Packers didn't select Jaxon Smith-Njigba or a wide receiver in the first round of 2023 NFL draft and Twitter had plenty to say about that
Well, the Green Bay Packers didn't select wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba or an offensive player as some may have hoped in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.
But that's hardly a surprise.
The Packers selected edge rusher Lukas Van Ness of Iowa, continuing the long trend of the franchise picking defensive players in the first round.
Now in the last three drafts and 11 of the last 12, the Packers have gone with defense in Round 1. The only year in that span that they picked an offensive player was when they selected quarterback Jordan Love in 2020.
Love will be the new starting quarterback in 2023 after the Packers traded Aaron Rodgers this week to the New York Jets. And if past years are any indication general manager Brian Gutekunst could give Love a receiver in the second round. That is where the Packers selected several second-round receiving stars Rodgers had over the years: Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams. And Christian Watson was the second pick of the second round in 2022.
But that didn't matter to those on social media. A long talking point was that the team never gave Rodgers a first-round receiver (2002 was the last time the Packers picked a receiver in the first round). That drought now continues with Love at the helm. And Twitter had plenty to say about it, including what people thought Rodgers' reaction was from afar.
Great introduction to playing QB for the Packers for Jordan Love.
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) April 28, 2023
wow we’re already giving Jordan Love the Rodgers treatment how nice https://t.co/XsP66q40JI
— Alli Pinter (@allipinter) April 28, 2023
Aaron Rodgers watching the Packers refuse to draft a WR for Jordan Love pic.twitter.com/im099NdmhI
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) April 28, 2023
Jordan Love realizing why Aaron Rodgers hated the Packers’ front office during every draft pic.twitter.com/Gi2LlHpauT
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) April 28, 2023
Aaron Rodgers is totally FaceTiming Jordan Love right now telling him he told him so. #NFLDraft #Packers pic.twitter.com/3IFjlWf5LL
— Delaney Brey (@DelaneyBrey) April 28, 2023
Jordan Addison and Jackson Smith-Njigba still available and they do this. A yearly tradition https://t.co/ek9gckc51X
— Stevie Buck (@sbuck10) April 28, 2023
I don't hate the Lukas Van Ness pick, but Brian Gutekunst really just passed on Jaxon Smith-Njigba pic.twitter.com/D5w173EAAA
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) April 28, 2023
— Adam Pfeifer (@APfeifer24) April 28, 2023
"Packers are drafting a WR this year"
Packers: pic.twitter.com/iTtYaWLGeV— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 28, 2023
With the Packers taking Lukas Van Ness, this is the 21st straight draft the Packers have not selected a RB, WR or TE in the 1st Round.
That's the longest drought in the Common Draft era (since 1967).
Their last such pick? WR Javon Walker in 2002. pic.twitter.com/2vR4WesmMG— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 28, 2023
another year another first round defensive pick https://t.co/zaFYRSNJyw pic.twitter.com/22v7Di9T2I
— Drew Beringer (@drewberinger) April 28, 2023
The Packers sure love picking Iowa players in the NFL draft (seven Hawkeyes have now been selected by Green Bay since 2002, including three in a four year stretch from 2010-13).
Green Bay loves @HawkeyeFootball players as much as any NFL franchise! https://t.co/74JMFn6CT8
— Chris Douglas (@ChrisDouglas515) April 28, 2023
The Packers drafting Iowa Hawkeye players will always be my favorite tradition…🖤💛💚💛
— Ashley Knoot (@ashley_gannaway) April 28, 2023
Do the Packers love the Iowa defense or what?
A rundown of former #Hawkeyes defensive players taken by the Pack:
Lukas Van Ness, Josh Jackson, Micah Hyde, Mike Daniels, Abdul Hodge, and Aaron Kampman...
And those are all since just 2002!— Owen Siebring (@owensiebring) April 28, 2023
Only eight other colleges have had more players drafted by the Packers.
Minnesota - 42
Wisconsin - 40
Southern California - 34
Michigan - 29
Notre Dame - 29
Ohio State - 25
Alabama - 24
Nebraska - 24
Iowa - 23— Packers History (@HistoricPackers) April 28, 2023
Packers draft tracker: Here's a look at Green Bay’s picks in 2023
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Packers Twitter reacts to first-round NFL draft pick Lukas Van Ness