The Packers are neck-and-neck with the New Orleans Saints for the top seed in the NFC. Green Bay has a few big needs, not to mention a few big free agents. Kenny Clark and David Bakhtiari are back in the fold, but Aaron Jones, Corey Linsley, Kevin King and Jamaal Williams are set to hit free agency. Here is my Packers mock draft as we head into week 15.
1. Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama (previous: Marvin Wilson)
The Packers have one glaring weakness on this team, which is the defensive line. Their run defense has improved a little bit as the season has gone along, but still not good. Green Bay re-signed Kenny Clark just before the season, but while Kingsley Keke has made a jump, Tyler Lancaster and Dean Lowry are not starting caliber players. They are good enough to have on the roster, but I don’t want them receiving a majority of the snaps. Keke needs to be more consistent and they need another starter. His big body would help the Packers against the run, and Barmore has proven to be a good pass rusher as well, bringing down opposing quarterbacks six times in 2020, despite being an interior defensive lineman.
2. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC (previous: Chris Olave)
The Packers have wanted to upgrade the position, but they have their price. Last season, they tried to trade for Robbie Anderson. During the 2020 draft, they tried to trade up in the second for a receiver, but did not have a fourth round pick due to the Jordan Love trade. Once their target was drafted, they stopped trying. I still am guessing their target was Chase Claypool. Finally, they tried to sign Emmanuel Sanders as a free agent this past offseason. He would rather play in a big city in warmer weather, so he signed with the Saints. So the Packers have tried to upgrade the wide receiver position. If the Packers take a receiver, it would probably be early because I just don’t see late round guys coming in and beating out MVS or EQ for significant playing time. St. Brown seems like a Packers-type player. Not only is a great receiver (36-404-3 in five games), but the Packers love their wide receivers to be terrific blockers, which St. Brown is. Just what the league needs, more weapons for Aaron Rodgers.
3. Michael Carter, RB, North Carolina (previous: Asante Samuel, Jr.)
I mentioned above that both Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams are free agents. If neither is brought back, that leaves just 2020 second round pick A.J. Dillon in the backfield. Carter is coming off a game in which he ran for 308 yards and two touchdowns against No. 10 Miami. On the year, he has 1,245 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging eight yards per tote. He is small, but electric. Carter is also a real good receiver, catching at least 20 passes in each of his past three seasons. The Tar Heel has 267 yards receiving on 25 catches this season. He and Dillon could be a thunder and lightning type duo if they let both Jones and Williams walk.
4. Josh Jobe, CB, Alabama (previous: Cole Van Lanen)
Kevin King is also a free agent, and with all the money being thrown at extensions for cornerbacks this offseason, it makes it less and less likely King is brought back, especially since they will need to re-sign Jaire Alexander to a monster deal in a few years. They could take one earlier than the fourth, but I have them waiting because I think they like the development of Josh Jackson and Ka’dar Hollman, not to mention they have Chandon Sullivan in the slot, who is a very solid corner. You can never have too many good corners, though. This should be a deep draft at cornerback and Jobe could be a nice find.
5. Drew Seers, ILB, Lindenwood (previous: Janarius Robinson)
I think they have something in last year’s fifth round pick Kamal Martin. However, Christian Kirksey has lost explosiveness due to his injuries, so they could use a guy to play with Martin and make the defense play up to its capabilities. Khrys Barnes is just a dude and Oren Burks is basically just a special teams player at this point. He is a tackling machine, averaging 14 tackles per game as a junior, and recorded 12.5 tackles for loss. Seers would be a big help in the run game.
6. Cordell Volson, OT, North Dakota State (previous: James Empey)
Green Bay loves taking linemen on day three, and a lot of times, they turn out to be solid players. The Packers took three interior linemen last season and Jon Runyan, Jr. has turned out to be a find. Green Bay has David Bakhtiari, who was re-signed, along with Rick Wagner, Billy Turner and even Elgton Jenkins can play tackle when asked. However, seeing the struggles of offensive lines around the league, you can never have too many quality offensive lineman. Despite being overshadowed by fellow offensive tackle, Dillon Radunz, Volson was a first team All-Missouri Valley Conference player. He started all 16 games at right tackle. In 724 snaps, Volson only allowed a half a sack. Impressive.
7. Big Kat Bryant, EDGE, Auburn (previous: Deslin Alexandre)
Preston Smith has not been great this year, especially considering the money he gets paid. Rashan Gary out-produces Preston when he is on the field. The Packers could use another pass rusher if Preston is cut loose. Regardless, if he comes back, you can always use more pass rushers. Big Kat has three sacks on the year and 10 in his career. He also has two picks, including a pick six in 2018.
