Packers 2022 Draft: Treylon Burks could be game-changer on offense

If the Green Bay Packers finally decide to draft a wide receiver in the first round this year, Treylon Burks would be a great choice.

In what looks set to be yet another strong wide receiver class, Burks stands out as one of the best.

Recent history would suggest the Packers won’t consider drafting a wide receiver in the first round. They have passed up opportunities to do so in recent years. However, if you’re hoping this year might be different, there’s good reason to think it could be.

For starters, the Packers could lose a lot of receiving talent in free agency. Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Allen Lazard are among five free-agent receivers for the Packers. If they franchise tag Adams, re-signing other receivers could be difficult.

Just because the Packers haven’t drafted a receiver in the first round, it doesn’t mean they haven’t wanted to. They reportedly tried to trade up for Justin Jefferson back in 2020.

So, maybe this year will be different. And if Burks is there at No. 28, he could undoubtedly help this offense.

Burks is coming off an excellent final season at Arkansas. He had 66 catches for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 16.7 yards per reception.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has Burks 11th in his prospect rankings, writing that he “will need some time to develop, but he has A.J. Brown-type upside”.

Right now, we don’t know Davante Adams’ future. If he’s gone, Burks could eventually become a star WR1 in Matt LaFleur’s offense. If Adams signs a new deal, the two could form a dominant receiving partnership over the next few seasons.

Burks has great size at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds. He also brings a lot of versatility. Daniel Jeremiah noted in his article that Burks lined up “outside, in the slot, at running back and as a Wildcat QB”.

If Burks falls to No. 28 overall, it would be difficult to pass up the opportunity to draft him. There’s every chance he’s gone well before then, with many mocks drafts having Burks selected inside the top 15.

But with so much receiving talent in this draft, you just never know. If he makes it as far as the 20s, would the Packers consider trading up?