Packers: Redrafting the entire 2017 draft class five years on
Let’s jump into the time machine and head back five years. The Green Bay Packers had just successfully run the table, as Aaron Rodgers believed was possible, but were ultimately embarrassed by the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game.
Mike McCarthy was the head coach and the Packers were trying to make another Super Bowl.
How could the draft have gone differently in 2017?
Round 1 (29): T.J. Watt, EDGE, Wisconsin
Original pick: Traded
Instead of trading out of the first round and selecting Kevin King, the Packers could’ve gone with T.J. Watt.
Watt has 72 sacks in just five seasons. This year, he tied the record for most sacks in a single season with 22.5 and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Add in three first-team All-Pros and four Pro Bowls.
What a miss by the Packers.
Round 2 (61): Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
Original pick: Josh Jones, S
Wide receiver wasn’t a big need for the Packers in 2017, although Jordy Nelson was coming towards the end of his career.
Cooper Kupp has become one of the best receivers in football. In 2021, he led the league in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, with 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns. Simply unbelievable. He was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year as a result.
Round 3 (93): Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, Florida Atlantic
Original pick: Montravius Adams, DT
Instead of drafting Montravius Adams in the third round, the Packers could’ve gone with pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. Hendrickson has 27.5 sacks over the past two seasons and was a Pro Bowler in 2021. A Watt-Hendrickson pass-rush combination would’ve been huge for Green Bay’s defense.
Round 4 (134): George Kittle, TE, Iowa
Original pick: Jamaal Williams, RB
The Packers’ original pick of Jamaal Williams turned out to be a good one, but imagine George Kittle catching passes from Aaron Rodgers. Kittle is a three-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro, and has two 1,000-yard seasons.
Round 5 (175): Austin Ekeler, RB, Western Colorado
Original pick: DeAngelo Yancey, WR
The Packers don’t get Jamaal Williams a round earlier, but they end up with Austin Ekeler, one of the best three-down backs in football. Ekeler is a phenomenal pass catcher with 2,726 receiving yards and 24 receiving touchdowns in five seasons.
Round 5 (182): Aaron Jones, RB, UTEP
Original pick: Aaron Jones, RB
No need to change the pick here. Aaron Jones has been a superstar in Green Bay. A Pro Bowler in 2020, Jones has 5,611 total yards and 53 touchdowns in five seasons for the Packers.
Round 6 (212): Robert Tonyan, TE
Original pick: Kofi Amichia, OG
The Packers ended up signing Robert Tonyan later on, but drafting him could’ve sped up his development. Imagine Kittle and Tonyan together in the same offense.
Round 7 (238): Kenny Moore, CB
Original pick: Devante Mays, RB
Some defensive help late on. Kenny Moore has eight interceptions and 26 pass defenses over the past two seasons and was a Pro Bowler in 2021.
Round 7 (247): Patrick Ricard, FB
Original pick: Malachi Dupre, WR
The Packers wrap up the 2017 redraft with fullback Patrick Ricard, who has been a Pro Bowler in each of the past three seasons. Green Bay’s offense would be close to unstoppable with the addition of Ricard, Kupp, Kittle, Ekeler, Jones, and Tonyan.