100 Days of Mocks: Diving Into Three Team-Produced Mocks
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GREEN BAY, Wis. – Does the average writer for an NFL team’s Web site have any more insight on the NFL Draft than you or I? No offense to my friends Wes Hodkiewicz and Mike Spofford of Packers.com, probably not.
Nonetheless, with 64 days until the 2023 NFL Draft, our 100 Days of Mocks series continues with three mock drafts produced by team-employed writers.
Batting leadoff is Brianna Dix of Buccaneers.com, who went with Alabama safety Brian Branch with the Green Bay Packers’ pick at No. 15 overall.
“Adrian Amos is a pending free agent and Darnell Savage is heading into the fifth-year option of his rookie deal,” she wrote. “The Packers are in need of revitalization in the secondary and Alabama's Brian Branch would help fortify the back end in the Frozen Tundra.”
Branch isn’t just a safety. In fact, it’s a position he rarely played at Alabama. Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban aligned his defense with Branch in the slot to take advantage of his coverage skill and tackling ability. In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, Branch played 101 snaps at safety in three seasons. That’s it.
He excelled in his role, earning first- and second-team All-American honors in 2022, when he rang up two interceptions, seven pass breakups, three sacks, 14 tackles for losses and 90 tackles. He’s perhaps the best tackler in the entire draft, regardless of position. Amos has a terrific four-year track record of tackling; Savage does not.
“Branch is an instinctual defender with versatile traits that defensive coordinators covet in the modern era with an increase in nickel packages,” Dix continued. “He has experience playing at deep safety, aligning at strong safety in the box, nickel corner, linebacker and blitzing off the edge at the line of scrimmage. With elite play recognition and athleticism, Branch would serve as a tone-setter for Green Bay.”
The Packers also went with Branch in Mike O’Hara’s mock draft at DetroitLions.com.
“The Packers fell from 13-4 in 2021 to 8-9,” he wrote. “QB Aaron Rodgers had an off year – 26 TD passes and 12 interceptions. The Packers do not heed an overhaul. They have enough talent to do better.”
Scott Bair of Falcons.com jumped on the bandwagon for Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, who is the best three-down tight end in the draft. He is a pass-catching, tackle-breaking, run-blocking threat.
“The Packers have an improving young receiver corps,” Bair wrote. “They add more firepower at the tight end spot. Will it be Rodgers or Love throwing to these guys? Time will tell on that front.”
Bonus Mocks
- Garrett Podell of CBS Sports also went with Mayer.
“The Packers desperately need Mayer's all-around skill set as blocker and pass-catcher,” reads part of his summary. “Especially in a tight end room that is seeing both Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis potentially hitting free agency. No tight end had more catches or receiving yards than Mayer's 180 receptions for 2,099 receiving yards across the last three seasons of college football.”
- It’s another vote for Mayer in Tony Pauline’s new mock for Pro Football Network.
“There’s not a right tackle worth taking at this spot, and Branch doesn’t make it this far, forcing Green Bay to look elsewhere,” reads part of his explanation. “Michael Mayer can give either Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love an immediate boost in 2023, thanks to his reliability and catch radius.”
- Mayer also was the pick in the UPI mock draft.
- The Packers went receiver with USC’s Jordan Addison at NBC Sports Edge.
“It would be ironic for the Packers to finally draft a wide receiver in the same offseason Aaron Rodgers leaves,” Kyle Dvorchak said. “However, if they want any chance of seeing Jordan Love succeed, he needs more firepower at receiver.”
More Green Bay Packers Offseason News
Teams emerge as betting favorites for Rodgers, Carr
Grading the Packers’ 2022 draft class
You didn’t know this first-round receiver history
100 Days of Mocks
Starting Jan. 17, when there were 100 days until the start of the NFL Draft, we started our mock-worthy goal of 100 mock drafts in 100 days. Here’s the 100-day-countdown series.
Packers take tight end in Daniel Jeremiah’s second mock
65 days: Pass-rushing defensive lineman in two-rounder
67 days: Three-rounder starts with receiver
68 days: Grandson of Glory Years legend
69 days: Mayer to Packers in SI mock
70 days: Football Outsiders picks pass rusher
71 days: 33rd Team trades Rodgers in two-rounder
71 days (bonus): Todd McShay 2.0
72 days: Packers take receiver to start NFL.com three-rounder
73 days: Packers fill big need with big man
74 days: Rodgers traded, take two pass-catchers in first round
75 days: Two NFL.com mocks, two different tight ends
76 days: Tight end and pass rusher in two-rounder by NFL Draft Bible
77 days: Rodgers traded to Raiders for No. 7 pick
78 days: A seven-round mock includes Big Ten playmakers
79 days: Rodgers traded in two-round mock
80 days: Packers take safety in ESPN mock
81 days: Aaron Rodgers traded in three-round mock
82 days: Seven mocks, including NFL.com
83 days: Two pass-catchers in first-round mocks
84 days: Aaron Rodgers traded for extra first-round pick
85 days: PFF picks a pass rusher
86 days: Tight end in NFL Draft Bible Mock
87 days: Packers trade back, get extra second-rounder
88 days: Sorry, vacation day.
89 days: A “Eureka!” moment in two-round mock
90 days: Playmaking cornerback at PFF
91 days: Three defensive backs in seven-round mock
92 days: Kiper takes a tight end
93 days: Safety first for Bucky Brooks in NFL.com mock
94 days: College Football News mocks Mayer
95 days: Two firsts if Rodgers is traded
96 days: NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah goes back to Georgia
97 days: This pick would break a long drought
