We're in the thick of December and usually, Packers fans are thinking about one thing....the playoffs. Whether it's seeding, potential playoff/Super Bowl opponents, or home-field advantage, Packers fans are accustomed to wondering if this is truly their year. Unfortunately, this time around Packers fans may be left wondering if their 20+ year run of being regulars in the NFL postseason might be finally coming to an end. While the Packers are still holding on to a very slim chance to make the playoffs, it's more likely that the Packers will be holding out hope for a serious haul of new talent in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. If General Manager Brian Gutekunst plays his cards right, the Packers could reload at several positions of need for a bounce-back year. 

Given the Packers' decision to continue to make a push for the playoffs, the Packers have taken a slight tumble down the Draft, once picking as high as 9th, but now currently slated to pick 14th. The 14th Overall Pick may not be as "sexy" as a pick in the Top-5 or even the Top-10, but if there's one thing you can be sure about is that Gutekunst will try to maximize his value by moving up or down the board as he sees fit. Who might those players be that the Packers' Front Office might covet? Part II of Joseph's Gems is here for The Pick.

If you missed out on Part I, you can revisit that here. But let's do a quick recap on where we started roughly a month ago:

WR Quentin Johnston, TCU/Prototypical X-Receiver

TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame/Traditional Y Tight End

OT Paris Johnson Jr, Ohio State/Franchise Left Tackle

Edge Myles Murphy, Clemson/Scheme Diverse Defender who can play from 2-Point/3-Point and in Odd/Even Fronts

So without further adieu, "....with the 14th Overall Pick, the Green Bay Packers MIGHT select:"

Michael Mayer, TE - Notre Dame

In the previous edition of "Gems", the first thing I was excited about with Mayer is the fact that Gutekunst could most likely trade out of the Top-10 and get potentially a Day 2 pick in return. However, in this scenario, I don't expect Mayer, who had yet another 65-catch, 800-yard season to escape the Top-20; and that's just fine on value if the Packers make him the selection at 14th Overall. Mayer's only downfall may be that he's not the athletic burner that NFL teams yearn for, and that too is also okay. What the Packers will get is a traditional TE who can play in tight immediately and run block well, giving the offense additional flexibility in sets. Mayer won't run away from many pro-defensive backs but he will create problems for linebackers with his excellent body control and catch radius which makes him dangerous when isolated on a single defender. What I also really like is once he does get a full head of steam he can be really dynamic with his push to create extra yards by either running through the defender or angling his body to create leverage and get out or away from would-be tacklers. Like RB A.J. Dillon, there will be many a defender that might have to make a "business decision or two" once he's full speed ahead. Mayer may not be the sexiest downfield weapon but with a career YPC of 11.5 at Notre Dame, he can provide the missing wrinkle in the passing game for Green Bay. Presently, Marcedes Lewis is the only TE under contract in 2024, and for all intents and purposes, he's more of a sixth offensive lineman than a downfield weapon. Both Gutekunst and the roster are still feeling the sting of flops Jace Sternberger and Josiah Deguara. If Robert Tonyan isn't given a new deal, either due to the Packers not being interested or because he's offered better money elsewhere, the TE position could be really sore in the next two seasons.

Brian Branch, S - Alabama

Branch is listed as a Safety, but he's really a hybrid defender who lines up just about everywhere in the secondary for the Crimson Tide. He's not Minkah Fitzpatrick, but he plays the "Star" position that was Minkah's claim to fame. In fact, Branch led the 2nd-most efficient defense in Alabama's Saban era, behind only Fitzpatrick's in 2017. That's saying ALOT given the "stud factory" Alabama has become since Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa. What really gets me pumped up about Branch is he has the highest tackling grade in all of college football at 92.0. In his ENTIRE college football career, he's missed only TWO(just two!) tackles, with the most recent being all the way back in 2020. Given the Packers' struggles in not only the run defense but tackling, that's a mentality I would love to see in Joe Barry's struggling, discombobulated scheme. The Packers have been really struggling on the backend with the decline of Darnell Savage, which I personally feel is not only a scheme issue but a mental one; and Adrian Amos while still playing above board may be a future cap casualty as he gets older. If the addition of Branch to this unit causes no overnight improvement, that's yet another indictment on the loathsome defensive coordinator.

