Green Bay Packers ideal NFL Draft scenario post-Aaron Rodgers
3. Jartavius Martin, DB, Illinois (78th overall)
What do you love to see in the third round of the NFL Draft? Well, you want to see guys who could be eventual starters for you, you love to see value, and you certainly want to see versatility. I think Jartavius Martin could end up being a lot of teams’ top target in rounds 3-4 thanks to his ability to play multiple positions in the secondary.
And he can play them right away at the NFL level. You need him to play safety? Done. Slot? Done.
Former Illinois DB Jartavius Martin has a top-30 visit w/ the Commanders coming up, per source.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 7, 2023
Martin's hand-on-ball percentage (2.2%) is tops among safeties, and his time in the slot (64%) is the 2nd-highest, behind only Brian Branch (73%), per @football_sis.
The Green Bay Packers would probably love to have a versatile defensive back like Martin in this pick slot. I know it’s just a third-round pick but this is the kind of guy who can end up being such a good value because his floor is very high.
Green Bay Packers ideal 2023 NFL Draft recap
1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
2a. Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
2b. Adetomiwa Adebawore, EDGE, Northwestern
3. Jartavius Martin, DB, Illinois
This kind of draft class would support Jordan Love (or Aaron Rodgers). This draft would present excellent value at every turn. This draft would give the Packers a variety of instant contributors. Even if you knock out one of the second-round picks, this kind of draft class has the potential to be one of the best in the league given the Packers’ current context.
I think landing a player like Smith-Njigba is a borderline must for the Packers at this point and so is taking advantage of the depth of the tight end class. The Packers don’t have to go there in round one, but they very well could. One way or another, it’s time for Brian Gutekunst to change course a little bit and go after some talented skill players.