The Green Bay Packers put together a strong draft class, but they may regret passing on these four prospects.
It's hard to have too many complaints about the Green Bay Packers' draft class. They addressed many of their most significant needs and ensured the wide receiver and tight end depth is restocked to help first-year starter Jordan Love.
Nobody knows which prospects will become future stars and who won't meet expectations. A few years from now, we'll look back at the picks Green Bay got right, and ones it regrets. A couple of days after the draft, it's impossible to know which way it will turn out.
However, we can certainly predict which prospects could become excellent players in the NFL. Let's take a moment to look into the crystal ball. The Packers drafted well, but they may end up regretting passing on these four prospects.
4. Jordan McFadden, OL, Clemson
Drafted: Round 5 (No. 156) by Los Angeles Chargers
The Packers surprisingly didn't draft a single offensive lineman despite making 13 picks. While they have good depth and didn't necessarily need to add to the offensive line, they probably should have.
A perfect opportunity to do so came in the fifth round. Instead of drafting Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford, who may have still been available later on Day 3, the Packers could've selected Clemson offensive lineman Jordan McFadden.
McFadden offers positional versatility. He has experience playing at left and right tackle, but he is projected to play at guard in the NFL by many draft analysts. McFadden has starting potential, and it's a surprise he fell as far as he did in the draft.
Clifford may win the No. 2 QB job, which is important, but the Packers missed an opportunity to land a quality backup at multiple positions across the offensive line who could eventually start.
3. Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Drafted: Round 2 (No. 45) by Detroit Lions
Safety was a need for the Packers entering the draft, but GM Brian Gutekunst smartly didn't reach for a player at the position just for the sake of it. He waited until the seventh round, getting tremendous value by selecting Iowa State's Anthony Johnson Jr.
However, the Packers had an opportunity to take the best safety in the class, and it certainly wouldn't have been a reach. Alabama's Brian Branch is a first-round talent but was available when the Packers hit the clock in the second round. Green Bay traded the pick to the division-rival Detroit Lions, who selected Branch.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com compared him to three-time first-team All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick, writing that Branch is "one of the safest picks in the draft." With his ability to play at multiple positions in the secondary, including slot corner, he would've been a perfect fit in Green Bay.
The Packers would argue that they got great value in their double trade-down. Instead of drafting Branch at No. 45, they moved down twice, netting two additional Day 3 picks. They ended up with Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Karl Brooks.
That's great work by the Packers. They turned the No. 45 pick into three talented prospects, each with starting potential. However, it will be interesting to see if they end up regretting not taking Branch when they had the opportunity.
2. Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Drafted: Round 1 (No. 17) by New England Patriots
The Packers love to draft elite athletes at premium positions in the first round. Their pick at No. 13, Iowa edge rusher Lukas Van Ness, checks both boxes. Adding a pass rusher was a bigger priority than cornerback, but passing on Christian Gonzalez was a bold call.
Gonzalez has star potential in the NFL. The opportunity to pair Gonzalez with All-Pro Jaire Alexander and former first-rounder Eric Stokes must've been tempting.
"Explosive outside cornerback possessing a rare blend of physical and athletic traits," wrote Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.
With a Relative Athletic Score of 9.95 out of 10, Gonzalez is one of the best athletes in the draft class.
Gonzalez checks every box of a potential superstar at the cornerback position. Yes, corner wasn't a major need for the Packers, but for a team rebuilding in the post-Aaron Rodgers era, taking the best player available makes sense.
Maybe the Packers do believe they took the best player available in Van Ness.
But the opportunity to draft a cornerback with Gonzalez's potential doesn't come around all that often. The Packers may regret not picking him.
1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Drafted: Round 1 (No. 20) by Seattle Seahawks
The player so many Packers fans wanted in the first round. And he was there, still available, at No. 13 overall. Green Bay didn't need to trade up. But as they so often do, the Packers passed up the opportunity to draft a wide receiver early.
Green Bay did plenty of work to rebuild the receiving corps, both at wide receiver and tight end. The Packers added Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Grant DuBose at receiver, and Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft at tight end. That's a lot of talent they have added to the offense.
However, Packers fans will be closely watching how Jaxon Smith-Njigba does in Seattle. The Seahawks have a scary receiving trio of Smith-Njigba, DK Metcalf, and Tyler Lockett.
Smith-Njigba missed most of last season due to a hamstring injury, but that's about the only concern with drafting him. In 2021, he absolutely dominated, making 95 receptions for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. He had more receiving yards than Ohio State teammates Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, who were first-round picks last year.
The Packers did plenty of great work improving their receiving corps in this draft, but passing on Smith-Njigba may prove to be a mistake.