The Green Bay Packers are going into the 2022 NFL draft with 11 picks – or opportunities – to add talent and provide answers to roster needs. The highly anticipated event begins on Thursday night with the first round, starts up again Friday with the second and third rounds and finishes on Saturday with Rounds 3-7.
Here’s one great fit at each of the Packers’ need positions for each day of the 2022 NFL draft:
(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Day 1: Chris Olave, Ohio State/George Pickens, Georgia: Olave is the best route runner in the class, a terrific separator against man coverage and the most natural replacement for Davante Adams, giving him massive first-round appeal to the Packers. Pickens lost most of last year to an ACL injury, but he looks like a prototypical “X” receiver at the next level, and he checks all the boxes for the Packers in the first round. In Green Bay, he could become a true No. 1 receiver. Getting either Olave or Pickens in the first round would be ideal; taking both would completely revamp and reload the receiver position in one night.
Day 2: Alec Pierce, Cincinnati: He’s far from a finished product, but his foundation as a receiver includes ideal size (6-3, 211), speed (4.41), leaping power (40.5″ vertical) and ball-tracking ability. Pierce could turn into a dangerous deep threat, and he’s not afraid to mix it up as a blocker. In the Marquez Valdes-Scantling role, Pierce may thrive. He’ll bring special teams value, too. Matt LaFleur is close with former Cincinnati offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, so the Packers should have a full understanding of how Pierce would fit in Green Bay. It looks like an ideal match.
Day 3: Kevin Austin Jr., Notre Dame: He’s an elite athlete coming off a breakout redshirt junior season. There are some off-the-field red flags that will likely drop Austin to Day 3, but his traits and upside are what teams should gamble on during the middle rounds. His athleticism is rare, and with only 13 collegiate starts under his belt, his best football might be ahead of him. The Packers should supplement the receiver position with a high-potential Day 3 pick, and Austin might come with the biggest potential reward.
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Day 1: Tyler Smith, Tulsa: He needs time to develop and may eventually slide inside to guard, but his size, athleticism and experience at left tackle make him an attractive option, especially considering he only just turned 21 years old in April. Smith is powerful and plays like a bully on every snap. Giving him to Adam Stenavich and Luke Butkus could provide an opportunity for Smith to maximize his potential and the Packers to find a long-time starter at right tackle or even guard.
Day 2: Abraham Lucas, Washington State/Zach Tom, Wake Forest: Lucas is coming from the Air Raid system, complicating the transition to a pro style offense, but he’s an easy mover with long arms and the athletic profile of a future starter at offensive tackle. He started 42 games and was a four-time all-conference selection for the Cougars. Tom checks all the athletic boxes for the Packers, and he played all over the offensive line. He could be an ideal developmental interior lineman on Day 2 or 3.
Day 3: Spencer Burford, UTSA/Cade Mays, Tennessee: Burford started 21 games at left tackle and 20 more at left guard, and he’s both young (21) and athletic. The Packers could see him as the ideal player to develop after losing Billy Turner. Mays also fits as a replacement; he started games at four of five positions along the offensive line and has the athleticism and physicality to help replace Lucas Patrick as a super-sub inside.
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Day 1: George Karlaftis, Purdue: He dominated as an 18-year-old true freshman in the Big Ten and is now entering the NFL draft as a well-rounded 21-year-old talent capable of landing in the first round. Karlaftis might lack ideal length and twitch, but he is a powerful edge rusher who can also move inside and disrupt from different alignments. The Packers need a replacement for Za’Darius Smith, and Karlaftis – given his age and playstyle – looks like the perfect option in the first round.
Day 2: Drake Jackson, USC: Jackson is the twitchy, bendy rusher with huge potential as a 21-year-old entering the draft. Like Karlaftis, he was highly productive as an 18-year-old true freshman, and his athletic profile – even at 273 pounds – suggests he could be a disruptive edge rusher in time at the next level. On Day 2, Jackson is well worth the gamble, especially for a team like the Packers in need of a developmental third option.
Day 3: Amare Barno, Virginia Tech: He’s a little light (246 pounds), but it’s hard to ignore his combination of athleticism (9.72 RAS) and production (21.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks in 18 starts). With the right development, Barno could be a valuable situational pass-rusher and full-time special teams weapon at the next level.
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Day 1: Dax Hill, Michigan: He might be more slot cornerback than full-time safety, but Hill’s versatility and ability to impact the game near the line of scrimmage is what gives him so much value and appeal to the Packers. Even as a rookie, he could play a bunch of snaps as the third safety or as a designated slot defender. Given his incredible combination of length, foot quickness and instincts