Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK Analyst says Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love has done enough to warrant praise for his selection. Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema recently took on a fascinating exercise. Sikkema looked at the last decade of the NFL and attempted to re-draft each individual first-round selection in the draft based on all of the choices made over the last ten years. For example, the eighth overall pick came down to running Christian McCaffrey and linebacker Roquan Smith, who Sikkema considered to be the top players who were picked in that slot over the last decade. So how many Green Bay Packers made the list? Per Sikkema, the green and gold have three players who make the cut — which is well above average. Green Bay’s highest draft choice in Sikkema’s re-draft is cornerback Jaire Alexander, who edged out the likes of Marcus Peters — who was drafted three years before Alexander — for the 18th overall spot. The icing on the cake here is that general manager Brian Gutekunst essentially got Alexander for free, as the New Orleans Saints traded two first-round picks — one which was used on Alexander — in their trade-up for Marcus Davenport. Alexander may not have as many career interceptions as Marcus Peters, but his coverage highs have been just as good and his coverage lows have been much higher, with 73.0 being his lowest single-season coverage grade — and that was his rookie season. When healthy, Alexander is a true CB1 who can play on the outside or in the slot. The next name on the list might be a little surprising, considering that he’s only put a half year of great tape on film, but quarterback Jordan Love got the nod for the 26th overall slot. Honorable mentions for Sikkema were pass-rusher Montez Sweat and receiver Calvin Ridley. Hopefully, Love can keep his standing after he ends up signing his megadeal at some point this summer. It has taken a few years, but even the one season we saw of Love makes him the choice for this list. From Week 8 on in 2023, Love was PFF’s second-highest-graded passer. His 26 big-time throws in that span were also the second most. Calvin Ridley and Montez Sweat are solid options, but Love’s current peak trumps each of their longer periods of success. You don’t have to wait long after Love before the final Packer comes off the board, as nose tackle Kenny Clark was Sikkema’s selection for the 27th overall choices. Clark, who has played 3-4 defensive end, 3-4 nose tackle and will now play 4-3 nose tackle for the Packers, has been the steadiest force on an everchanging defensive line. According to the PFF analyst, honorable mentions for this draft slot were cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Byron Jones. Tre’Davious White had a fantastic rookie season but was never really able to replicate it. Byron Jones has also put together good seasons, but nothing at the elite level. As for Clark, he earned back-to-back elite single-season grades in 2017 and 2018, and though he hasn’t hit that elite mark since, he has been a steady presence along the Packers’ defensive line. He gets the nod for his ceiling and longevity. While three Green Bay were picked outright by Sikkema, only one other Packer was given an honorable mention designation: pass-rusher Rashan Gary. Gary was edged out by the Dallas Cowboys’ Micah Parsons, who was also picked 12th overall, but even being included in that conversation after Gary sat for the better portion of his first two years in the league — especially after his 2022 ACL tear — just goes to show you how impactful Gary is when he’s on the field. New Packers running back Josh Jacobs was also an honorable mention selection for the 25th overall draft slot, but he was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders, not the Packers. It’s hard to give the team credit for that one. https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2024 ... ordan-love
