Recapping Packers’ Day 3 Of NFL Draft: Two Trades Up, More Safeties And A QB

The Packers got aggressive early on Day 3, trading a sixth-round pick at No. 190 to the New York Jets to move up 15 spots in the fourth round to No. 111. The sixth-round pick sent to the Jets was originally acquired from a trade down with the Saints on Day 2. By the trade value chart, the Packers slightly won the trade.

Building the depth at safety was clearly a top priority for the Packers in this draft. Williams, who played four seasons at Fresno State and one at Oregon, has a nice mix of athleticism, physicality and versatility. Like Javon Bullard, the Packers think he can play in the post or in the slot, and Williams doesn’t fear contact. He’ll be a special teams asset right away. If Bullard ends up playing more in the slot long-term, Williams could have a real shot at being a future starter next to Xavier McKinney.

Another trade up, this time in the fifth round. The Packers sent a sixth-round pick (No. 219) to the Buffalo Bills to move up five spots from No. 168 to No. 163. It was a decently expensive price to pay to move up only a few spots. Brian Gutekunst might have gotten impatient after waiting so long to make a pick — over 50 picks were made between No. 111 and No. 163.

A classic Packers offensive line selection. Monk is highly athletic (RAS: 9.74), versatile (played guard, center and right tackle) and experienced (58 career starts), and the Packers love that he was a two-time team captain at Duke. They think he’s tough and smart enough to be the swing guard-center. It’s even possible Monk could be the future starter at center, where Josh Myers is entering the final year of his deal.

The Packers took a third safety, emphatically checking the box for help behind Xavier McKinney within the rebuilt position group. Unlike Javon Bullard and Evan Williams, Oladapo is more of the traditional strong safety type, and the Packers think he can play some big nickel linebacker at 6-2 and 216 pounds. His size and playstyle look made for playing the robber role and in the box next to McKinney in Jeff Hafley’s defense. Like Williams, Olapado has future starting potential if Bullard becomes a bigger factor in the slot.

The Packers loved his size (6-6, 317), experience (57-game starter) and potential versatility (played both tackle spots and guard), and they felt he showed he belonged during the Senior Bowl and pre-draft process. Glover lacks high-end athleticism, but his length and power are real assets. He’ll turn 24 later this year. The Packers need to find a swing tackle to develop, and Glover will get a chance to grow into the role if he can stick on the roster.

Brian Gutekunst wasn’t lying; he wants to get back to drafting quarterbacks every year. Pratt was a four-year starter at Tulane who threw 90 touchdown passes, rushed for 28 more scores and improved his completion percentage each season. Matt LaFleur was surprised he was still available in the seventh round. Pratt will get an opportunity to come in and compete with Sean Clifford for the backup quarterback job behind Jordan Love. Can he win the job? Can he develop into a future asset?

The Packers waited until the third-to-last pick in the draft to take a cornerback, reflecting the team’s confidence in the position group entering the draft. In King, the Packers are getting a potential high-upside prospect who was a dominant player as a true sophomore in 2022 but came crashing back down to earth in 2023. Can the Packers get King — who had 21 pass breakups and three picks during an All-American season in 2022 — back to his disruptive coverage ways? Some considered him a future first-rounder entering the 2023 season. A lack of top-end speed (ran 4.61 in the 40 at the combine) may limit his ceiling. At this point in the draft, it was certainly worth trying to find out if King’s ascending potential can be salvaged.