For the first time since the “Long Night” better known as the 1980’s the Green Bay Packers find themselves late to party. No date to the dance and watching from the sidelines as the state of Wisconsin rejoices in watching championship contenders in the Brewers and Bucks guide us into the heat wave. Never in my lifetime have the Packers been an afterthought come spring. Typically, we’re ecstatic for the NFL Draft to come around as it sheds a glimmer of light into the upcoming season and watching the powerhouse the Packers have been for the better of 25+ years.

Now we’re aren’t talking about a rudderless team, without a franchise quarterback of future. This isn’t an obit for the Favre-Rodgers era after missing the playoffs two straight years which doesn’t happen in Titletown. How you should look at draft number two for Brian Gutekunst and number one for Matt LaFleur is your typical spring cleaning or stop to the auto service shop for your check engine light. In fact, thinking about Mike McCarthy (Who I believed in until the end) driving for two plus years with his check engine light on then getting stuck on the side of the road seems about fitting for how things have gone since the 2017 NFC Championship. Aaron Rodgers is still the second best QB in the league, he doesn’t care about *Jreg Gennings and he’s motivated as hell. For a guy that has a nice size shoulder on his chip already, giving him bulletin board material for an entire offseason is a drug trip that scares the rest of the National Football League.

Wisconsin’s former little brother teams to the Packers, the Bucks and Brewers may have stolen the lime light. We finally may have signed some successful free agents to recover from the brutal draft returns since 2011, but the NFL Draft is still our building block in the Badger State. Nashville, the home of country music, bad bachelorette Instagram photoshoots and the 2019 NFL Draft. Hopefully the weekend we remember when the Packers rebooted as an NFL championship contender.

I made my triumphant return to Wisconsin, what’s up fam!?! My writing skills are still subpar and still not sitting in the war room. I have done this since the Lowes Creek middle school days as my closest friends always ask for my draft preview. What do I know about the 2019 NFL Draft? Probably about as much as the outdated OakVegas Raiders Head Coach, Jon Gruden. Kyler Murray is the story of the draft and we might see Gruden trade the farm ala Mike Ditka-Ricky Williams for a quarterback who’s an incredible athlete, but still questions about his commitment (Not by me, kid wants to make money). Height naturally has never mattered to me and the NFL has been proven wrong as of late by clinging onto the historic ideal QB. The Cardinals or Giants should do the right thing and rebuild their team, not reach for a QB and put their name back in the hat in 2020 and 2021 for Tua Tagovailoa or Trevor Lawrence. They could still do that by trading back or waiting for Dwayne Haskins or Daniel Jones.

Back to what we care about, the Packers. I have said for months to the few that listen to me that the Packers wouldn’t make both picks at 12 and 30. I’d bet the mortgage payment on that statement if I had one. Trader Gutey will be fluid in round 1; jumping up if Nick Bosa, Josh Allen, Jonah Williams or Devin White start falling or trading back when T.J. Hockenson is off the board or a QB-needy team of your choice (Washington, Miami, etc) wants to jump up and reach. As soon as Hockenson goes off the board (Which I feel is too high for him/over correction, but do really like him) I believe the phones in Denver (trade back-in), New York Football Giants and Washington will start ringing. Noah Fant scares me at 12, we already have one athletic tight-end that can’t block.

At 30, I’d reserve that slot for any team looking for a potential QB of the future, with the opportunity to let said QB sit while still locking in the potential to offer them the valuable fifth year rookie deal option. QB’s don’t fall anymore in 2019, like Rodgers did in 2005 because of the low risk and high upside their contracts now offer.

Murph’s 1st Round Big Board for the Packers:
1. Ohio State DE: Nick Bosa
2. LSU LB: Devin White
3. Kentucky EDGE: Josh Allen
4. Washington State OT: Andre Dillard
5. Alabama OG: Jonah Williams
6. Clemson EDGE: Clelin Ferrell

Murph’s Wishlist for Pick 2, Day 2 and beyond:
Ohio State WR Paris Campbell- Best playmaker I watched with the eye in the Big 10 in 2018 that translates to the NFL.

Miss State DE Montez Sweat – Hearing he has a major red flag medical issue and we could see a Rodgers or Warren Sapp-like fall.

Ole Miss WR A.J. Brown – More productive in college than workout warrior teammate D.K. Metcalf and that will not change in the NFL.

Iowa State WR Hakeem Butler – Hopefully a Hakeem Nicks or Alshon Jeffery type.

Stanford WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside – West coast receiver we have success scouting over the years and might be Jordy Nelson in the making. He played in pro-style offseason and should know how to run more than a fly and bubble route.

Texas A&M TE Jace Sternberger – The best tight ends in the NFL over the last 10 years haven’t been drafted in first round and succeeded with their original team. Noted successful first round pick Greg Olsen was shipped out of Chicago, the team who drafted him.

Penn State RB Miles Sanders: Not Saquon, but keep stocking up the running back room.

Wisconsin OT David Edwards: The Packers have never drafted enough Badger lineman which is insulting, Mark Tauscher 2.0 hopefully.

UMass WR Andy Isabella: Coming in at 5-foot-8, 186-pound, LaFleur gets his own Cooper Kupp, Randall Cobb longshot replacement and the Wes Welker/Danny Amendola we have always wanted. Ideally how I would have balled out in the NFL.

Delaware S Nasir Adderley: Tough not to pick the grandson of arguably the Packers greatest cornerback ever, Herb Adderley. Number #26 is available in the dressing room.

Oklahoma OT Ben Powers: Todd McShay told my guy Ryen Russillo that the Sooners are the new offensive lineman factory.

Texas TE Andrew Beck: Was in for visit with Packers and reminds me of shorter Jason Witten without fake hair.

As I always say until we return, see you all in South Florida in February. Clubbing advice on me, drinks on you.

Nolan Murphy has returned home to ESPN Milwaukee and please unfollow him on Instagram & Twitter – @TheNolanMurphy.