100 Days of Mocks: Four Drafts, Four Pass-Catchers
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Imagine the possibilities with a receiver corps featuring Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs on the outside with Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the slot.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a superstar at Ohio State in 2021, was the pick in a new mock draft by The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez.
“The Packers and Aaron Rodgers need to go separate ways, which means that it is the Jordan Love show,” Sanchez explained. “With that being the case, the front office understands that they need to surround Love with as many weapons as possible. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the perfect pairing with the young, explosive vertical threats that the Packers drafted last year.”
In 2021, Smith-Njigba caught 95 passes for 1,606 yards. According to Pro Football Focus, 87 receptions and 1,367 yards came from the slot. His 3.87 yards per route from the slot ranked second in the nation.
Smith-Njigba was supposed to be the man last year after Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave were drafted in the first round. Instead, he missed most of the season with a hamstring injury.
“Jaxon is a cold-blooded man, man,” Wilson told Yahoo Sports recently. “That boy is, we call him ‘The Natural.’ He's got hands, he's got feet that will throw you by, make you miss. He'll do the laundry for you. Jaxon’s cold, man. I’m confident that wherever he goes, he's going to make a big impact early.”
With the second-round pick, Sanchez went with the pass rusher that NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah sent to Green Bay in his first mock.
In a beat writers mock draft for The Athletic, Matt Schneidman traded Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. Schneidman didn’t draft a receiver at No. 13 or No. 15, but the package did include receiver Elijah Moore.
A second-round pick in 2021, Moore started nine of his 16 appearances last season and caught 37 passes for 446 yards and one touchdown. According to PFF, Moore forced 11 missed tackles and didn’t drop any passes last season. Every Packers receiver combined to force 13 missed tackles.
Moore, who measured 5-foot-9 1/2 and ran his 40 in 4.35 seconds before the 2021 draft, would provide another explosive performer to the offense. He also would provide an interesting conversation with coach Matt LaFleur.
Last season, LaFleur’s brother, Mike, was the Jets’ offensive coordinator. After catching zero passes in the Jets’ win at Lambeau Field in Week 6, Moore reportedly told Mike LaFleur to “go f*** yourself.” Shortly thereafter, Moore requested a trade.
At Yahoo Sports, Charles McDonald gave the Packers perhaps the best receiver prospect with TCU’s Quentin Johnston.
“Whether or not the Packers’ quarterback is Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love, they need to upgrade their wide receiver room,” McDonald wrote. “Quentin Johnston has the size and skills to be a quick fix and long-term option.”
Johnston and Watson would give the Packers a pair of 6-foot-4 receivers with game-breaking speed. Johnston averaged 18.8 yards per reception during his college career.
In a two-round mock at CBS Sports, Josh Edwards also gave the Packers an option in the passing game with powerful Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer.
“Green Bay's future at quarterback is unsettled,” he wrote. “It may be as simple as turning the keys over to Jordan Love if Aaron Rodgers departs. Michael Mayer is a quality safety valve and a contributor in the run game with Aaron Jones returning.”
Mayer, who was one of three collegiate players to participate in the George Kittle-led Tight End University, is coming off back-to-back seasons of 71 and 67 receptions.
“Mayer forces opposing defenders to make business decisions with the ball in his hands, as he runs at them like a Mack truck,” reads part of his NFL Draft Bible scouting report.
The second-round pick was used on a safety we introduced earlier in this series.
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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.
63 days: A massive haul for Rodgers
64 days: Three team-issued mock drafts
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
