Mock Draft Rebuild Series: Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers surprised a lot of people around the NFL in their first season without Aaron Rodgers under center since 2008. Jordan Love was drafted in 202, and didn’t start a full season until this last year in 2023, following the same path as Rodgers in riding the bench for 3 seasons. In the middle of November, following a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Packers were sitting at 3-6, and questioned if Love was the guy for the job. They finished the year going 6-2, ending up at 9-8 on the season, and made the playoffs, where they beat the #2 seed Cowboys on the road, and took the #1 seed 49ers to the wire in the divisional round. It is safe to say that the Packers have found their guy in Love, at least for the next few seasons, so they should build around him and make the team more talented around him.
Right now, the Packers have needs and holes at Tackle, Defensive Line, Safety, and Running Back. All of these positions can be addressed with their 11 draft picks this draft. While these needs can also be addressed in free agency, we will not be accounting for that aspect of the offseason.
As always, we will be using the PFF (Pro Football Focus) Mock Draft Simulator to assist us in this draft, as well as any PFF rankings that come with the upcoming class of rookies. Lets begin:
Round 1, Pick 25
The Packers have a massive need at the Offensive Line. General manager Brian Gutekunst has stated that he wants to add competition and depth at all 5 positions along the Offensive Line. That being said, Tackle is likely the weakest of those positions, and at this point in the first round, there should be a top tackle option still available.
Pick: JC Latham, Tackle, Alabama
At 6’6, 335 lbs, Latham is very suited for the Tackle position in the NFL. Latham played 3 seasons for the Crimson Tide, giving up 2 sacks, 6 QB hits, and 22 QB hurries across 36 games. Latham has been dominant on the left side of the line for years, and he has gone against the best in doing so in the SEC. Latham graded out as the 17th best offensive Tackle last season out of 628 athletes. Latham can lock down either side of the line for the Packers, and it would give them depth to move other players if they choose to do so.
Round 2
The Packers have 2 second round selections, with the first coming from the New York Jets in the Aaron Rodgers trade. The Packers will likely spend the majority of their draft selections on the defensive side of the ball, but if an offensive playmaker were to fall to them here, it would not be out of the realm of possibilities to take a chance.
Pick 41
Pick: Adonai Mitchell, Wide Receiver, Texas
Mitchell is looking to capitalize on a stellar Junior season for the Longhorns. In his first two seasons, he totaled just over 550 yards and 7 touchdowns. Last season, he totaled 845 yards and 11 touchdowns. Mitchell has the “go up and get it” mentality that makes Wide Receivers attractive to NFL teams. It also helps that he stands at 6’4, 196 lbs. Mitchell would join a very young receiving core of Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed. While this may not seem like the typical Packers move given their core, Mitchell can improve an already strong part of this offense. It never hurts to add another dynamic pass catcher when your Quarterback can throw the ball around the field very well.
Pick 57
Pick: Khyree Jackson, Cornerback, Oregon
Keisean Nixon, Johnathan Ford, and Darnell Savage are all unrestricted free agents this cycle for the Packers. It is likely they will not retain all of them, therefore they will need to address the secondary in the draft. Jackson, much like Mitchell, is trying to cash in on a stellar 2023 season. Last season was also Khyree Jackson’s first season as a starter. In his first season as a starter, Jackson graded out as the 86th best Cornerback out of 852 eligible Corners. Jackson also operates better as a zone defender vs a man defender, but he isn’t a bad man coverage guy. Jackson will also show up against the run on the outside. Should the Packers be thinned out by free agency, Khyree Jackson would make a nice addition to their secondary.
Round 3
The Packers also have 2 3rd round selections, curtesy of the Buffalo Bills in addition to their own selection. The Packers are doing a nice job so far of filling holes, as well as taking players that might be too difficult to pass up on. AJ Dillion is an unrestricted free agent, as is Patrick Taylor, making the Packers very thin at Running Back. The Packers are also starting to get up there in age with their starting Linebackers, both Preston Smith and De’Vondre Campbell being over 30. It would make sense to draft another young Linebacker to pair with Quay Walker and Rashan Gary.
Pick 88
Pick: Jeremiah Trotter Jr, Linebacker, Clemson
Trotter isn’t the biggest need for the Packers, but if he were to fall to them here, he may be too enticing to pass up. Trotter has been one of the best Linebackers in the country for the last two seasons, grading out as the 15th best Linebacker in 2022, and the 20th best Linebacker in 2023. Trotter also ranks near the 90th percentile in pass rush grades, run defense grades, and coverage grades. Trotter is a top 5 Linebacker in this NFL draft, and could go higher than this come April. The Packers could lock up their Linebackers for years to come with Trotter here.
