The Green Bay Packers are building a strong contender in the NFC North, and even though they finished in second place behind the Detroit Lions this past season, they might only be a couple of key pieces away from being Super Bowl contenders next year.
Even picking late in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, there are a handful of first-round targets that could boost the Packers' Super Bowl chances next year.
This is a deep draft class at a variety of position groups, especially at some positions of need for the Packers. Funny how that works, isn't it?
Looking at this crop of prospects, which players could legitimately boost the Packers' title hopes in 2024? Let's look at a handful.
1. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
One area of the roster the Green Bay Packers and GM Brian Gutekunst must address this offseason is the cornerback position. The Packers had to make it work for a good portion of the 2023 season thanks to Eric Stokes not being able to stay healthy, and the team maximizing value on Rasul Douglas by trading him away to the Buffalo Bills.
With Stokes's future up in the air, and frankly the future of Jaire Alexander up in the air as well, the Packers could look to the cornerback position in round one once again this offseason.
Quinyon Mitchell is a major difference-maker at that position who might cost the Packers a bit in a trade up the NFL Draft board. He's currently slotted anywhere between the 10th-20th picks depending on who you ask, and the reasoning is simple: Very few defensive backs in the 2024 NFL Draft class got their hands on the ball as much as this guy.
At 6-foot-1, 199 pounds, Mitchell was a back-to-back All-American with 52 passes defended, with most of his production coming over the last two seasons (6 INT, 37 PD).
2. Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
Another player that you've probably seen frequently projected to the Green Bay Packers is Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean.
When you look at the way DeJean plays the game, you can't help but wonder if the Packers might be getting their hands on another Charles Woodson type. Hyperbole is the name of the game in draft season, and while I don't mean that DeJean is going to be Charles Woodson, I think you see some similarities in the overall package with DeJean's ability to shut it down in coverage, play physical, and play a huge role in the return game (and special teams in general).
There are few players in this draft class that I am certain will be high impact defensively from Day 1, but DeJean is one of them.
3. Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Another player who would likely cost the Green Bay Packers a bit to trade up for is Olu Fashanu, the outstanding offensive tackle prospect out of Penn State.
The Packers already have Fashanu's old teammate Rasheed Walker on the roster (and playing well) at the left tackle position, so the addition of Fashanu would require some vision on the Packers' part to make sure they've got the best combination of five guys up front, and that all five guys are in their best possible positions.
Sometimes kicking a guy to the right or left side isn't going to work out, but it would be fascinating if the Packers decided that Fashanu was worth moving up for and that they could make it work with both he and Walker at the tackle positions.
4. Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
We all know the Packers have a loaded group of young wide receivers right now, but let's just acknowledge for the moment that they lack a true go-to target in the passing game.
Perhaps that will end up being someone already on the roster. I think the Packers are clearly banking on that being Christian Watson, someone they just traded up for in the 2022 NFL Draft. But two years into the Christian Watson experience, the Packers have to be left wondering whether or not he's truly going to be that "go-to" threat in the passing game.
Trading up and getting someone like Rome Odunze? Well, that might set this Packers offense off. Odunze has true WR1 traits and production at the highest level, and even if it meant the Packers moving on from a talented player like Watson in a trade, I think adding Odunze as the top dog of this wide receiver corps would take this team to another level.
5. Taliese Fuaga, OL, Oregon State
One player whose stock just seems to keep on soaring by the day is Oregon State offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga. Fuaga is considered maybe the best overall run blocker in this year's draft class, and while we know the Packers are going to be slinging the ball around the yard with Jordan Love at QB, this team needs to have balance, and Fuaga can help provide that.
Although you don't typically consider a position like guard to be that big of a game-changer in the NFL Draft, adding an elite talent like this to come in and start immediately at right guard to replace Jon Runyan Jr. would be massive for the Packers.
6. Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon
How do you become a true Super Bowl contender in the NFL? You build one of the league's best offensive lines, if at all possible. The Green Bay Packers have really done a good job of identifying talent on the offensive line in the NFL Draft and have a completely home-grown group up front as a result.
The question right now is -- do the Packers have enough talent on the offensive line, or are they banking too much on late-round players?
The Packers understandably have trusted player development, especially with Adam Stenavich working with the offensive linemen. I think it's fair to say there are questions on the interior offensive line with Jon Runyan Jr. clearly needing to be replaced. Jackson Powers-Johnson won the Rimington Award this past season as a center, but he's started at guard before as well. The Packers could play him at any interior spot.
7. Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
Troy Fautanu played left tackle for the Huskies but he's played both left tackle and left guard, and I think NFL teams are going to project him pretty much anywhere. He's such a fluid mover at the position and someone who packs a serious punch with his hand strength.
If the Packers were able to get their hands on Fautanu, they could once again consider some reshuffling on the offensive line this coming season. It's not so much about this team drafting a left tackle with David Bakhtiari on the way out. The Packers need to identify linemen that can help them at a variety of spots on the line, and build the best starting five possible.
I think if they come away from this year's draft doing that, they will be Super Bowl contenders from now on.