100 Days of Mocks: Post-Combine Packers Roundup
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers wound up with the best receiver in the draft in a new mock draft by CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson.
It’s not Quentin Johnston and it’s not Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Rather, it’s Boston College’s Zay Flowers.
“Zay Flowers was virtually unstoppable for Boston College, and that was with suspect quarterback play,” Wilson wrote. “He has a chance to be WR1 -- and deservedly so -- and he also has return skills.”
In four seasons, Flowers caught 200 passes for 3,056 yards and 29 touchdowns. He saved the best for last with 78 grabs for 1,077 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior. He also was a frequent runner with 57 career rushing attempts and a 6.1 average.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah called him a “clone” of longtime NFL standout T.Y. Hilton.
“Explosive” is how Flowers defined his game.
At 5-foot-9 1/4 and 182 pounds, he might not be on Green Bay’s draft board. He ran his 40 in 4.42 seconds.
Flowers was one of Chad Reuter’s Combine winners at NFL.com.
“Scouts saw how he propelled Boston College's offense last season with excellent body control and quickness after the catch, and Saturday’s performance should bolster his first-round credentials,” was part of Reuter’s explanation.
Flowers is the 11th of 13 children.
“That kept me competitive, kept me on my toes, kept me spirited,” he said. “They’re my biggest fans, my brothers and sisters, so I'm living the dream for all of us.”
Here are some more post-Scouting Combine mock drafts.
Sports Illustrated’s NFL Draft Bible grabbed Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer.
Scouting report: “A rare blend of size, athleticism, toughness and pure natural talent, Mayer is the definition of a prototype at the tight end position. Tough enough to break tackles after the catch and elusive enough to make defenders miss in the open field.”
Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar picked Oklahoma offensive tackle Anton Harrison.
Reasoning: Through three seasons with the Sooners, Harrison allowed four sacks, three quarterback hits, and 26 quarterback hurries in 1,002 pass-blocking reps. He is an absolute plug-and-play guy for a team that is in need of future considerations at the left tackle position, as David Bakhtiari hasn’t played a full season since 2019 — and no matter who the Packers’ quarterback may be.
The Draft Network’s Jamie Eisner went with Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness.
Reasoning: Talk about a physical freak! Lukas Van Ness was highly impressive at the NFL Combine, where his raw athleticism shined. The Packers need more edge rushers to disrupt opposing quarterbacks and Van Ness looks like a future diamond.
Josh Schrock of NBC Sports also cast a vote for Van Ness.
Shane Hallam from Draft Countdown put together a seven-round mock. We’ll digest the whole thing later this week but he selected Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid.
DraftKings’ Lance Cartelli also picked Kincaid.
Charlie Campbell of Walter Football took Alabama safety Brian Branch in a three-round mock.
Reasoning: Branch recorded 90 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and seven passes broken up in 2022. He was all over the field for the Crimson Tide as a safety and slot cornerback. Branch (6-0, 190) played well in 2021, showing size and cover skills while recording 55 tackles and nine passes broken up. In 2020, he had 27 tackles and two interceptions and seven breakups. Team sources think Branch could be a hybrid cornerback/safety similar to Minkah Fitzpatrick.
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.
53 days: Tight end, receiver in new mocks
55 days: Kincaid and figure-skating safety
56 days: The dreaded third-round tight end
57 days: Three mocks, same tight end
58 days: Going the extra Myles
59 days: Safety, tight end, receiver in three-rounder
60 days: Two three-round mocks
62 days: Three mocks, three receivers
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
