Brian Gutekunst made 13 selections in the 2023 NFL Draft. Last season the Green Bay Packers received an impact from a handful of rookies. Quay Walker started opposite De’Vondre Campbell. When healthy, Christian Watson proved to be a dynamic playmaker. Romeo Doubs finished his rookie season with 42 receptions for 425 yards and three touchdowns. Zach Tom logged over 450 snaps along the offensive line, playing left tackle, right tackle, and left guard. Kingsley Enagbare recorded three sacks and Tariq Carpenter made a splash on special teams.
How much of an impact will the Packers receive from their incoming draft class? Let’s take a look in part one of a five-part series taking a look at how much impact the Packers will get from each rookie.
13. Grant DuBose, WR
DuBose, a wide receiver out of Charlotte, was the final Gutekunst pick and started training camp on the non-football injury list with a back injury. The 256th overall pick also missed the entire offseason workout program with the lingering back injury.
Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed are locks to make the roster. With how much praise he’s received thus far this offseason, it would appear that Samori Toure is a mere lock to make the roster. Barring a terrible training camp and preseason, last year’s seventh-round pick is a safe bet to be the No. 4 wide receiver.
That leaves one or two roster spots for DuBose, fellow rookie wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks, undrafted free agent Malik Heath and Bo Melton battling for one or two roster spots.
If the Packers opt to only keep five wide receivers, DuBose could be the odd man out. If they opt to keep six, one would think DuBose is safe given his upside and age (21).
Regardless, given the players in front of him on the depth chart, there doesn’t figure to be much room for DuBose to make a significant impact during his rookie season.
12. Lew Nichols, RB
Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon are locked in atop the running back depth chart. Tyler Goodson, Patrick Taylor, and Lew Nichols will battle it out for the third running back spot. Nichols led the NCAA in rushing in 2021 and has the highest upside of those three. However, the third running back spot could come down to special teams, an area where Nichols has limited experience. Nichols logged just two special teams snaps during his time at Central Michigan.
Seventh rounder Lew Nichols has a nice frame for RB. Carries his 220 well.
Also, speedy Bo Melton (80) – signed late last season – is another WR to keep an eye on. #Packers pic.twitter.com/EI6xQhfW1f
— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) May 5, 2023
As the team’s third running back last season, Taylor logged just 34 snaps on offense. Even if Nichols beats out Taylor and Goodson for the third running back spot behind Jones and Dillon, his impact will likely be minimal.
11. Dontayvion Wicks, WR
Sean Clifford to Dontayvion Wicks. pic.twitter.com/almAE4tmK1
— Paul Bretl (@Paul_Bretl) July 26, 2023
With an impressive training camp and preseason, Wicks could carve out a role behind Watson, Doubs, and Reed. The former Virginia wide receiver checks the boxes with his size, athleticism, and big-play ability. Wicks isn’t higher on this list due to the fact that Watson, Doubs, and Reed figure to see the majority of targets from Jordan Love. Barring an injury, Wicks’ play-time may mirror Samori Toure’s snap count during his rookie campaign last season.