2022 NFL Draft odds: Packers favored to finally select receiver in first round; sportsbooks hint at Arkansas' Treylon Burks
The Green Bay Packers haven't taken a receiver in the first round of the NFL Draft in years.
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We are now less than two weeks away from the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas, so expect plenty of prop stories here at SportsLine between now and then. Today, we'll look at the Green Bay Packers, who almost impossibly haven't selected a wide receiver in the first round since 2002. However, after trading away Davante Adams, they are favored to finally do so this year via SportsLine oddsmakers.
Green Bay last took a receiver in Round 1 two decades ago in Florida State's Javon Walker at pick No. 20 overall. He had a couple of good seasons. The Pack have had amazing success in Round 2 when it comes to receivers in selecting the likes of Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Adams. The Pack shipped out the All-Pro Adams last month to the Raiders for the No. 22 overall pick in this year's draft and a second-rounder.
The team also lost deep threat Marquez Valdes-Scantling to Kansas City in free agency. Right now, Aaron Rodgers' starting receiver group looks like Allan Lazard (he's a No. 2 at best) and past-their-prime Randall Cobb and Sammy Watkins. Thus, it would be an absolute stunner if the Packers don't take a wideout with either that No. 22 pick from the Raiders or their own No. 28 pick. It is considered a deep class.
Then again, many thought the Packers would take a receiver in the first round of the 2020 draft, but instead they traded up to take quarterback Jordan Love, which infuriated Rodgers and makes even less sense today.
Barring a trade up, Green Bay probably isn't getting Ohio State's Garrett Wilson, who is the +135 favorite to be the first wide receiver off the board, or Southern Cal's Drake London, who is +140 to be the first. Alabama's Jameson Williams (+300 as first WR) also likely will be gone by pick No. 22. The Over/Under for total receivers selected in Round 1 at Caesars Sportsbook is 5.5, with the Over a -320 favorite.
A couple of CBS Sports mock drafts have the Pack grabbing Arkansas' Treylon Burks at No. 22. He's +1200 to be the first WR chosen and is given an Over/Under draft position of 22.5 – that spot one after Green Bay's first pick is not a coincidence.
Burks was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2021 in catching 66 passes for 1,104 yards and 11 TDs in 12 games. He set a school record with six 100-yard receiving efforts before sitting out the bowl game. NFL.com gives Burks a comp of AJ Brown.
Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Will the Packers take a WR in the first round this year?
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