The 2020 NFL Draft takes place on Thursday. Man, does it feel good to have at least some normality during these tumultuous times? You’re all here for a good distraction, and I plan to give you one: my final mock draft of the 2020 NFL Draft cycle. Player evaluations are about as clear as they can be before the draft removes all doubt, so it’s a better time than ever to run a mock draft on The Draft Network, which is where I went to create this mock. Without further ado, let’s jump into the Final 2020 Packers Mock Draft.
Round 1, Pick 30: Zack Baun, LB/EDGE, Wisconsin
Zack Baun, at this point, is considered a fringe Day 1 or early Day 2 prospect by most analysts and insiders. He has the versatility and football IQ to play both off-ball and on-ball in the front seven of a defense. He’ll be a potent weapon for Mike Pettine to move around the front lines of defense. Baun was not my preferred option at 30, I would’ve rather traded out of the 1st considering who was available, but with Jordan Love coming off the board before pick 30, no team could be enticed to trade up with the Packers. No WR or OT available at the time was worth pick 30 in my valuation, so Baun was the de facto selection.
Round 2, Pick 62: K.J. Hamler, WR, Penn State
I may be in the minority in believing in K.J. Hamler among Green Bay fans, but I’ve accepted that fate. I understand that he doesn’t fit the typical athletic profile for the Packers, but that particular athletic profile hasn’t exactly been spectacular these last few years. Rather than adding a another Devin Funchess clone to the wide receiver room, I think adding a true slot receiver, a spark plug, and a big-play threat to the offense would be more beneficial. What Hamler lacks in size he more than makes up for with his explosiveness and agility. He’s truly “blink and you miss him” with the ball in his hands. He would add an extra dimension to the Packer offense that has been sorely missed.
Round 3, Pick 94: Ben Bartch, OT, St. John
Ben Bartch might be a sneaky name to some, coming from St. John’s in Division-3. His performance at the Senior Bowl is what really put him on the map during the pre-draft process. His film is impressive, but the question mark about talent level of the opponents will stick with him even into the NFL. He looked comfortable at the Senior Bowl against top Division-1 competition, which saw him rise up draft boards quickly. His fundamentals are consistently good, which helps his projection to the NFL level. He’ll need some time to adjust to pro-competition, but all rookies do. He would be in an ideal situation in Green Bay, where he would be afforded that time to develop his functional strength behind David Bakhtiari and Ricky Wagner.
Round 4, Pick 136: McTelvin Agim, DL, Arkansas
McTelvin Agim is somewhat of an enigma entering the Draft. He was inconsistent but showed plenty of flashes of what made him a five-star recruit. Agim has an exceptional athletic profile and would win reps against opponents purely on talent. The flip side of that coin is that he also had frustrating lapses of effort and technique. The positives outweigh the negatives, especially considering the fit on the defensive line. Agim projects best to a three-technique lineman in the NFL, which would allow him and Kenny Clark to be on the field together without taking either out of their preferred positions. He’s also a recent convert to the interior of the defensive line, so there’s still plenty of room for growth as he gets NFL reps.
Round 5, Pick 175: Antoine Brooks Jr., S, Maryland
Antoine Brooks Jr. projects favorably as a nickel defender and special teams ace in the NFL. That alone gives him a high floor, which makes him a great value in the late fifth round. He played a multitude of roles while at Maryland, so he’s already experienced in the kind of tasks that he’d play in Pettine’s defense. Brooks also has history playing with Darnell Savage, which would likely help ease his transition to the NFL. He has the requisite athleticism to succeed in the NFL and is a quick processor with solid technique in coverage and tackling. Brooks has a high floor for early contribution and the opportunity to become the primary sub-package defensive back.
Round 6, Pick 192: Isaiah Coulter, WR, Rhode Island
Isaiah Coulter was another value pick that I couldn’t pass up. He does fit the Packers preferred athletic profile, and he rose up draft boards with a great Combine performance. Questions about the talent level of the opponents he faced while at Rhode Island will follow him into the NFL, but he has the athleticism and technique to produce once he adjusts to the jump in competition. Patience will be key with Coulter, but he has all he needs to become a viable option on the boundary.
Round 6, Pick 208: Kindle Vildor, DB, Georgia Southern
Kindle Vildor is yet another small-school prospect with an intriguing athletic profile and a high ceiling. If you couldn’t tell, my strategy for the later rounds is to target prospects that have a chance of making the roster while also providing a high ceiling with a couple of years of development and coaching. Vildor’s film shows a great athlete with good awareness and coverage traits who is however raw in terms of technique. With a few years of NFL coaching, while being primarily a special-teamer, he could become a valuable piece of the secondary.
Round 6, Pick 209: Benito Jones, DL, Ole Miss
One of the few repeats from my last mock, the argument for picking Benito Jones remains the same: he’s big. He has great instincts in the run game and his functional strength prevents him from being erased at the point of attack. The Packers’ run defense was exposed in the NFC Championship Game, so adding someone to contend for early-down reps and at least increase camp competition is well worth it at the end of the sixth round.
Round 7, Pick 236: Oluwole Betiku Jr., DL, Illinois
Oluwole Betiku Jr. is another developmental prospect who is relatively new to his position and has loads of potential. He struggled with injuries throughout his college career, which is the main reason he’ll likely be relegated to the seventh round. Betiku has an impressive athletic profile and could be molded into a valuable rotational defensive lineman. With a seventh-round pick, you can’t ask for much more than that.
Round 7, Pick 242: Darryl Williams, OL, Mississippi State
Darryl Williams saw his draft stock plummet as the season wore on, possibly because he was no longer playing alongside Elgton Jenkins. Well, I’ve solved that problem for him, by giving him the chance to once again be the second piece of a dynamic duo with Jenkins. Williams and Jenkins obviously had chemistry at Mississippi State, so adding Williams as a depth piece to the interior is a bet that he can find his 2018 form again. With proper coaching, he can become a valuable depth piece and possibly challenge for a spot on the interior in a few years.
Thank you for reading this Final 2020 Packers Mock Draft. Be sure to stay connected to Full Press Coverage for more great NFL Draft content.
