100 Days of Mocks: Packers Trade Rodgers, Add Playmakers in 33rd Team Two-Rounder
GREEN BAY, Wis. – In a new mock draft by The 33rd Team, the Green Bay Packers traded quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets for a first-round pick.
With the pick obtained from the Jets, No. 13 overall, Green Bay grabbed Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon, “the most physical, versatile corner in the draft.”
Then-coach Lovie Smith would agree.
“He’s the toughest guy on the team pound-for-pound,” Smith said in 2020.
Responded Witherspoon, who’s listed at 6-foot and 180 pounds: “It’s from the heart. I think I was born with it. I never let my size get me down. Even though I wasn’t the biggest, I always played with the biggest heart. I never let that stop me from doing what I had to do to accomplish what we had to get done."
It’s an interesting pick. The Packers would seem set at corner with Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas and Eric Stokes – so long as Stokes returns to his rookie form. But the Packers could have a major hole at safety with Adrian Amos headed to free agency and Douglas did spend one day at training camp locked in at safety.
During his final season, Witherspoon had three interceptions, 17 passes defensed and did not allow a touchdown while playing man coverage against the opponent’s No. 1 receiver all season.
Witherspoon was one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation’s defensive back – a first in program history. He also became the first consensus All-American defensive back in Illinois history and won the Tatum-Woodson Award as the Big Ten’s top defensive back.
According to Pro Football Focus, Witherspoon was one of 152 cornerbacks in this draft class to play at least 200 coverage snaps in 2022. He was nothing short of dominant, ranking third in that group with a 35.5 percent completion rate, second with 18 forced incompletions and first with a 25.3 passer rating.
“Corners have to have a short memory,” Illini coach Bret Bielema said. “They have to. If you get beat on a play or if you give up a touchdown, whatever it is, if you dwell on that play, you’ll never be able to maximize the next one. It’s been my experience that the best corners have that confidence that even they got that one, I’m going to get the next one, and that’s what Spoon is.”
Green Bay’s next two picks were used to give quarterback Jordan Love some explosive options in the passing game.
With its own pick at No. 15, it landed USC receiver Jordan Addison.
At Pittsburgh in 2021, Addison won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver with 100 receptions (a school record) for 1,593 yards (15.9 average) with 17 touchdowns (tied for No. 1 in the nation). He transferred to USC for 2022 and was given Carson Palmer’s retired No. 3 jersey. He caught 59 passes for 875 yards (14.8 average) and eight scores.
In the second round, Green Bay grabbed one of the top tight ends.
For that pick as well as the rest of the NFC North – why did the Bears draft quarterback Bryce Young first overall? Which top-of-the-class defenders did the Lions pick with their two first-round picks? And how did the Vikings address their downtrodden defense? – click here for the full mock.
More Green Bay Packers Offseason News
Scout talks about play of 39-year-old Aaron Rodgers
Green Bay will “always be home” for Rodgers
NFC North offseason game plans
100 days of mocks continues: Receiver first in NFL.com three-rounder
SI.com’s bold (absurd?) prediction for Packers
Four lessons Packers can learn from Super Bowl
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.
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
