With One Week Until NFL Draft, Packers Get DeJean in ‘Consensus Mock’

Cooper DeJean, JC Latham, Graham Barton and Alabama cornerbacks were the focus for the Packers in the latest NFL mock drafts.

Author:
Bill Huber
Apr 18, 2024

In this story:

Graham Barton

NFL Draft

Packers Mock Draft

Cooper DeJean

Terrion Arnold

Kool-Aid McKinstry

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The NFL Draft is not a democracy. There is no power in the people. Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst will listen to those around him but, ultimately, it’s a dictatorship. He’s not going to take Mark Murphy’s advice, let alone consult the team’s fans/owners, when on the clock with the 25th selection of the first round.

If he were to check with the masses, they’d select Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean.

That’s the result of the “consensus” mock draft put together by Draft Countdown’s Brad Menendez via Mock Draft Database.

DeJean also was the pick in the March consensus draft.

The likes of Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims, Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton, Oregon offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson and Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins were off the board. Still available were Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton and Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan.

NBC Sports: Alabama CB Terrion Arnold

Connor Rogers gave the Packers arguably the top corner in the draft.

Arnold was one of the premier playmakers in the nation last year, earning first-team All-American honors with five interceptions and 17 passes defensed. His size and speed are fine (5-foot-11 3/4 and 4.50) but brings physicality and anticipation.

Explained Rogers: "Arnold played both inside and outside during his time at Alabama and logged over 300 snaps in press coverage (Per PFF). He’s still more of an athlete at the position rather than an anticipator of throws and route combinations, but that shows what kind of ceiling he has. It’s an added bonus that he’s an aggressive, above average tackler for a defensive back."

CBS Sports: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

Same position, same team, different player for Chris Trapasso.

“Awesome value here for the Packers, a club loaded with youth and picks in this draft,” he wrote. “McKinstry is the bold outside cornerback Green Bay needs long term.”

Offensive linemen Graham Barton, Tyler Guyton and Jordan Morgan went at the end of the round.

CBS Sports: Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton

Jonathan Jones tapped into a deep class of top-tier offensive tackles. The Packers might be in love with Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker, but there’s no depth at any spot on the line.

“This is a very good offensive lineman draft and the Packers need one of them,” Jones said. “Guyton played right tackle at Oklahoma but will need some time adjusting to the pros.”

Sporting News (3 Rounds): Alabama OT JC Latham

In his latest three-round mock draft, Vinnie Iyer grabbed the massive Alabama offensive tackle.

“The Packers need to think about offensive tackle early after parting ways with David Bakhtiari, and Latham has the all-around upside for which they are looking,” Iyer wrote.

Latham is ill-equipped to play left tackle and he might not have the required athleticism for the Packers at right tackle, either. But Latham – who grew up in Wisconsin and goes by the nickname “Trench King” is a big, physical, durable player with the power to take the run game to a new level.

From there, the second-round picks were used on West Virginia center Zach Frazier, who’s in the mix with Graham Barton and Jackson Powers-Johnson to be the first off the board, and Washington State safety Jaden Hicks. He’s got the skill-set to be the perfect complement to Xavier McKinney.

“The Packers spent good money to shore up one safety spot with Xavier McKinney in free agency,” Iyer wrote. “Hicks will allow them to further boost their run support from the position with some coverage upside.”

Boston College guard Christian Mahogany meant three of the first four picks were used on the offensive line. Notre Dame cornerback Cam Hart, who stands 6-foot-3, rounds out the list.

Pro Football Network (3 Rounds): Duke OL Graham Barton

In his latest three-rounder, Will Helms went with Barton, a three-year starting left tackle at Duke who figures to play center or guard in the NFL. “Signing Josh Jacobs in free agency suggests a re-commitment to the run. Graham Barton has good hand usage and played multiple positions in college,” Barton wrote.

Michigan linebacker Junior Colson, Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter and Maryland safety Beau Brade addressed the critical needs on defense. The other third-round pick was a running back, with Helms taking Clemson’s Will Shipley ahead of arguably the top running back in the draft.

ESPN.com: Trade Scenarios

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell didn’t make any picks. What he did was come up with trade scenarios for every team. The Packers are mentioned twice.

First, it was with the Cincinnati Bengals. In this scenario, the Bengals would trade No. 18 of the first round and No. 97 of the third round to the Packers for No. 25 of the first round and No. 58 of the second round.

That would give Green Bay: No. 18 of the first, No. 41 of the second, and Nos. 88, 91 and 97 of the third. The target for the Packers would be an offensive lineman – moving up would jump ahead of a few teams that might be eyeing a blocker – while the Bengals would get that extra second-round pick for an on-the-fly retooling.

The other scenario would be the Packers moving up from No. 25 to No. 15 at the cost of their second second-round pick, No. 58.

“Bouncing up to No. 15 would get them ahead of the Jaguars and a handful of other teams in that [offensive tackle] conversation,” Barnwell wrote. “The Packers could also hit cornerback with both Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes battling injuries over the past couple of seasons, which is another position the Jags might consider addressing at No. 17.”