Jared Verse, OLB - Florida State

Verse transferred to the Seminoles last year from FCS' Albany and transformed their defense overnight. As an Armchair GM, I don't believe in designated pass rushers, if you're on the edge, you better be able to stop the run, and Verse has a nose for the football in run support. Verse has the athleticism to chase down the ball carrier on the back side of the play behind the line, with a quick first step to shoot gaps when the offense attacks his side of the ball. Verse will generate sacks too, with an 85.2 pass rushing garnered from his 7.5 sacks this season. The scary part is Verse looks like a stud after only one year in the ACC, he's still got plenty of growth in his game and with the right coaching and mentorship we could be looking at an All-Pro by his 3rd NFL season. As the saying goes, "you can never have too many edge rushers....", but in this case, the Packers simply don't have enough, especially given the loss of Rashan Gary to injury for the season, who'll probably need 18 months to get back to 100%. Kingsley Enagbare, who I spurned during the 2022 Draft has been a pleasant surprise, but the Packers are 1 more injury away from street free agents being in the starting lineup. I love Preston Smith, and I hope he doesn't become a cap casualty, but it's a possibility given the Packers' cap woes. Now some might say that a 1st Rounder isn't necessary to address the edge position, but Rashan Gary was selected 12th Overall when the Packers had both Preston and Za'Darius Smith in the starting lineup, and you see how that panned out. 

Paris Johnson Jr., OT - Ohio State

The familiar Johnson bookends Part II of this series, as he's still the #2 OT on my Board in regards to talent, but because of projected metrics(length & athleticism), he's my de-facto #1 OT (don't let that trip you up) that should "slide" to the Packers at #14. Johnson is continuing to plow through the season with only 8 total allowed pressures against some of the best defensive fronts in the country and despite their unraveling against the defensive juggernaut that is Michigan, Johnson was one of the lone bright spots the entire game. With the CFB Playoff pitting the Buckeyes against the defending champions the Georgia Bulldogs, I expect him to continue his streak of not letting anyone get past him and into the pocket. Johnson's explosiveness, physicality, leadership, and versatility at LT, RT, and RG can't be overstated, which should finally allow the Packers' offensive line unit to finally settle into a group that can grow together. Whether it's Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love, the QB needs to be protected at all times; plus somebody's gotta make holes for Aaron Jones or A.J. Dillon to run through. If Brian Gutekunst and Russ Ball are as savvy as we know them to be, they should be able to restructure and get back exactly what the Packers spent in draft capital to get David Bakhtiari, a 4th Round Pick, saving about $7M on the salary cap. Given Bakhtiari's struggles to remain in the starting lineup and the Packers' financial chickens finally coming home to roost, this is a move that may prove to be a necessary one despite any potential elite talent left on the board. 

With two iterations down, we've had two players stick around, with two new ones arriving in the spotlight. Keep in mind, the fact that Mayer and Johnson stuck around for a pick that's 5 selections later is no black mark on their respective parts, but as the season progresses players will rise and fall to include the NFL teams that will ultimately select them as we get closer to the final standings. Looking at the current Draft Order, this upcoming week could see a ton of movement given that several teams have the same records or are within 1 or 2 games of each other; going from inside the Top-5 to possibly touching the Top-20. With some high-profile matchups yet to be played and many teams continuing to push for the playoffs, the Packers are just as likely to find themselves back inside the Top-10 as they are in the Top-20. Stay tuned to CheeseheadTV.com, where we'll wrap up our prospecting as we finalize the 2022 postseason matchups.

#GPG