23 Days Until NFL Draft: It’s Safety First in Zierlein’s NFL.com Mock

In his third mock draft, Lance Zierlein sent Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin to the Green Bay Packers.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers need another safety to pair with big free-agent addition Xavier McKinney. They got it in Lance Zierlein’s third mock draft for NFL.com with Minnesota ballhawk Tyler Nubin.

“Why not add the best safety in this year's draft? Nubin has good size and is highly instinctive,” Zierlein wrote.

Nubin did not test well at the Scouting Combine. However, at 6-foot-1 1/4 and with 4.59 speed in the 40, his athletic profile just about matches former first-round pick HaHa Clinton-Dix.

Where Nubin separates himself is as a ballhawk. He set the school record with 13 interceptions, including three in 2021, four in 2022 and five in 2023. Most of his action came as a free safety, though he played 198 snaps in the box and 84 in the slot in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus.

Among the players still on the board: Iowa’s Cooper DeJean, who went to the rival Detroit Lions at No. 29.

Sporting News (7 Rounds): Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton

In Vinnie Iyer’s seven-round mock, Guyton with his “nimble” feet would be a “perfect” fit for the Packers, Iyer said.

Guyton was the starting right tackle at Oklahoma. That athleticism, though, should allow him to fit at left tackle as a potential upgrade over Rasheed Walker in the pursuit to replace David Bakhtiari

From there, Iyer pivoted to the defense. The second-round picks were used on Alabama edge Chris Braswell and Washington State safety Jaden Hicks. Notre Dame cornerback Cam Hart was grabbed in the third round, LSU defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo went in the fourth round and Clemson edge Xavier Thomas was taken in the fifth round.

The Packers could use another edge/4-3 defensive end with Kingsley Enagbare down with a torn ACL. However, the larger need is for an off-the-ball linebacker, where the Packers struck out.

One of the seventh-round picks was spent on Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who threw or 11,356 yards in his career but is probably too short for Green Bay’s tastes.

33rd Team: Arizona OT Jordan Morgan

With Duke’s Graham Barton and Washington’s Troy Fautanu off the board, Ian Valentino did the next best thing and picked another “uber athletic” lineman capable of playing tackle or guard.

“Jordan Morgan is fast and twitchy but lacks some of the strength needed to go higher. There's not a better situation for him to develop than in Green Bay,” Valentino wrote.

Morgan was a three-year starting left tackle who allowed two sacks in 2023 and one in 2022. Short arms could push him to guard, though.

CBS Sports: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

With offensive linemen Tyler Guyton and Graham Barton on the board, Ryan Wilson went defense because, well, the Packers almost always go defense in the first round.

Wrote Wilson: “Alabama thinks Kool-Aid McKinstry has legit NFL cover skills -- the only question will be his deep speed -- and he answered those questions at his pro day when he ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash. Added bonus: he can be an asset in the return game, too.”

Pro Football Network: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

McKinstry was the pick by Keff Ciardello, as well. He had only two career interceptions but broke up 22 passes the last two seasons and boasts a career average of 11.9 yards per punt return.

“An experienced, steady corner that routinely finds himself in the right place at the right time, the Packers reach a little on McKinstry but are getting a player who will be ready to go on Day 1,” he wrote.

Fox Sports: Alabama OT JC Latham

Nick Wright’s mock included betting odds. Latham played right tackle in college; an injury suffered during the season prevented him from doing left tackle-centric drills.

According to PFF, he allowed two sacks in 2023 and zero in 2022.