COLUMN: This NFL Draft felt different

   Last Thursday through Saturday was the 2023 NFL Draft and this year’s version had a different feel for me, as a Packer fan. That different feel goes back to the Aaron Rodgers trade completed earlier in the week.

   Leading up to the draft, the Rodgers trade dragged on and on and while neither team seemed to be in a big hurry, as a fan I wanted it done before the draft. It just made sense to have it done prior to pick number 15, Green Bay’s first.

   Of course, the deal did get finalized, the Packers and Jets swapped their first rounders, number 15 for number 13, giving Green Bay a 2-pick earlier advantage, and Green Bay also should get a Jets first rounder (currently an agreed second rounder) next year if Rodgers plays 65 percent of the season.

   I’ll give this trade a A- in favor of the Packers. So, it was nice to see the Packers pick up Hawkeye DE Lukas Van Ness with the 13^th pick, add a TE/WR/TE with their next three picks (something they failed to do for Rodgers when he was the QB) and add a back-up QB, a couple more WR, a K to replace the aging Mason Crosby and finish with a ISU CB, Anthony Johnson, Jr.

   One other Hawkeye went in round one, LB Jack Campbell to the Lions at pick 18. The Lions also selected Hawkeye TE Sam LaPorta in round two with pick #34. The last Hawkeye selected was CB Riley Moss to the Broncos in round three at pick #83.

   ISU broke a long streak, not having a player selected in round one when the Jets used their pick from Green Bay to choose OLB Will McDonald IV. You have to go back a few decades to find the last time an ISU player was drafted in round one. It’s nice to see that streak come to an end.

   Overall, I think the Packers came away with a nice class of 13 picks. The only surprise for me was they didn’t take an offensive lineman, which I thought was a need. A couple of former Iowa Hawkeyes were also drafted, CB Julius Brents (Kansas St.) at pick 46 and WR Charlie Jones (Purdue) at pick 131.

   My best moment of the draft: Seeing Kentucky QB Will Levis squirm in his seat throughout the first round when his name didn’t get called. He was expected to go early in round one.