Teams selected 37 wide receivers during the three-day NFL draft, a massive number highlighting the ridiculous depth of this year’s receiver class. The Green Bay Packers, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers approaching the end and a massive need at wide receiver, didn’t draft a single one.
How the Packers failed to get even one receiver from this potentially historic class might be one of the biggest surprises in the entire draft.
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said in a conference call following the draft that the guys they valued highly came off the board before their pick in the first round and on Day 2, and he didn’t see the value in taking a receiver late. He also expressed continued confidence in the guys the Packers already have on the roster.
That is now clear. The Packers sat idly, watching receivers come off the board round after round, day after day, but couldn’t find an opportunity to get one.
Six receivers came off the board before the Packers’ pick in the first round.
Eleven receivers were picked between the second and third rounds.
Twenty receivers heard their name called on Day 3.
Twelve different teams picked two or more receivers. The Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles took three. Teams were willing to dip deep into this class and grab weapons for the passing game.
The Packers were not.
Clearly, Gutekunst is far more comfortable with his group of receivers than outsiders.
“We really like the group of receivers we have,” Gutekunst said.
Gutekunst traded up in the first round to get a quarterback. The gutsy move required a fourth-round pick to complete, robbing a potential opportunity to get a receiver and stripping the Packers of ammunition to move up. He used a second-round pick on a running back, a third-round pick on a tight end/fullback and three-straight picks on offensive linemen on Day 3. Even in the seventh round, the Packers avoided the receiver position and took a safety and edge rusher.
Before the draft, the Packers swapped out Geronimo Allison for Devin Funchess and signed former CFL star Reggie Begelton. The team will sign undrafted free agents, but Funchess and Begelton will serve as the only notable additions to the team’s wide receiver group this offseason.
The Packers, possibly with a new, run-based focus on offense and a higher comfort level in the scheme, will bank on Funchess becoming a contributor and development from youngsters such as Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown to push the position forward.
The Packers’ need at receiver has been obvious for the better part of the last two years. They didn’t attack it during last year’s trading deadline, even when the inconsistent passing offense was screaming out for help. They didn’t sign one of the big-name receivers in free agency. And now they’ve completely skipped adding one in a potentially historic draft class.