It was fun while it lasted.
For a few weeks there, it really felt like the Packers were going to buck the trend. And by 'trend,' what I really mean is 'their own organizational philosophy that they've been dogmatic about for two decades.'
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The Packers don't take wide receivers in the first round. They just don't. GM Brian Gutekunst has his reasons, and it's hard to ignore 20 literal years of precedent. But this year was different – they, uh, didn't fare that well with wide receivers in free agency, and when it was reported that they've met with more wide receiver prospects than any other position this offseason, people got to talkin'.
But the dream officially died on Thursday morning; you can blame ESPN. The worldwide leader dropped a big 'draft intel' roundup, and the Packers' blurb is just about the biggest buzzkill you can imagine.
Packers' (supposed) draft plan is the most Packers thing you'll read all day
"A rival scout told me that his team expects the Packers to focus on adding defensive players for Jeff Hafley's scheme in the early rounds. He predicted that Green Bay would draft a cornerback in Round 1 and a defensive tackle in the second round before shifting to a value receiver pick in Round 3."
Sigh. So, to recap: not only are they not taking a wide receiver in the first round, but they're instead doubling-down and waiting until the third?? That was NOT the plan, gang. I was promised (by random people on the internet) a first round wide receiver, and promises are a serious thing. A cornerback in the first round would be fine, sure, but would it be *exciting?* I was planning on spending Thursday night creating whichever wide receiver they drafted on Madden and then beating the Bears 42-7 – now it kinda feels like I'm only going to beat the Bears 28-7.
Hopefully this is just another classic example of a rival scout trying to get in the Packers' head. They've certainly got in mine.