Pick 91
Pick: Bucky Irving, Running Back, Oregon
Having gotten significant playing time from the time he stepped onto campus in Eugene, Bucky Irving has been electric. Irving has never averaged less than 5.3 yards per carry, and he saw his skills as s receiving back explode in 2023 with 55 receptions for nearly 400 yards. Irving also had almost 1200 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground in his 2023 campaign. What makes Irving attractive to the Packers is because they are losing 2 of their 3 Running Backs that got time last season, with Aaron Jones being the only one that will still be on the roster. Aaron Jones is also counting towards over 17 million against the cap for the Packers next season, meaning he could be cut before the season begins. Bucky Irving could fall into a situation where he would get the receiving down work, and potentially a 3 down role with the Packers very early.
Round 4, Pick 126
The Packers have a need at Defensive Line, and though there is not a gaping hole at any one position, a player that can play all over the Defensive Line might be just the thing the Packers would like to have.
Pick: Justin Eboigbe, Edge, Alabama
Eboigbe has significant playing time for the Crimson tide all over the Defensive Line for the last 3 seasons. A Gap, B Gap, Over Tackle and Outside Tackle all saw Eboigbe as a regular, with the lion share of his time being spent outside Tackle. While Eboigbe totaled 7 sacks last season, he is a far better run defender than a pass rusher, meaning he can slide inside if the Packers need him to. Eboigbe is a player that gives the versatility to NFL teams to use them how they need to, not use him only where he likes to be. If Eboigbe is here, the Packers should bite.
Round 5, Pick 168
With the Packers having their first and second string Free Safeties entering free agency (Darnell Savage and Johnathan Ford), they would do themselves a favor if they drafted at least one Safety, and signed another one or two in free agency.
Pick: James Williams, Safety, Miami
James Williams stands at 6’5, 215 lbs, making him a much larger Safety than most in the NFL, especially considering both Safeties that are leaving are 6’0 and 5’11. Williams’s length allows him to cover a lot of ground easily, giving him a coverage grade near the 99th percentile last season. Williams also lined up nearly equal time between a deep player and a box player. Williams isn’t the best in supporting the run, and needs to improve his tackling for the next level, but if he is paired with a dominant front 7, he can be successful this coming season, and in the seasons to come.
Round 6
The Packers have 2 6th round selections in this draft. At this point, doubling up on secondary positions would be helpful, as well as the Defensive Line, where having 5-6 rotational players is almost essential for every NFL team.
Pick 203
Pick: Zion Logue, Defensive Line, Georgia
Mainly an interior Defensive Lineman, Zion Logue stands at 6’5, 310 lbs. His size alone will allow him to have the potential to make an impact early and often in the NFL. He needs to work on his pass rush skill set, and his run defense grades are good enough at this moment in time. Logue can come in and, with the right coaching and playbook, can contribute in his first or second year in the NFL.
Pick 216
Pick: Brennan Jackson, Edge, Washington State
Brennan Jackson is a better run defender from the outside than a true pure pass rusher, but he can still get after the Quarterback. Jackson has totaled 20 sacks in the last 3 seasons, showing he can get it done when he needs to. Jackson needs to become more consistent in all aspects of his game. Standing at 6’4, 264 lbs, Jackson doesn’t have to stay on the outside of the Defensive Line, he can slide inside against some Guards. Jackson can be a good rotational piece in any Defensive Line unit in the NFL.
Round 7
With 2 more selections in the final round of the NFL draft, the Packers are looking for depth and players that can play multiple positions. They will also be looking to load up on positions of need so there can be training camp battles, and maybe a rotation that can be developed.
Pick 243
Pick: Evan Anderson, Defensive Line, Florida Atlantic
At 6’3, 356, Anderson gives more size than the other Defensive Lineman taken in this mock draft. Due to his size, Anderson primarily plays on the inside of the Defensive Line. Anderson suffers from being productive for a smaller school, making NFL teams call into question if he can do it against better competition. Anderson graded out as the 64th best Defensive Lineman last season, and has a run defense grade near the 99th percentile. Anderson can fill a massive hole on the interior for whichever team decides to draft him.
Pick 251
Pick: Tyler Owens, Safety, Texas Tech
Owens had a much better 2022 than 2023, and that is going to hurt his draft stock. It would not surprise me if Owens went undrafted, but it would not shock me if he went in the 7th round either. What Owens does do very well, is forcing incompletions, ranking near the 90th percentile last season. Owens will need to have a steep learning curve in order to survive in the NFL. If he falls to a deep secondary room, where he can learn from some veterans, he may find a home as a depth player or a practice squad guy.
The Green Bay Packers shook the NFL landscape in the last 9 weeks of the NFL season, and they are set up for a very productive 2024 NFL season. If the Packers have a good free agency, on top of a draft like this, they can contend with the Lions and Vikings for the division title. Jordan Love has seemingly made the transition from Aaron Rodgers very painless, and it remains to be seen if he can continue that into next season. The Packers should be right in the thick of the playoff picture next season, and if things fall their way, winning yet another NFC North title.
This concludes the NFC North Rebuilds. We will be moving to the NFC South next, consisting of the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
