Green Bay Packers take Iowa State safety Anthony Johnson Jr with pick No. 242

The Green Bay Packers have used their No. 242 pick in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft to take Iowa State safety Anthony Johnson Jr. He is the third selection of the seventh round for Green Bay, who entered the draft with four picks in the round.

It is the dawning of a new era in Green Bay. The Packers have moved on from their former MVP and future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Now enters their first-round pick from the 2020 NFL draft Jordan Love to lead the Packers’ offense going forward. And the addition of Johnson will go a long way in developing the new Packers’ roster.

The Packers are continuing to build their defense through the draft. Last year saw them spend their two first-round picks on defensive players linebacker Quay Walker and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt who were fresh off of a national championship victory at Georgia. With the addition of Johnson, Green Bay’s defense just added some more young talent that looks to be a fixture on that side of the ball for years to come.

After coming up short in the NFC championship game in back-to-back seasons, 2021 and 2022, Green Bay missed the playoffs in 2023. It was the first time the Packers missed the playoffs since 2018. This sparked another round of franchise-altering changes for the Packers as they have now parted ways with Rodgers and have given Jordan Love the keys to the franchise.

Late-round picks are often glanced over and disregarded for the headline picks of the first and second rounds of the draft. But given Green Bay’s history, those picks have turned into pro bowl offensive linemen David Bakhtiari, Corey Lindsey, and running back Aaron Jones.