NEWSLETTER
Pundits have long been predicting a run of receivers going off the board into the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. And the buzz in the hours leading into the first night of the draft is no different.
And because there is a growing possibility that there won’t be a bunch of quarterbacks going early (which would result in quality position players being pushed down the board) teams with eyes for specific prospects might need to make moves up the draft in order to get who they want. We’ve often been looking at this scenario unfolding from a Bears perspective, especially since they don’t have a first-round pick. As it turns out, their longest running rival could beat them to the punch:
Another team exploring a move up: the #Packers, who own Nos. 22 and 28 and may need to move up for their receiver of choice. https://t.co/aLHSr2PfSv
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 28, 2022
NFL Network insider Tom Peliserro reports the Packers are a team “exploring a move up” in the draft. Specifically, Pelissero tweets the team could need to do so in order to secure a place where it can select the receiver of its choice. Remember, the Packers dealt Davante Adams to the Raiders and lost both Marquez Vales-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown in free agency. Sure, the Pack has struck back by taking a flier on free agent Sammy Watkins. But that isn’t going to move the needle for Aaron Rodgers, whose top returning receiving targets are Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb. With all due respect, those names aren’t striking fear in the heart of defensive backfields. Hence, it would make sense for this front office to make a move for a particular receiver.
Owners of the 22nd and 28th picks in tonight’s first round, Green Bay has ample ammo to trade up. And with a host of teams having the desire to trade down, there is a real possibility that teams with multiple first-rounders could be just what some of these trade-back candidates could be looking for in a trade partner. Hopefully, they won’t take a receiver who would otherwise be on the Bears’ radar in Round 2. Heck, maybe they’ll draft another quarterback just to shock us all. I doubt it. But they’ve made surprising picks before and I’d root for it to happen again. Unfortunately, I’ve had this feeling for a while that the Packers would muck up Bears plans. Here’s hoping I’m wrong again.
