It has been awhile since I did one of these....and I don’t think I have done one in the offseason, which is when things change. So....here is my first offseason Packers mock draft. I’ll probably put my final version out on Wednesday or Thursday.
1. Christian Barmore, DL, Alabama (previous: Jaycee Horn)
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. Regardless, you can never have enough strong defensive linemen, as the Eagles showed during their Super Bowl season of 2017. Alabama is known for churning out quality defensive linemen, so I hope Barmore is able to help out Kenny Clark. A defensive line of Clark, Barmore and Keke is a lot more formidable.
2. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC (previous: Jaylen Twyman)
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 last offseason, but he opted for New Orleans. He would rather play in a big city in warmer weather. 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 is interesting because he would be competing for playing time with his brother, so I don’t know if the Packers want that if they have to cut one of them down the road. However, other teams have done that successfully, such as New England with the McCourty twins, and Seattle with the Griffins. As for Amon-Ra the player, he is a big bodied guy who ran a 4.5 40-yard dash, which is fine. He plays faster than he is. Also, the Packers love their blocking wideouts. They already have one of the best in the game in Allen Lazard, but St. Brown is a great blocker and will be a better receiver than the former Iowa State product. One more thing that is over-looked: the Packers have zero wide receivers signed for the 2022 season. I expect Davante Adams and Lazard to be re-signed, but still, they need more receivers for the future.
3. Payton Turner, EDGE, Houston (previous: Sage Surratt, WR, Wake Forest)
When you list the Packers needs, EDGE is not one that immediately pops to mind. After all, they have a tremendous 1-3 with the Smiths and Rashan Gary. However, they restructured Preston’s deal where they will be able to get out from his deal at the end of the season and Z will either be extended or gone as well. I anticipate them extending him, but the Packers need more than two pass rushers in order to give your starters a breather. The Packers love their athletic guys and Turner certainly is that. His RAS score is super high at 9.68/10 and had great explosion and agility scores. The productivity was there as well in 2020, recording five sacks in five games.
4a. Benjamin St.-Juste, CB, Minnesota (previous: Josh Ball)
Kevin King was just re-signed to a one-year deal. Most Packers fans will never forgive KK for his giant dump he laid on Lambeau Field in the NFC Championship game. King will likely start and Chandon Sullivan, who also got dominated in the NFC Championship, will start in the slot. Needless to say, the Packers need to put more talent in the position outside of Jaire Alexander. I don’t know if the team wants two short corners starting on the outside, so I don’t know if they’d go for an Asante Samuel, Jr., even thought he is a beast. He is another big cornerback, like King. He is a good enough athlete, especially for a man his size, as his RAS score is 8.12/10. Green Bay certainly likes players 8.00+.
4b. Dan Moore, OT, Texas A&M (previous: N/A)
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, but they need a right tackle of the future with Rick Wagner being released. They also would prefer someone who can play immediately due to DBak’s injury, which will force him to miss the first little bit of the season. Seeing the struggles of offensive lines around the league, you can never have too many quality offensive lineman. Moore had a tremendous RAS score of 9.08. His explosion and 3-cone scores are tremendous. The offensive tackle class is loaded, so they may be able to wait until early day three to address the position, but they very easily could take an OT earlier.
5a. Robert Rochell, CB, Central Arkansas (previous: Michael Carter)
This is an outstanding cornerback class, not to mention it is deep. Yes, I admit, it would be cool to draft a guy from a Southland Conference school. Like I said above, they need talent at the position. King, Josh Jackson and Chandon Sullivan are all on the last year of their contracts, and without major improvement, they might all not be back. The 5-11 cornerback is super athletic and has great ball skills having been recruited by the Bears as a wide receiver. He has the potential to be a big-time player at the next level.
5b. Ta'Quan Graham, DL, Texas (previous: N/A)
This is just a depth pick. At this point in the draft, it is just darts at a dart board. Kenny Clark needs help. Taking multiple players could maybe help them hit on one. If he can come in and take over for a Tyler Landcaster, all the better.
6a. Elijah Mitchell, RB, UL Lafayette (previous: Charles Snowden)
Even with the Packers re-signing Aaron Jones, the Packers will likely draft a running back on day three because the team likes to have three capable running backs. Mitchell could be a sleeper at running back who is a one cut and go back. He is an explosive running back who can hit a home run at any time.
6b. Michael Strachan, WR, Charleston (previous: N/A)
Like I mentioned before, the Packers don’t have any receivers signed past this season. While 17 and 13 will likely be back, the rest are unknowns. Strachan would come in and fight EQ and others for a roster spot.
7. Avery Williams, CB, Boise State (previous: Paddy Fisher)
The Packers desperately need a return man, and not only is Williams a solid cornerback, he is a fantastic return man. Right now, Green Bay has no one on the team who is a natural return man. They can’t survive another pathetic special teams like they had in 2020. Avery would be a great choice as a return man.
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