Packers 2023 three-round mock draft featuring Aaron Rodgers trade

Round 1 (15): Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

I know, I know. The Packers drafting a running back in the first round? It will never happen. But I said at the top of this mock draft that we were going to have some fun.

And hear me out.

Bijan Robinson can be a special player in the NFL. He absolutely dominated at college, rushing for 2,707 yards and 29 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Texas.

According to Pro Football Focus, he forced 104 missed tackles in 2022. They noted that he is the first player in the PFF era to force over 100 missed tackles in a season.

Meanwhile, The Draft Network has Robinson ranked third in the entire draft class.

Keith Sanchez of The Draft Network wrote that “Robinson has the potential to be one of the rare running backs that can single-handedly carry a team to wins.”

Why a running back for the Packers in the first round?

Given their salary cap situation, the Packers could move on from Aaron Jones. He has a cap hit of $20.01 million in 2023, but the team would create $10.46 million by releasing him.

By drafting Robinson, Green Bay would take the pressure off its young quarterback by adding one of the best running backs out of college in recent memory. He would form a dominant 1-2 punch in the backfield with AJ Dillon.