We are a little more than a week away from the NFL Draft and the first wave of free agency has come and gone. Out are Aaron Jones, David Bakhtiari, Aaron Jones, Jon Runyan Jr. and Darnell Savage and in are Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney. While the Packers still have a number of holes, they also have 11 picks in the NFL Draft, including five in the first two days. Green Bay could still add people before the draft, but I imagine Brian Gutekunst will wait to see how the draft falls before re-evaluating his team and see what positions need to be upgraded and who is out there on the market. Here is my first stab at a post-free agency Packers mock:
1. Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
Going into the offseason, the Packers needed to revamp their secondary. Jaire Alexander is a top cornerback, but injury concerns are always there. We can’t really count on Eric Stokes and Carrington Valentine is still a young player. However, all of those guys are boundary corners. What Green Bay really lacks is a slot corner. In the divisional round at San Francisco, the 49ers really didn’t test Alexander and Valentine much, but picked on slot corner Keisean Nixon and the suspect safety group. Green Bay added a big piece to the safety room with McKinney, but now it needs an upgrade over Nixon. If Keisean is the backup at slot, then the Packers are in great shape.
DeJean can play in the slot or at safety. He is a versatile chess piece new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley can use. He is a great athlete with tremendous ball skills. DeJean also possesses tremendous special teams ability. Adding DeJean in addition to McKinney would give Green Bay a lot of firepower in the secondary.
2a. Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
The Packers need an off-ball linebacker in the worst way. After Quay Walker, who likely will be an outside linebacker in Jeff Hafley’s new 4-3, Green Bay has Isaiah McDuffie and then…..not much. The Packers desperately need an upgrade at the position. Green Bay recently had a top-30 interview with Cooper. This could be a smokescreen, but I think the Green & Gold is legitimately interested in him, especially since he is a guy who plays a major area of need. Cooper is a physical linebacker who has terrific speed and athleticism, as evidenced by his 9.34 RAS. He was a First Team All-American who posted 83 tackles and eight sacks, as well as forcing two fumbles.
2b. Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
The Packers moved on from long-time left tackle David Bakhtiari this offseason and now might have a hole at that position. However, Rasheed Walker performed well down the stretch last season. I think Green Bay brings in competition for him at the position. Regardless, they are in desperate need of depth at the position after Yosh Nijman left via free agency and joined the Carolina Panthers. Paul is a big, athletic tackle who has a chance to play immediately. While he needs work as a run blocker, he has the top pass protection grade of anybody in this year’s class. He has all the tools to be a great tackle but will need to work on his technique at the next level.
3a. Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
While the Packers signed McKinney in free agency, they still need one more. Their safety room was that bad last year. Xavier will be the safety roaming center field, but they still need a box safety to finish revamping that safety room. Bullard is a good run defender, which certainly helps since the Packers were once again poor in that area in 2023. The Green & Gold also love their Georgia players.
3b. Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee
Green Bay made a surprising signing when it signed former Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs and let go of Aaron Jones. I was even more surprised when Green Bay brought back the mayor of Door County, A.J. Dillon. However, Dillon’s deal is very team-friendly and is only for one season. The Packers still need a running back in case A.J. leaves next season, preferably one with speed and can catch out of the backfield. Jaylen is a big-play threat, averaging more than seven yards per carry, and adding 22 catches as well for the Vols. He would get some carries in year one and be able to step up and be Jacobs’ backup in his second season.
4. Zak Zinter, IOL, Michigan
Green Bay needs to look to improve the interior of the offensive line, or the offensive line in general, outside of Zach Tom and Elgton Jenkins. That is true for every team, but especially true for a team with a young quarterback. With Jon Runyan Jr. off to the New York Giants, the Packers need to find some competition for Sean Rhyan and build the depth along the interior. When the Packers are really good, the team has an incredible offensive line. The organization has made a habit of finding interior offensive linemen in the mid-rounds and will aim to do it again. Zinter is coming off a broken tibia and fibula suffered in the big victory over Ohio State. He is a terrific leader along the offense and if he is healthy, could be a plug-and-play starter.
5. Gabe Hall, DT, Baylor
The Packers always like to add to the defensive line room. Honestly, the Packers could go more interior defensive linemen earlier in the draft, maybe even in the first round. Green Bay will likely take a defensive tackle, especially since Kenny Clark is on the last year of his contract. He has great size and athleticism, so he is a good dart throw late in the draft for the Packers.
6a. Tanor Bortolini, IOL, Wisconsin
The Packers need depth along the offensive line, especially in the interior with the loss of Jon Runyan Jr. and the team just needed to get better up front anyway. While the team still has hope for Sean Rhyan, a third round pick in 2022, the team needs to bring in competition. Bortolini has starting experience everywhere on the offensive line, but his best position is in the interior. He has an elite RAS grade, which shows his elite athleticism, which the Packers love. Add that in addition to his versatility and he would be a great addition along the offensive line.
6b. Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky
The Packers could absolutely take multiple cornerbacks to create more competition for guys like Corey Ballentine, and we can’t really count on much from Eric Stokes at this point. He had a very promising rookie campaign but has been injured much of the last two seasons. I like Carrington Valentine, but he needs to keep improving going into year No. 2. Like Valentine, Phillips also played collegiately at Kentucky. Phillips had a very solid RAS score of 8.10 and the Packers certainly like athleticism. He potentially could have his best years in front of him, as he is still learning. Phillips is definitely worth a flier in the later rounds.
7a. Eric Watts, EDGE, UConn
The Packers have moved back to a 4-3 after a decade and a half playing the 3-4. Green Bay will have Rashan Gary, Preston Smith and Lukas Van Ness at defensive end with Kingsley Enagbare when he comes back. Until he comes back, someone needs to step up as a rotational defensive end. Eric Watts could be that guy. He has ideal height and weight, as well as traits that you cannot teach in terms of athleticism. He is a developmental project, but his athletic traits are well worth a late round flier, especially for a team that has double digit draft picks.
7b. Hunter Nourzad, IOL, Penn State
Green Bay really needs to prioritize the offensive line in this draft. The Packers likely will take one late, just to take a flier on someone after taking a few early since they need depth with the losses of David Bakhtiari, Jon Runyan Jr. and Yosh Nijman. Nourzad has played all around the offensive line during his collegiate career, but played guard and center after transferring from Cornell. Last year, he started all 13 games at center. He is athletic with position versatility, so he could be a Packers-type pick late.
