2023 NFL Draft: Ranking the Packers' picks by potential for Year 1 impact

The Packers selected 13 players in the 2023 NFL Draft. Some of those picks have an easier road to contributing on the field than others.

In the NFL, it typically takes years to gain the perspective necessary to fully judge a draft class. Teams select prospects primarily on the basis of their long-term outlook, and often that potential doesn't manifest on the field during a player's rookie season.

Still, for the 2023 Green Bay Packers, first-year contributions from their rookie class matter more than most other clubs. This offseason saw general manager Brian Gutekunst trade away four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, handing the keys to the franchise to Jordan Love in the process. That sea change has brought about a youth movement for the Packers. Between the projected starters on offense and defense, only two have reached their 30s and more than half are currently 25 or younger.

With experience an increasingly precious commodity in Green Bay, at least some of their rookies will have to step into significant roles and make a difference. But some first-year players have better chances of delivering that impact than others. Draft position dictates opportunity to a certain degree, but the Packers' depth chart will also provide clearer paths to the field at certain positions. And, of course, prospects don't enter the NFL at the same stage of development.

Accounting for all those factors -- though not for future injuries given the unpredictable nature of player health -- here's a subjective ranking of the Packers' newly minted draft picks in terms of likeliness to play a meaningful role this season.

13. Sean Clifford, QB, Penn State

If everything breaks Sean Clifford's way during training camp and the preseason, he will serve as Love's backup during the 2023 season. But even in such a scenario, Clifford's opportunities to see the field would remain limited. Should Love suffer an injury that keeps him sidelined for an extended period, the Packers would presumably sign a veteran to take over the offense in short order. And as a prospect few expected to hear his name called during the draft, Clifford doesn't even have a guaranteed spot on the 53-man roster at this juncture. Perhaps he defies the odds, but he needs to demonstrate a lot more than he has previously shown to deserve the benefit of the doubt.

12. Grant DuBose, WR, Charlotte

As with most of Green Bay's late-round selections, Grant DuBose checks all the boxes for size and athleticism the team traditionally requires for his respective position. But for the Charlotte product to earn a spot on the 53-man roster, he'll have to make his mark on special teams. DuBose doesn't have much of a track record as a returner, recording just nine punt returns during his college career. More likely, he'll have to become one of the top gunners to see regular playing time.

11. Carrington Valentine, CB, Kentucky

The Packers don't lack for depth at cornerback, especially once Eric Stokes returns to action. That means a seventh-round pick like Carrington Valentine will most likely earn a job this year via special teams. Valentine didn't return kickoffs or punts at Kentucky, so he'll probably have to find a role on the coverage units. That certainly could happen, but he has plenty of competition.

10. Lew Nichols, RB, Central Michigan

Though selected after Valentine, Lew Nichols has a simpler path to a role on offense. Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon will again serve as the one-two punch in the backfield, but the Packers have little else settled behind them. Patrick Taylor and Tyler Goodson return from 2022, but both spent at least part of last season on the practice squad and don't necessarily have the inside track to spots on the 53. If Nichols can overcome his speed limitations -- he reportedly ran a 4.82 second 40-yard dash at his pro day -- he could slip ahead as the No. 3 running back. Still, that role sees limited action on offense, and Nichols might simply end up on the practice squad anyway.

9. Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Virginia

Of all the wide receivers in the 2023 rookie class, arguably none has as Packers-y a profile than Dontayvion Wicks. At 6-foot-1 and 206-pound with a Relative Athletic Score of 9.17, he checked all the boxes the team looks for at the position. Wicks also came at a discount following a production decline his senior season at Virginia, a drop-off he attributes to the coaching change that took place last offseason. Given that Green Bay selected a wideout ahead of him, some have drawn comparisons to last year's Day 2/Day 3 combo of Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. Wicks shouldn't have such expectations as a rookie, but he might carve out a meaningful role in the offense before season's end.