100 Days of Mocks: New NFL.com Mock, Same Tight End
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GREEN BAY, Wis. – Tight end could be an enormous need for the Green Bay Packers depending on the free-agent futures of Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis. With that in mind, NFL.com’s Eric Edholm selected Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer in his first mock draft.
“This might be early for Mayer, who isn't every team's top-rated tight end. But he's rock solid across the board and would give Green Bay a quality middle-of-the-field pass catcher, which is a need,” Edholm wrote.
The Packers have been in good hands – literally – with Tonyan. During his breakout 52-catch season in 2020, his ACL-impacted 2021 and his 53-catch return in 2022, Tonyan caught 123 passes with only two drops, according to Sports Info Solutions. Among tight ends who were targeted 50-plus times in 2022, Tonyan tied for first in drops (one), was second in drop percentage (1.8) and was first in catchable-catch percentage (96.4).
The ageless Lewis, the oldest non-quarterback starter in the NFL, continued to block at an elite level, even if he became a virtual nonfactor in the passing game.
If the Packers move on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers, they might move on from their veteran tight ends, as well. Mayer provides a sure-handed receiving threat over the middle. While not a big-play performer, he is a punishing runner after the catch. He’s also a quality blocker, making him the best every-down tight end in the draft.
“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. “He is extremely tough to bring down, often requiring multiple defenders to do so. The team captain brings a ferocious intensity and is a notorious hard worker. While his blocking is adequate, there is room for improvement in his development. Overall, his ability to run, catch, block and break tackles makes him an immediate impact player at the next level.”
Also in the mock, the Lions drafted a quarterback at No. 6 overall and the Bears and Vikings improved their defenses.
Since you have nothing else to do on a Saturday morning, here are six more mock drafts to click through.
Mayer also was the pick in this new mock at CBS Sports as well as this new mock draft at CBS Sports and this one from Athlon.
At the Ringer, Danny Kelly went with Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness. Like Mayer, he’s a familiar Packers pick in mock drafts.
Walter Football gave the Packers a bookend to David Bakhtiari.
How about a first-round quarterback? It’s not the first time that player has come up in this series.
Before you laugh, if the Packers do trade Rodgers, they would need to add another arm behind Jordan Love. Presumably, that would be a veteran to provide a steadying influence and an extra set of eyes, but the Packers in 2008 went with Brian Brohm in the second round and Matt Flynn in the seventh.
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.
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
99 days: Trading for outside linebacker
100 days: First-round quarterback?
More Packers Offseason News
New Rodgers suitor emerges at sportsbook
Two Packers make list of top 100 free agents
One word shifts Rodgers’ next-team odds
