100 Days of Mocks: McShay Among Six Mocks With Tight Ends
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The 2023 NFL Draft was shaken up on Friday with the Chicago Bears receiving a king’s ransom to ship the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers. Will it be shaken up again with the Green Bay Packers shipping Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets?
In a new mock draft at USA Today’s Touchdown Wire, the Packers went with Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 13 and Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid at No. 15.
“Trading away Rodgers and then taking Smith-Nijba and Kincaid with back-to-back first-round picks is almost too cruel to the future Hall of Famer to fathom,” Zach Kruse wrote as part of his summation, “but just imagine a Packers offense spearheaded by Love and all these weapons. Remember, back in the early days of Rodgers as the starter, the Packers were loaded around the quarterback on offense. This is a chance to replicate the formula with Love.”
Tight end was the theme of the day for the 100 Days of Mocks series. With 47 days until the draft, five other mocks gave the Packers a tight end. That includes a revamped Todd McShay mock, with the ESPN draft guru rewriting his most recent mock following the Panthers-Bears trade.
“I fit Mayer with Green Bay in my last mock, too,” McShay wrote as part of a lengthy explanation. “Let's improve this offensive supporting cast. Christian Watson looked awesome last season, but Allen Lazard and Robert Tonyan are free agents. It doesn't matter if it's Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love or me throwing the ball, this has to be a focus this offseason.”
The 33rd Team took Kincaid, as well.
“Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid has mismatch qualities at tight end and is a quarterback-friendly option for whoever is under center for the Green Bay Packers in 2023.”
Kyle Stockpole of CBS traded Rodgers and drafted Mayer at No. 15.
The Packers just don't draft first-round wide receivers. Will that change with Jordan Love in charge? I'll believe it when I see it. Instead, Love will benefit from all-around tight end Michael Mayer, who is a mauler of a blocker, has reliable hands and gets open in the biggest of moments. He'd be an immediate upgrade over impending free agent Robert Tonyan.
The Ringer’s Danny Kelly took Mayer, as well.
“His comments at the Combine made clear that Mayer is all business and he loves football. He just feels like a Packer. And whether it’s Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love under center, this team needs more talented pass catchers. Mayer is a quarterback’s best friend both over the middle and in the red zone, possessing vise-grip hands and a huge catch radius. He’s a strong blocker, too, who can line up in line and help spring Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon on big runs.”
The Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer cast another vote for Mayer.
“Mayer didn't run the fastest and didn't blow anyone away with his capped athleticism in the agility drills, but he made his mark as a complete, classic in-line player for the position in the gauntlet and other pass-catching testing. The Packers need an impact tight end with Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis entering free agency, for either Aaron Rodgers or an elevated Jordan Love.”
More Green Bay Packers Offseason News
Murphy discusses Rodgers in past tense
Packers restructure Bakhtiari’s contract
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 are the last 10 days of the series.
48 days: Rodgers traded; Packers take pass rusher, tight end
49 days: First-round playmakers and a seven-round mock
50 days: Rodgers, Jets and the first-round dilemma
52 days: Post-Scouting Combine roundup
All-Packers seven-round mock draft 1.0
53 days: Tight end, receiver in new mocks
55 days: Kincaid and figure-skating safety
