Analyst: Packers could make ironic draft move following Aaron Rodgers trade

Analyst: Packers could make ironic draft move following Aaron Rodgers trade,The Green Bay Packers finally traded quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets on Monday, ending the longest tenure of any player in franchise history.

Analyst: Packers could make ironic draft move following Aaron Rodgers trade

The Green Bay Packers finally traded quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets on Monday, ending the longest tenure of any player in franchise history.

Rodgers won four MVP Awards and a Super Bowl title in Green Bay, but NFL Network’s Peter Schrager believes that won’t stop the Packers from making a vengeful first-round selection.

Schrager recently spoke with Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” (taped before Monday’s trade) to discuss predictions for the 2023 NFL Draft and what he’s hearing from around the league. During the conversation, host Dan “Big Cat” Katz, an avid Chicago Bears fan, expressed that he hopes the Packers take a wide receiver in the first round.

In Katz’s view, it’d simply be humorous since Green Bay didn’t add a pass-catcher in the first round of the 17 drafts Rodgers was on the roster for. Although Katz’s hope is purely for his entertainment, his idea may not be so outlandish, according to Schrager.

“I think they might,” Schrager said. “The way it’s working out, I think all those receivers could be available at 15. They have never taken a receiver or a tight end in all of [Rodgers’] years in the first round, and I think they might take a receiver or a tight end.”

The Packers have needs at both positions, losing WRs Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb this offseason, along with TEs Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis. Prioritizing either position early in the draft is a sensible approach. However, Schrager believes such a decision would be motivated by Rodgers’ off-field behavior, particularly during negotiations with New York.

“Look, he goes on [The Pat McAfee Show], I thought he was pretty eloquent, I thought he was pretty good, the Jets loved it,” he continued.”You don’t thank the [Packers] GM, or you don’t thank the current president… little things like that, well, we’ll take a receiver, and we’ll make sure Jordan Love is going to have as much success as possible next season.”

Packers drafting a wide receiver out of spite? pic.twitter.com/HEAjxAsJw0

— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) April 24, 2023

Last week, Schrager released his mock draft 1.0, with the Packers selecting Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, likely the first receiver to go off the board, at pick 15. A hamstring issue limited Smith-Njigba to three games last season, but in 2021 he outproduced eventual first-rounders Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, recording 95 receptions for 1,606 yards.

Thanks to the Rodgers trade, the Packers jumped to the 13th pick, giving them a better shot at landing Smith-Njigba or another receiver if they decide to draft one.

The 2023 NFL Draft, hosted in Kansas City, begins on Thursday.