The 2023 season is an important one for the Green Bay Packers as it will impact the direction that the team goes in for the immediate future. All eyes will be on quarterback Jordan Love, who is taking over as the starter for the first time. He will be looking to cement his status as the team’s franchise quarterback long-term.
While locked into the starting spot in 2023, the future for Love is up in the air. He signed an extension that could keep him as the starter in 2024, but a lot will depend on how well he plays during the upcoming season.
If the Packers struggle, they could be in a position to land one of the top quarterback prospects in next year’s draft class. Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are considered the top two, but there are plenty of intriguing quarterbacks in the 2024 class.
But, Dalton Wasserman of PFF doesn’t believe that quarterback is the direction in which the Packers will go. He listed a draft prospect that each team in the NFC should be keeping an eye on and quarterback wasn’t even listed as a position of need.
Wide receiver, cornerback and interior offensive line were the listed potential positions of need. Sticking with their recent theme of first-round picks, Wasserman’s pick for a player to keep an eye on is on the defensive side of the ball in Alabama cornerback, Kool-Aid McKinstry.
“Green Bay’s success will depend on the roster construction around Jordan Love. Their pass catchers are talented but incredibly young. Their best chance to win will be through their running game and defense.
Kool-Aid McKinstry is someone who could make an immediate impact in 2024. He is currently PFF’s top-rated cornerback in the 2024 class and led the nation last season with 16 pass breakups. His 57.9 passer rating allowed is excellent considering he had 80 balls thrown his way, the eighth most in the country. The Packers have had issues finding someone to produce opposite Jaire Alexander. McKinstry could be the answer.”
That is certainly a head-scratching selection by Wasserman as cornerback is arguably the strongest position on the Packers. Jaire Alexander is a star and the team has Rasul Douglas under contract through 2024 behind him. Not to mention they used a 2021 first-round pick on cornerback Eric Stokes.
McKinstry is certainly an excellent prospect and would instantly upgrade the team’s secondary. But, it could be argued that using another first-round pick on a cornerback would be a poor use of the team’s assets.
With eight first-round picks already present on the defense, it would make sense for the Packers to start giving some of that attention to the other side of the ball. Building the roster up around Love so he has a chance to succeed is the No. 1 goal and finding a bonafide No. 1 receiver would go a long way in helping him achieve success.