In the least-stunning sequence of events in NFL history, the Green Bay Packers opted to not bolster their offensive skill position group in Round 1. They never did it in Aaron Rodgers‘ 15 years as the Packers‘ starter, and they’re not doing it for Jordan Love’s first year as the Packers starting quarterback.
For the 21st straight year, the Packers don’t select a running back, wide receiver or tight end, extending the longest steak of not selecting an offensive skill position player (RB, WR, or TE) in Round 1 in the common draft era (since 1967). Green Bay had its shot at Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the consensus top wideout in the 2023 NFL Draft among many NFL teams. Green Bay also had its pick of any tight end in a deep class at the position. Instead, the Packers went defense, selecting Iowa Hawkeyes outside linebacker Lukas Van Vess 13th overall after moving up two spots in the opening round following their trade of Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets.
Longest drought without 1st-round RB, WR or TE
Common draft era (since 1967)
* Active streak
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst probably made the pick for Van Ness after seeing what happened to the team’s pass rush after ascending edge rusher Rashan Gary tore his ACL in Week 9 at the Detroit Lions. Green Bay had the 10th-best pressure rate in the NFL in 2022 at 34.6% — a strong year from a macro view in terms of bothering opposing quarterbacks. However, that figure is propped up by the first nine weeks of the season when its 39.8% rate was the second best in the NFL. During that span, Gary dominated with 38 pressures, tied for fifth most in the NFL, and six sacks. Once Weeks 10-17 rolled around — after the 25-year-old Gary went down with the torn ACL — they plummeted with the sixth-lowest rate in the league (29.7%).
Van Ness, who will turn 22 prior to the start of the 2023 NFL season, was a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2022. He racked up 13.0 sacks across the last two seasons, tied for the third most in the Big Ten in that span. His 74 quarterback pressures since 2021 were tied for the second most in the conference, just one behind the Big Ten leader, Wisconsin’s Nick Herbig, with 75. Van Ness also had a great NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.58 40-yard dash while measuring at 6-5, 272 pounds with great length (34-inch arms). He can be a nice long-term complement to Gary for years to…
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