100 Days of Mocks: Packers Trade Aaron Rodgers to Jets
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers are trading Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, with the teams swapping first-round picks and Green Bay picking up an additional second-rounder.
What will that mean for the Packers when they’re on the clock at No. 13 overall on Thursday?
Perhaps nothing. Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr went the tried-and-true route by using that pick on the defense. With Iowa pass rusher Lukas Van Ness, who “has a motor that doesn’t stop” and all sorts of upside after two productive seasons, maybe Green Bay’s defense will finally play to expectations.
Luke Easterling of Athlon grabbed Van Ness in his two-round mock. The help for Jordan Love came in the second round with USC receiver Jordan Addison and Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta.
NFL.com’s Eric Edholm considered Van Ness at this spot but instead went with Clemson’s Myles Murphy, another big-bodied, powerful pass rusher.
In an “Executive Mock Draft” at The 33rd Team, former NFL GMs Rick Spielman and Mike Tannenbaum selected Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Spielman said he considered a tight end at this spot but went with the OSU slot, who would give the Packers “three young, talented” receivers, joining Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs in catching passes from Love.
Noting how a young Aaron Rodgers got to throw the rock to Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Jordy Nelson, CBS Sports’ Grant Podell selected Smith-Njigba, who is “the most polished route-runner” in the draft.
Pro Football Network’s Dalton Miller cranked out a three-rounder, with Love getting two premier playmakers with Utah tight end Dalton Miller in the first round and SMU receiver Rashee Rice in the third round.
“Green Bay needs pass catchers more than two hydrogens need oxygen to create water,” Miller wrote.
Both players had predraft visits, as did his second-round defenders.
The Los Angeles Times’ Sam Farmer went local – local to him, anyway – and sent Addison to the Packers. Addison isn’t big and he isn’t fast but he dominated at Pittsburgh and had a strong season with the Trojans, as well.
Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar went with a receiver, as well, with Boston College’s Zay Flowers. At less than 5-foot-10, the guess is Flowers will not be a consideration.
CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson also took Flowers at No. 13.
The offensive line wasn’t neglected in this new barrage of mocks. USA Today’s Nate Davis grabbed Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson.
Johnson had been mocked a lot to the Jets at this spot and would make a lot of sense. He started at right guard in 2021 before moving to his natural position at left tackle in 2022. Could he start at right guard (or right tackle) in 2023 before potentially replacing David Bakhtiari in 2024?
For The Action Network, Nick Guarisco grabbed Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski. The grandson of Glory Years left tackle Bob Skoronski, Peter was an All-American left tackle who might have to move inside to guard.
Sam Monson and Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus did a two-round mock before the Rodgers trade but correctly projected the Packers would get the Jets’ second-rounder. So, Green Bay took Georgia edge Nolan Smith at No. 15 (Ohio State’s Johnson was on the board at No. 13), then added LaPorta at No. 42 and Wisconsin defensive tackle Keeanu Benton at No. 45.
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.
3 days: The legit best mock draft ever
4 days: Going short in ESPN seven-round mock
5 days: Two massive hauls in Rodgers trade
Packer Central’s all-visits seven-round mock
6 days: All-trades mock lands Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Packer Central’s eighth all-Packers mock
7 days: Seven mocks, three votes for Jaxon Smith-Njgiba
8 days: A wild three-team Aaron Rodgers trade among 10 mocks
9 days: Four pass catchers and Peter Schrager among 10 mocks
10 days: Breaking down seven-round mocks by Brugler, CBS
