Why the Packers might finally draft a wide receiver in the first round

New York Times

14-04-2025

This could finally be the year the Packers draft a wide receiver in the first round.
Everyone and their mother might know the last time it happened because of how often it's been repeated as the streak entered its third decade. Not since Javon Walker with the No. 20 pick in 2002 has Green Bay used a first-round selection on the position. In fact, the only offensive skill position players the Packers have drafted in the first round since then are quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love.
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This trend isn't a product of some decree from atop the food chain at 1265 Lombardi Ave., but rather a pattern that has likely resulted partly from the organizational belief that valuable wide receivers can be found after the first round. Ignoring the position in the opening round has hardly been organizational malpractice, even if Davante Adams could've certainly used a better No. 2 wideout in his final Packers years, because of who they've selected later.
Since Walker arrived in Green Bay, so too have Adams, Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Randall Cobb and, more recently, the lesser-proven group of Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks — all in Rounds 2, 3, 4 or 5. Has that track record influenced the Packers' decision to bypass wideouts in the first round for the last 22 drafts? Perhaps, but general manager Brian Gutekunst told The Athletic last summer that before drafting Love in 2020, he tried trading up for a wide receiver (presumably Justin Jefferson or Brandon Aiyuk, both of whom went several picks before Love). The Athletic's Chad Graff also reported during the draft in 2022 that the Packers tried trading into the first round with the Vikings for Watson, but Minnesota declined and Green Bay settled for a second-round trade up instead.
'I will say this: In no time in my 20-some years within this organization, whether it was (former Packers GMs) Ron (Wolf) or Ted (Thompson), did I hear them talk about that as a philosophy,' Gutekunst said earlier this offseason of not taking wideouts in the first round. 'I know Ron talked a lot about being mad he didn't take Randy Moss, you know what I mean? … I don't think we'd ever hesitate to take a receiver in the first round if the right one was there. We certainly talked about it at different times in the last seven years since I've been in this spot, trying to make that happen, so I don't really look at it as a philosophical thing. I will say we've hit on a lot of second-round receivers. There's been a lot of guys that we've taken in that group that have become really, really good players for us. Not only us, but throughout the league.'
People who have used this trend as a rationale for Green Bay's Super Bowl drought might be disappointed come next Thursday night, since there are multiple reasons commissioner Roger Goodell could announce a wide receiver as the Packers' first-round pick in Green Bay.
Most importantly, the Packers have a pressing need at wide receiver with arguably their most dangerous one, Christian Watson, set to miss at least the first half of the season while recovering from a torn ACL. You could argue they'd still have an immediate need there even if Watson were healthy. The Packers have a handful of solid role players at the position — some of them need to catch the ball far more consistently to retain that title — but an alpha would help Love and the passing game even if Gutekunst has said that one player dominating targets doesn't historically bode well when it comes to the playoffs. Would a first-round rookie become that alpha right away? Maybe not, but ideally for the Packers, that wouldn't take long.
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After running back Josh Jacobs said on radio row at the Super Bowl that he likes the potential of Green Bay's young receivers but that the team needs a proven No. 1 wideout, Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur have said they hope a receiver already on the team grows into that role. The Packers also didn't acquire that proven No. 1 wideout this offseason, increasing the likelihood they take one early in the draft since both the GM and head coach probably aren't that oblivious to their need at the position.
'I feel good about our receiver room,' LaFleur said at the NFL owners meetings while, notably, not hooked up to a lie detector test. 'Obviously, it doesn't help when you lose a guy like Christian Watson, and who knows when we'll get him back? … Those other guys are gonna have to pick up the slack.'
Two, it was nice for the Packers to have all four of their top receivers in their first or second seasons, but Watson and Doubs are entering contract years, and Reed and Wicks are set to do the same in 2026. The likelihood is that more than one of them leave in free agency in the coming years. The Packers would be wise to start backloading the position now through the draft, and a player who could grow into a true No. 1 over the next season or two would be ideal.
Three, the Packers seem interested in drafting a wide receiver in the first round. Not only did Gutekunst attend pro days at Ohio State and Texas, likely with an eye on the Buckeyes' Emeka Egbuka and the Longhorns' Matthew Golden, but the Packers reportedly brought both players to Green Bay for one of the team's 30 permitted pre-draft visits. ESPN also reported that Gutekunst was the only GM at Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan's private workout last month. McMillan will likely be the first receiver taken after Colorado's Travis Hunter, while Egbuka and Golden are projected first-round picks, too.
So if the Packers indeed break their 22-year streak, it'll likely be for one of those three players or Missouri's Luther Burden III. Those are the only four receivers given first- or first/second-round grades by The Athletic's Dane Brugler. Here are his scouting reports on each, in order of how he ranks them.
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On the 6-foot-4 McMillan, who turned 22 this month: 'McMillan is only average in the speed and separation categories, but he is a long and limber athlete with exceptional tracking and ball-winning instincts. He fits the Tee Higgins mold as a unique playmaker because of his size and catch-point skills.'
On the 5-foot-11 Golden, who turns 22 in August: 'It might bother some teams that he doesn't have better size, but Golden also doesn't have any glaring flaws to his game that would keep him from becoming a productive pro. He can play inside or outside and become the go-to target for an NFL offense.'
On the 6-foot Burden, who turns 22 in December: 'Burden is still working on his undergrad degree in route setup and separation, but he holds a master's in creating with the ball in his hands, because of his explosive speed and competitive toughness. For an NFL team targeting a YAC weapon with upside to be more, he will be an appealing option early.'
On the 6-foot Egbuka, who turns 23 in October: 'Egbuka is a very quarterback-friendly target — not because he is bigger, stronger or faster than defenders, but because he understands detailed subtleties to uncover and command the catch point. Though he can line up outside, he would thrive in a Rashee Rice-like slot role, where he can expand a play-calling menu with his diverse skill set.'
In Brugler's latest one-round mock draft, McMillan went No. 12, Golden No. 22 and Egbuka No. 26 while Burden was excluded. If the Packers are that sold on McMillan after Gutekunst's visit, would they dare trade up from No. 23 for him with only eight picks to start the draft? Would they have to trade up for any of the other three, too?
There's no guarantee the Packers will take one of those four receivers in the first round just because it makes sense. Where they're selecting and what their draft board looks like will ultimately decide. If anything, though, there seems to be a legitimate chance the drought ends when the draft arrives in Green Bay, which would produce quite the scene outside Lambeau Field next Thursday night.
(Photo of Emeka Egbuka: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)