I have not done one since last season and since we are done with the first few waves of free agency and the Green Bay Packers have been able to re-sign key pieces (Rasul Douglas, DeVondre Campbell) and of course, made the big trade of Devonte Adams to Las Vegas. So here we go, my Packers mock draft, which will without a doubt be way off…
1a. Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Green Bay’s need for a wide receiver has been
well-documented, as has its tendency to shy away from taking that position in
round one. The last time the Packers took a wide receiver in the first round
was Javon Walker in 2002. But they are in desperate need of some weapons
without Adams. As of right now, they have Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard and Amari
Rodgers…..and then not much else. While the Packers won’t reach to grab one
just to grab one, I do expect them to take at least one with their four top 60
picks….and maybe two.
Chris Olave would be a big-time get at No. 22 for the
Packers. He had a tremendous combine and had a great career at Ohio State. He
is a good athlete who is a great route runner. Olave had 936 yards receiving with
13 touchdowns.
1b. David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
One big question would be….would an Ohio State and Michigan co-exist
if they were each first round picks by Green Bay? All kidding aside, with the
release of Za’darius Smith and retirement of Whitney Mercilus, the Packers are
in desperate need of an edge rusher. If Rashan Gary or Preston Smith were to
get hurt, they would be screwed. One could argue that the team’s biggest need
is an edge rusher.
Ojabo was a top 10 pick before he suffered a torn Achilles
last month at Michigan’s pro day. He comes with a major risk, but the upside at
the back end of the first would be too good to pass up. The last Michigan edge
rusher they drafted has turned out pretty well, eh?
2a. George Pickens, WR, Georgia
I admit, they would have to trade up for him or draft him at
28. His draft stock has gained a lot of steam recently and could very easily go
in the first round. But he would be a perfect player for the Packers to draft. If
the Packers drafted two wide receivers early, it would not shock me. Going into
the season with Olave, Pickens, Cobb, Rodgers and Lazard would make me feel
more comfortable about the position than I do now.
I am a HUGE fan of Pickens and think he could end up becoming
the best wide receiver in the draft class. Early in the 2021 practices, he
suffered an ACL tear, but he came back to play in the final few games of the
season, including making a huge impact in the championship game win over
Alabama. He is a physical receiver who can high-point the ball effectively and
could be a huge weapon for the reigning MVP.
2b. DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M
Leal is another guy who may not be available late in the
second, but I would love it if he is. For as long as I can remember, everybody
has be shouting from the rooftops to get Kenny Clark some help. TJ Slaton, last
year’s mid-rounder, came on at the end of last season and has become a solid
rotational piece.
With the signing of Jarran Reed, the Packers have Clark,
Reed, Slaton and Lowry, but no one outside of Clark really strikes fear into
the hearts of opponents. Leal could make this one scary defense, even more than
it already is. He has a ton of talent and the Packers could try to reach in and
try and turn him into a star and finally get a stud next to Kenny.
3. Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina
The Packers have tried and tried to find a tight end, both
via the draft and free agency. Jimmy Graham and Jace Sternberger flopped.
Josiah Deguara hasn’t developed as much as the Packers would hop, granted some
of that is due to injury. Robert Tonyan is coming off an ACL tear and will likely
miss some action early in the season. Even with him, they re-signed him to a
1-year deal. The Packers have some depth at the position, but no “alpha dog” on
the team and they haven’t one of those at the position since Jermichael Finley.
He is a good athlete and is a very good receiving tight end,
as evidenced by his 59 catches for 912 yards and 12 scores for the Chanticleers.
4a. Dominique Robinson, EDGE, Miami (OH)
The Packers will need to come away with multiple wide
receivers and multiple edge rushers in the draft. If both pan out, fantastic.
You can never have too many edge rushers. Another thing is that Ojabo might not
be full strength quite yet with the Achilles injury. Like I mentioned under
Ojabo, if Rashan Gary or Preston Smith were to get hurt, they would be screwed.
More edge rushers the merrier.
Robinson is a developmental prospect, as he was a wide receiver
as recent as 2019. But with development, he could become a major threat rushing
the passer. He is a tremendous athlete, so he has good measurables to work
with, which could help him become a terrific edge.
4b. Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State
The Packers are in need of an offensive tackle. Right now,
Green Bay has a major hole at right tackle with the release of Billy Turner.
They could still bring back Dennis Kelly, but they have not as of this moment.
Also, David Bakhtiari is coming back from a torn ACL suffered late in the 2020
season and if he can’t come back to All-Pro Dave, they will need a left tackle.
Offensive tackle is right up there with edge rusher and wide receiver as the
team’s biggest need. Fortunately, this is a deep tackle class.
He would likely stay at right tackle or move inside to play
guard in the NFL. If they take him here, they’d want him to play tackle. Even
though they let Lucas Patrick walk, they have drafted a number of interior
linemen the past two drafts to take his place.
5. Matt Henningsen, DL, Wisconsin
You just knew I would have the Packers taking a former
Badger, didn’t you? Just like you can never have too many edge rushers, you can
never have too many defensive linemen as well. Henningsen is super strong and
athletic, not to mention is tremendous against the run. On the third day, he has
upside to come in and be a rotational piece on the defensive line. A rotation
of Clark, Lowry, Leal, Reed Lancaster and Henningsen had the potential to be a
weapon.
7a. Cobie Durant, CB, South Carolina State
Yet another position that you can never have enough of is
cornerback. I admit, I love this dude’s name, but he is also a very talented prospect.
The Packers have depth at the position after retaining Rasul Douglas. With
Douglas, Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes, the Packers have depth at the
position. However, with the departure of Chandon Sullivan to Minnesota, Green
Bay needs a slot cornerback. Jaire can play it, but they prefer him on the
outside. He is a small cornerback, which probably would relegates him to slot
duties in the NFL and push him into the later rounds. Cobie is also an older
prospect, which the Packers don’t necessarily pick often. Durant is versatile,
having played both cornerback and safety and played…..wait for it……all throughout
special teams for SCSU. He has terrific athleticism, instincts and ball skills.
He could be a steal at this point.
7b. Tyler Goodson, RB, Iowa
It would not surprise me to see Green Bay take a running
back and maybe stash him on the practice squad for a year or maybe play him for
a bit while Kylin Hill recovers from his injury. Also, I don’t anticipate Aaron
Jones being on the team in 2023, so picking a player to help replace him would be
such a Packers-type move. He is a talented back who could stand to sit a year
to refine his skillset at the position, but he does have the tools.
7c. Aqeel Glass, QB, Alabama State
Green Bay should always go back to the Ron Wolf strategy of
taking a quarterback every year. Doing that, he drafted solid starters or
quality backups like Ty Detmer (1992), Mark Brunell (1993), Matt Hasselbeck
(1998) and Aaron Brooks (1999), all of whom were drafted in the fourth round or
later. Even with Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love, it is never bad to keep a
developmental quarterback on the roster. I like Kurt Benkert, but he’ll be 27
by the time the new season rolls around and has his limitations. Glass has
ideal measurements as a quarterback and has a big, strong arm. One thing that
could keep the Packers from drafting him is his hand size since they like quarterbacks
with big hands to be able to grip the ball in the cold…..and Glass’ hands definitely
do not fit that mold.
