It’s almost that time. Like kids tearing open presents at Christmas, the draft means some of us will get that dream present, the Red Ryder bb gun or Rock’Em Sock’Em robots. Others will get the boring, but necessary, socks or underwear. In this metaphor, guards and blocking tight ends equal socks and underwear.

This weekend, the Packers will get draft a couple potentially good or great players. I’d be fine with numerous wide receivers like McMillan, Higgins or Golden, same for defensive tackles like Harmon, Grant or Nolan. It’s a fools errand to guess which position gets picked first, but we’re all fools for the draft.

Real impacts

If you want to know who the most impactful draft picks for the Packers next year, then look at Jordan Morgan, Lukas Van Ness, Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt. Yes, buzzkill, I know. But it’s the truth.

This doesn’t mean any of these players will be great in 2025. The point is, the biggest impact, good or bad, will be from the last 4 top draft picks. Each are in defining seasons of their careers. None of them have looked like stars. None should be called busts.

Entering their 2nd, 3rd and 4th seasons they’ll be bringing Brian Gutekunsts’ draft grades into sharp focus. At this point each player has been, well, pick an adjective: underwhelming, average, so so, “meh.” Yet each has also earned their share of playing time.

Paying Walker and Wyatt

Gutekunst was recently quoted saying the Packers will pay market rate to keep Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt. The 5th year option price is $14.7 million annually for Walker and $13.9 million for Wyatt. The Packers could also sign them to longer contracts at some compromise price. Given their less than impact performances, would either get that much on the open market? It’s hard to say.

LVN watch

As the 13th overall pick in 2023, Lukas Van Ness may have the greatest pressure to pick up his game. He’s been healthy, and solid contributor in run defense, but mostly a non-factor as a pass rusher. Plus, he seemed to regress in 2024.

Jordan Morgans’ rookie year should mostly be graded “incomplete” because he missed 11 games. He’s expected to compete with Rasheed Walker for the starting left tackle spot, but is a long shot to claim that job. Most likely, he’s the swing tackle, backing up left and right tackles, unless takes the right guard job from Sean Rhyan.

Time to live up to their status, or not

Proving yourself a bust is one way to show impact. That’s the impact of missed value on a high draft pick. Alternatively, Walker, Wyatt, Van Ness or Morgan could have a breakout season to demonstrate they are impact picks. Those four will likely have bigger impacts on the Packer season than any player drafted this weekend.

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