GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers’ biggest draft needs? First and foremost, it’s receiver following the losses of All-Pro Davante Adams and speedster Marquez Valdes-Scantling. After that, it’s offensive tackle following the release of starter Billy Turner, and outside linebacker following the release of Za’Darius Smith.
Fortunately for general manager Brain Gutekunst, the depth of the draft mirrors his predraft to-do list.
That’s 46 members of his top 100 – close to half – at the three spots Green Bay must address. That’s obviously good news for Gutekunst, who is armed with two first-round picks (Nos. 22 and 28), two second-round picks (Nos. 53 and 59) and one third-round pick (No. 92).
As has been the case for years, the Packers will be cheering for quarterbacks to go early and often. For each quarterback that is taken in the top 21 selections, another player will fall into range.
Ranked 30th, Pitt’s Kenny Pickett is the first quarterback on Brugler’s board. If Pickett, Liberty’s Malik Willis or Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder go early, it will improve the odds of Gutekunst getting a player he really covets at a position of need.
That could be important. In Brugler’s Top 100, the top five receivers (Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson, Alabama’s Jameson Williams, USC’s Drake London, Ohio State’s Chris Olave and Arkansas’ Treylon Burks), the top four offensive tackles (North Carolina State’s Ikem Ekwonu, Alabama’s Evan Neal, Mississippi State’s Charles Cross and Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning) and the top five edge defenders (Michigan’s Aiden Hutchinson, Georgia’s Travon Walker, Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson and Purdue’s Trevor Penning) are ranked in the top 21.
That doesn’t mean those players will be gone before Green Bay is on the clock at No. 22, but it does show it might be slim pickings to get one of the top-tier prospects.
Who’s ranked near Green Bay’s spots at 22 and 28 at those key positions? Penn State’s Jahan Dotson, Brugler’s sixth-ranked receiver, is 25th. Penn State’s Arnold Ebiketie, Brugler’s sixth-ranked edge defender, is No. 28. Central Michigan’s Bernhard Raimann, Brugler’s fifth-ranked offensive tackle, is No. 36.
This seven-round mock draft was constructed with the help of the simulator at Pro Football Focus.
First Round: WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
This was an easy one. Of the Big Five receivers – Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson, USC’s Drake London, Alabama’s Jameson Williams, Ohio State’s Chris Olave and Arkansas’ Treylon Burks – only Burks was available. So, Burks is the pick. Burks might not have great speed but his physicality will fit what coach Matt LaFleur likes to do.
First Round: OLB Boye Mafe
With absolutely no depth behind the starters, the Packers are one injury away from a major problem. Is Mafe a dominating player? No. Is Mafe a finished product? Not even close. In 2019, the same things were said about Rashan Gary. That picked worked out OK. This one will, too. Mafe had seven sacks as a senior and fits the bill physically at 6-foot-4 and 261 pounds with ridiculous 4.53 speed in the 40. With the offensive tackles off the board, this pick took 0.2 seconds.
Second Round: WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State
LaFleur wants speed. At 6-foot-4 and with a 4.37 clocking in the 40, speed is what Marquez Valdes-Scantling brought to the party. Hello, Christian Watson, who at 6-foot-4 has 4.36 speed, better all-around athleticism and a better skill-set. He dominated the FCS ranks not only as a receiver but as a kickoff returner. Linebacker Quay Walker and offensive tackle Abraham Lucas were considerations.
Second Round: OT Abraham Lucas, Washington State
The last two seasons have been ruined by David Bakhtiari’s torn ACL. As it stands with Elgton Jenkins coming off a torn ACL, the Packers will line up in Week 1 with Bakhtiari at left tackle, Yosh Nijman at right tackle and … who knows as the No. 3. This is a huge need. Lucas might be a bit of a reach at this spot but he’s got the athleticism the Packers covet on the offensive line and a wealth of pass-protecting experience.
Third Round: TE Jelani Woods, Virginia
PFF gave this pick an F. Robert Tonyan, who is mostly an overgrown receiver, and Marcedes Lewis, who is mostly a glorified offensive lineman, are back but will be free agents next season. The Packers have a history of tight ends in the third round with Richard Rodgers, Jace Sternberger and Josiah Deguara. A transfer from Oklahoma State, he caught 44 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior. At 6-foot-7 and 253 pounds, Woods is an elite physical package for the position.
Fourth Round: DT Neil Farrell, LSU
The Packers have Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, TJ Slaton and veteran addition Jarran Reed as their defensive linemen. They need one more to give them a five-man rotation for the season. Farrell is a massive man at 6-foot-4 and 330 pounds. SEC blockers couldn’t handle his combination of size and surprising quickness.
Fourth Round: S Tycen Anderson, Toledo
PFF hated this pick, giving it a D-minus. Anderson is an elite package at 6-foot-2 and with 4.36 speed in the 40. He played deep, in box and has a history of coverage. Zero interceptions the past three seasons is troubling. If nothing else, he will be a weapon on special teams. He has a strong history in that capacity, with more than 800 snaps on the Rockets’ kicking units. The Packers have a potential long-term need at safety, with Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage entering their final season under contract.
Fifth Round: LB Aaron Hansford, Texas A&M
PFF hated this pick, too, dispensing another F. Hansford caught three passes as a redshirt freshman receiver in 2017 before making the move to defense in 2019. In 2021, he led the team with 89 tackles and was third with 8.5 tackles for losses. At 6-foot-2 and 239 pounds, he’s got good speed (4.64 in the 40) and strength (24 reps on the bench). If his vision improves with experience, he could become a quality starter.
Seventh Round
OL Nick Zakelj, Fordham
At 6-foot-6 and 316 pounds, Zakelj started 45 games over five seasons at the school made famous by Vince Lombardi. He was a four-time all-conference selection. With 32 1/2-inch arms, he’ll probably be headed to guard. The Packers are always looking for versatile backups on the line and he was the best available after UConn’s uberathletic Ryan Van Demark went one spot earlier.
RB Tyler Goodson, Iowa
With Aaron Jones a potential cap-saving cut next offseason and with Kylin Hill coming off a torn ACL, I really wanted to throw a late-round pick at a running back. During his final season, Goodson rushed for 1,151 yards and caught 31 passes. At about 200 pounds, he doesn’t pack much of a punch but he’s got 4.42 speed in the 40 and superb footwork. It’s pretty easy to see him lining up in the slot in the old Tyler Ervin role.
CB Jaylen Watson, Washington State
The Packers have a great starting trio at cornerback but little in the way of depth. Watson was a first-time starter as a senior, when he picked off two passes and broke up five. He’s got size (6-foot-2), speed (4.48), athleticism (38 vertical) and physicality. He’s just raw. So long as Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas and Eric Stokes start all 17-plus games together, he can watch and learn as a rookie.
