Seven-Round Packers Mock Draft 7.0: The Obvious Pick

In his seventh mock draft of the year, Jacob Westendorf grabs a stud defensive back, bolsters the offensive line and grabs a bunch of linebackers.

Author:
Jacob Westendorf
Mar 27, 2024

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NFL Draft

Cooper DeJean

NFL Mock Draft

Packers Mock Draft

We are less than one month away from the NFL Draft. When the first round kicks off on April 25, the Green Bay Packers will be looking to fill their remaining needs after a busy free-agent period.

This week’s mock was done using the PFF simulator, with a popular pick as the team’s first-rounder.

First Round: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa

Sometimes, the obvious picks are obvious for a reason. When it comes to Cooper DeJean, he’s been picked for the Packers unofficially in 98 percent of mock drafts since the NFL season ended.

DeJean can play safety or nickel for the Packers. General manager Brian Gutekunst called those positions interchangeable. He also said he wanted a younger safety next to Xavier McKinney, the team’s biggest free-agent acquisition who is entering the prime of his career.

DeJean could be both of those things.

This time, the obvious pick becomes the right one.

Second Round: Zach Frazier, OL, West Virginia

Frazier is one of the best center prospects in this draft class next to Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson. Frazier could push Josh Myers for a starting job immediately, and even slide over to guard, if necessary, where the scheduled starter is Sean Rhyan.

Second Round: Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale

Amegadjie was called the most interesting prospect in the draft by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler due to his size and athleticism but relative inexperience.

Amegadjie gives the Packers some tackle depth. With Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom, they have two players they are OK with starting in 2024 if the draft does not break a certain way. Amegadjie could allow the Packers to have a high-level swing tackle, something they’ve valued in the recent past.

Third Round Trey Benson, RB, Florida State

Yes, the Packers have Josh Jacobs and AJ Dillon in tow. However, Dillon’s back on only a one-year deal, so they could be looking for a long-term solution to solidify the backfield.

Benson would add some much-needed speed to a backfield that has a lot of thunder but not enough lightning.

Third Round Jarrian Jones, CB, Florida State

Jarrian Jones gives the Packers another option at slot corner. Gutekunst said he liked the peace of mind and stability that Keisean Nixon brings, but they are set to have Jones in for a top-30 visit. He’s one of the best nickel corner prospects in this draft, and did well against LSU’s future first-round pick, Malik Nabers, in their individual matchup.

Jones provides competition at that spot, and another tool in the secondary for Jeff Hafley to use.

Fourth Round: Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State

I was stunned when Beebe was available at this point of the draft. He’s bigger than what the Packers have typically preferred for their interior linemen, but he does have experience at both tackle spots. Beebe could be given a chance to start at guard as a rookie and provide more competition and depth along the interior.

Fifth Round: Luke McCaffery, WR, Rice

One of football’s royal families finally makes its way to Green Bay. Ed McCaffery helped torture the Packers in Super Bowl XXXII. Christian McCaffery tormented the Packers and helped end their season last January.

To stop the bleeding, the Packers take athletic marvel Luke McCaffery. He can compete at the back end of the receiver room and contribute on special teams, something that will be a requirement from any receiver added to this roster.

Sixth Round: Jaylan Ford, LB, Texas

It’s likely Gutekunst would prefer to add a linebacker earlier than the sixth round, but if there’s anything to be learned about Gutekunst is that he won’t force a pick at a position if his board does not fall the way he wants.

Safety from last year is a great example, where the Packers did not take one until the seventh round, when they selected Anthony Johnson Jr.

Ford provides some size and run-stopping ability to a linebacker corps that is in need of some reinforcements.

Sixth Round: Steele Chambers, LB, Ohio State

Chambers is not as decorated as his fellow Buckeye Tommy Eichenberg, but he is a good player in his own right.

Chambers had 77 tackles, 6.5 tackles for losses and two interceptions in 2022 and 83 tackles in 2023, when PFF charged him with only an 81.0 passer rating. He had four interceptions and 13 sacks over his final three seasons. He can compete with linebackers on the roster not named Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie for playing time.

Seventh Round: Taulia Tagovailoa, QB, Maryland

Tagovailoa satisfies Gutekunst’s desires to draft another quarterback and help develop him in hopes of flipping him for future draft assets.

Tagovailoa, the brother of Miami Dolphins’ starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, started a ton of games in his career and was the Big Ten leader in passing yards and completions a season ago.

Seventh Round: Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky

Wallace represented an opportunity to do something Gutekunst has done in the past at positions of need. He’s taken chances at three players of positions of need at the back of the draft.

Wallace, who had 5.5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for losses and 80 interceptions in 2023, could compete with the two linebackers selected before him to compete for snaps on both defense and special teams as this position group is the thinnest one on the team.

What Worked?

The ability to add two defensive backs early in the draft helps build the Packers’ secondary for the short- and long-term futures. DeJean is a favorite pick amongst mock-drafters, and for good reason. He’s a versatile chess piece that could play nickel or safety.

The interior of the offensive line should be fortified with Frazier and Beebe. Both could feasibly start as rookies if Josh Myers and Sean Rhyan are unable to hold down the fort.

Benson and McCaffery give Jordan Love two more explosive weapons to play with on offense, and Tagovailoa brings experience and tools to develop at the back of the quarterback room.

What Didn’t Work?

Adding three linebackers on Day 3 probably isn’t Gutekunst’s strategy, but the board never fell in a good spot to take a linebacker in what is a weak class by consensus.

The same is true of the defensive line and pass rushers. We weren’t able to add anyone of significance to those spots, which could have the Packers relying on Brenton Cox to make a big leap as a second-year player.