Packers mock day two

I know many people are upset about the Packers trading down and not having a pick today. I actually think it was a very good trade for the team for a few reasons. First, I think the only player they really missed out on was T.J. Watt. I am a huge fan of his, obviously, and I wanted to get him at No. 33, but there are still a number of good pass rushers available. Reuben Foster (or Froster, as Roger Goodell called him) was a top talent, but he had major injury and character concerns, which made him slide down to No. 31. He is also an ILB, which is not a huge need for the team. Jake Ryan played solid last year and I think Clay Matthews will play quite a bit there this year as well. They were also not going to take a tight end or offensive tackle, so no real losses there with David Njoku and Ryan Ramczyk being taken.

Now, pick No. 33 is a prime position. Before the NFL started having a three day draft, this pick would not have been as important as it is now. The start of the second round is a great position to be in because teams now get a chance to step back and take a deep breath and update their draft boards. I have a hard time seeing Green Bay holding onto this pick. I believe either the Jets or Chargers will move up to that top spot in round two and select Notre Dame’s DaShone Kizer or California’s Davis Webb. New York is in desperate need of a quarterback and San Diego is looking for the heir apparent to Philip Rivers. If the Packers gain an extra fourth (maybe another late round pick too), it sets the team up to trade up and get targets in the third round. If the Green and Gold only gain an extra fourth from a trade, the team would still have 10 selections in the draft. Obviously, that would be too many. I could very easily see the team trade up in the third or maybe even the second. The team would have a pair of picks in the second and fifth, three in the fourth and one each in the sixth and seventh.

Lastly, I did not mind the trade down last night and I won’t if (or when) the Packers trade out of No. 33. Dalvin Cook was projected as a top 10 pick about a month ago and now, he is still out there as we begin day two. Also, Joe Mixon and Alvin Kamara are very talented backs who are still out there. Green Bay’s top two positions of need are still loaded. Plenty of good cornerbacks out there, including Awuzie, who I picked Green Bay to take at No. 29. Same goes for pass rushers, even with Watt being taken at No. 30. So, with that being said, I will take a stab at a day two mock draft.

2a. Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma

If Green Bay trades down about five spots, I could see it being for the former Oklahoma controversial standout. The Packers are not scared off by the off the field concerns for Mixon and could move down, but still in front of teams like the Bengals, Colts and Vikings, which are also fans of his. I don’t think the Packers are sold on Ty Montgomery as a three down running back, but Mixon and Montgomery would be a great duo. Mixon would in a great situation with the Green and Gold. He would not be in the spotlight in a big city. Mixon would be able to stay low and have a chance to change his image. The Packers have good leadership and if the former Sooner can stay out of trouble, he could be a steal for them. Despite only carrying the ball 187 times, he rushed for 1,274 yards and 10 touchdowns. In his 12 games, he averaged more than six yards per carry nine times and for the season, he averaged 6.8 yards per rush. In addition to be one of the most talented runners in the draft, he is also one of the best pass catchers in the draft. He had 37 catches in 2016 for 538 yards and had five more scores. I would assume that Thompson has done his homework on Mixon and if he is fine with drafting him, then so am I.

2b. Sidney Jones, CB, Washington

I am a big fan of both Washington cornerbacks, but King will be long gone by this pick tonight. However, Jones may still be there. Before his pro day injury, Jones was considered a mid-late first round pick. But he tore his Achilles tendon and it pushed him out of the first and possibly in to the late second. He might not make it to the Packers at this point, but I could see a trade up with one of their fifths to move ahead of a team like Dallas to grab him. He has solid height for a corner and has great length to be able to deflect passes going his way. The former Washington Husky has solid ball skills, as evidenced by his nine career interceptions, and he would come in and solidify the secondary. Jones’ instincts are also top notch as a corner. His doctor said he should be ready by September, but that may be pushing it. Even if he is, it will take him time to get up to football speed. He would be ready for a stretch run. There is no guarantee he can come back with the same speed as he was pre-injury, but it is well worth the risk.

3. Vince Biegel, OLB, Wisconsin

At the start of the draft, I did not have my selection of an obligatory Wisconsin player drafted by the Packers. I decided to change it for day two. If Biegel had declared for the draft last year, he would have likely been a second round pick. Now, a year later, he is considered a later pick due to this being a deep pass rusher class. Biegel was overshadowed a bit this year by T.J. Watt and Jack Cichy in the Wisconsin linebacker group, but he still had a very solid year. He had to miss a pair of games due to a cracked foot. He finished the season with a modest four sacks, but had one in three of his last four games when he was at full strength. He is a terrific leader and gives great effort every play. When trying to sack the quarterback, Biegel tends to miss quite a bit of sacks on the first opportunity, but his effort helps him get to the quarterback on a second chance. Even in one of the biggest plays of the season against LSU, Biegel came through clean and had a perfect chance to bring down LSU’s quarterback Brandon Harris, but he missed. Fortunately for the Badgers, it did not cost them as D’Cota Dixon sealed the win with an interception. He may not have the same ceiling as others, but he will work tirelessly to improve his perceived weaknesses. His mullet game is also strong.