The Green Bay Packers are gearing up for training camp getting underway in a few weeks. While all of the focus is on that, as the regular season is right around the corner, there are already some people that have an eye toward the next offseason and the 2024 NFL Draft.
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid recently did a 2024 NFL Mock Draft with some early first-round predictions. He determined the draft order using the Football Power Index over at ESPN and based on those predictions, the Packers came away with the No. 7 overall pick.
That selection is their own, as they are slated to pick again later on courtesy of the Aaron Rodgers trade with the New York Jets. With the seventh overall pick, Reid has projected Green Bay to select Notre Dame offensive tackle, Joe Alt.
“The Packers gave quarterback Jordan Love a one-year extension, meaning he could have more than just 2023 to prove he’s their starter. Now they need to get more help around him. At 6-7 and 317 pounds, Alt is a well-built tackle with all of the tools to be a high-level starter, though his game is a little raw at the moment. He is a little more technically advanced at this stage, but he reminds me of Brian O’Neill as a prospect. The Packers haven’t drafted an offensive lineman in the first round since 2011 (Derek Sherrod), but Alt is the type of prospect who could push Green Bay to break that trend.”
This selection is a bit surprising as the offensive line is one of the strengths of the Packers currently. However, it is a pick that could make a lot more sense depending on how things turn out with current left tackle, David Bakhtiari.
When healthy, Bakhtiari is one of the better left tackles in the NFL. Staying on the field, however, has been challenging as he has missed a lot of time in recent years with a knee injury.
If he shows in 2023 that he is still healthy and capable of playing at a high level, a contract extension is likely as his cap hit of more than $40 million in 2024 isn’t going to stay on the books, one way or another. By releasing Bakhtiari, the Packers would save $21.5 million.
Another injury-plagued season and that is likely the route that would be taken. A hole would also be created in the lineup, which Alt could step right into. Some more shuffling could occur so he isn’t thrown into the fire at LT right away, but Alt would certainly factor into the mix at right tackle at the very least.
Along with offensive tackle, other potential needs for the Packers in Reid’s opinion are safety and wide receiver. The only position that Green Bay has dedicated less early-draft capital to than offensive line is wide receiver, as they haven’t selected a pass catcher in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002.
