To the surprise of many and the relief of more, the Green Bay Packers played well in 2023. Now, an eventful draft awaits.
The Green Bay Packers exceeded expectation in 2023. After a troubling start, the Sons of Lombardi righted the ship, and made the playoffs. Moreover, they dropped forty-eight points on a Cowboys’ team that some felt would win the NFC. Instead, the Packers scored points in bunches, dispatching Dallas relatively easy before falling to San Francisco. With a strong draft, the Packers could make the leap from playoff-possible to contender.
Trades
If you look at the current list of Green Bay draft picks, you will see eleven picks. Now, the team doesn’t need eleven new players. However, what that number of picks does is grant the team the freedom and leverage to move around the draft as they please. For the purpose of this mock draft, the team pulled off a couple of trades that currently help them and set them up for next season. The franchise ships the 25th-overall to Jacksonville. In return, the Jaguars send Green Bay their 2025 first and second-round picks along with a sixth-rounder this year. Additionally, Green Bay ships picks 219, 245, and 255 (all this year) to Cleveland. The Browns sent the 206th pick. Basically, the Deshaun Watson trade robbed them of multiple picks. Grabbing picks at the back end will help with rampant depth issues.
41st Overall (Cooper Beebe, OG, Kansas State)
Massive interior lineman with the strength, meanness, technique and timing to slide in as a Week One starter. More importantly, Beebe attempts to manhandle anyone, regardless of size. Plus, the Packers will enjoy his pass pro equally. Opening lanes and wiping out defenders. Nothing fancy, just effective brutality.
58th Overall (Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona)
The Packers need an athletic upgrade at offensive tackle. Under those circumstances, the former Wildcats fills the bill. With springy feet and the ability to contain even the twitchiest rusher, Morgan could effectively slide in on either side. While Jordan Love only hit the turf thirty times in 2023, some of those hits were rather brutal. Too often opponents jumped free, giving them a beeline to the passer.
88th Overall (Payton Wilson, ILB, North Carolina State)
Green Bay needs another inside linebacker to pair with Quay Walker. Now, Wilson presents the Packers with some risk. Namely, those two torn ACLs during his college career. However, at last look, his medicals checked out. Also, those injuries did not hinder his ability to flow sideline to sideline, blitz or cover with agility. Provided that Walker keeps on the mature path, this pick gives Green Bay athletic options in the middle of the field. Seven interceptions to go along with 402 tackles, and 48 tackles for loss.
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91st Overall (Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin)
If you were casting a player that’s perfectly suited to play for the Packers, Allen seems right. First, he excels in cold weather. Next, he is more explosive than A.J. Dillon. Lastly, Josh Jacobs signed the equivalent of a one-year deal with three option years. Allen is a bigger version of Jacobs with less agility but more of a power/speed combination that catches the ball well out of the backfield. In 2024, Allen could see a few snaps before supplanting Dillon the next season.
126th Overall (Nehemiah Pritchett CB, Auburn)
When Green Bay re-signed Keisean Nixon, people envisioned him manning the nickel spot. Yet, Nixon should, in all honesty, solely play as a returner. Surrendering three scores at and a 77.8 completion percentage should scare anyone. Pritchett seamlessly fits into a defensive where the new coordinator cut his teeth in the defensive backfield. Capable depth in subpackages plagued the Packers. Now, they could potentially bring in a player that solves two issues.
169th Overall (Tykee Smith, S, Georgia)
The thought of Lambeau Field transitioning into Athens West keeps going with the drafting of yet another Bulldog alum. Smith doesn’t need to start. However, with nickel and dime situation, envision him covering down the field. He possesses the speed to stay with wideouts, but the confidence and toughness to hang with tight ends. As mentioned, Jeff Hafley loves an aggressive secondary to make the pass rush’s job easier.
202nd Overall (Zion Tupuola-Fetui EDGE, Washington)
With deference to truth, athletically, at this point in the draft, there are edge rushers with more upside. At the same time, few have the ability to fight off blocks, shed and keep moving. Fetui may never start in the NFL. Yet, Green Bay seems like they place a high priority on hard work and effort. Fetui battles each and every snap.
206th Overall (Nathaniel Watson, LB, Mississippi State)
With all that said about the previous pick, Rich Bisaccia will enjoy another special teamer that craves physical contact and the opportunity to lay the proverbial wood. Wilson plays like a relic in the modern age. With nothing but going forward, he will excel on special teams and enjoy the car crash atmosphere of kick teams.
212th Overall (Jared Wiley, TE, TCU)
Late in the 2024 NFL Draft the Green Bay Packers can find a diamond in the rough. The former Horned Frog presents a leaper that can fly down the seam. You don’t see many fleet-footed tight ends that are 6’7″, and 260 pounds. Watson will highpoint the ball with the best of them and will slip by linebackers. Unfortunately, he does not block like someone of his considerable frame. Luckily, the Packers don’t need Wiley to be other than a third tight end, at this moment. If drafted by Green Bay, you will see rip off chuck yardage with a catch.