck again with 2022 draft picks Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. However, beyond the two of them, it’s unclear what the rest of the room will look like. The Packers would be wise to continue to invest draft capital into the position.

The 2023 draft class isn’t as top heavy as last year but there is still a fair amount of depth at wide receiver. The Packers should target a top prospect early in the draft. Players like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers, or Jallin Hyatt are all excellent options for the team. Another dynamic receiver joining this offense would go a long ways towards putting a lot of talent around Jordan Love as he takes over as quarterback in 2023.

Tight End

Similar to safety, the Packers have struggled to find consistent production from their tight ends in recent years. While Robert Tonyan showed flashes of potential, he was never a consistent weapon and is now a Chicago Bear. The team needs a huge injection of youth and talent at the position.

In the 2023 draft, the Packers should target a tight end who can contribute immediately. Players like Michael Mayer, Dalton Kincaid, and Darnell Washington highlight an extremely deep and exciting draft class. The Packers would wise to look to add not just one, but multiple tight ends during the draft. A talented tight end room will help improve the team’s poor red zone efficiency and give Jordan Love another weapon in the passing game.

Overall, the Packers have numerous needs to focus on during in the 2023 draft. They cannot leave draft weekend without a playmaking safety, a talented wide receiver, and a productive tight end or two. While the Packers have had success in recent drafts, they will need to continue finding quality players in order to return to being a top team in the league. As always, the Packers will need to balance drafting for immediate needs versus drafting for long-term success. With a solid draft in 2023, the Packers will be well-positioned to compete for a championship in the years to come.

Jordan is a lifelong Packer fan who grew up in Idaho and now lives in Seattle, Washington. You can follow him on twitter at @jordantwolf.

——————