ESPN draft experts reveal potential trend-breaking pick for Green Bay Packers

There are two positions the Green Bay Packers typically don’t address in the first round of the NFL Draft: wide receiver and offensive tackle.

That could be set to change with the 2024 NFL Draft based on ESPN‘s latest mock draft. ESPN‘s NFL Draft experts have the Packers selecting Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham with a top-10 pick in the Draft.

“Another team that needs a lot of help, whether it’s at quarterback, offensive line, wide receiver, safety,” ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid said. “There’s so many different positions or different directions that the Packers can go. But the thing that’s really interesting about the Packers is that with offensive line and wide receiver, it’s kinda of a mirror image of each other where they simply just don’t select them on Day 1.

“They kinda rely on their draft and development method with them and they’ve had some success with players at both spots, but I went against the grain here and I went with offensive tackle. I went with JC Latham, just because they have such a huge need at offensive tackle. I think JC Latham will be a plug-and-play option for them.”

Packers in need of help in the trenches

Latham is one of the best offensive tackle prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft and is having another stellar season on the Crimson Tide’s offensive line. The 6-foot-6, 360-pounder has featured at right tackle for Alabama, surrendering just two sacks in eight games. He had one of his best games of the season in the 34-20 victory over No. 21 Tennessee this past Saturday, not allowing a single sack, pressure or quarterback hit.

The Packers (2-4), certainly could use some help on their offensive line to help protect quarterback Jordan Love, especially with left tackle David Bakhtiari‘s future uncertain. Bakhtiari, who has undergone multiple surgeries on his knee in the last three years, announced earlier this month he needs one more and hopes to be ready by training camp next season.

Bakhtiari, 32, has suited up in just 13 games since tearing his ACL in December 2020. After playing in 11 games last season, Bakhtiari was back at left tackle for the 38-20 Week 1 victory over the Chicago Bears. Bakhtiari looked like his All-Pro self in the win, but his knee began swelling in the days after. The Packers placed him on injured reserve on Sept. 28.