Breaking Down ESPN’s Seven-Round Mock Draft

ESPN.com’s Jordan Reid published a seven-round mock draft on Wednesday. Let’s take a closer look.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Mar 29, 2023 4:13 PM EDT

In this story:

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers need to bolster their pass rush, add weapons for new starting quarterback Jordan Love and perhaps replace starting safety Adrian Amos.

ESPN.com’s Jordan Reid addressed those needs – but whiffed on offensive tackle and defensive tackle – in his new seven-round mock draft.

Reid’s mock didn’t include any trades, so there was no compensation for the presumptive trade of Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets.

If the Packers were to get, say, a second-round pick in this year’s draft, perhaps Reid could have selected Syracuse offensive tackle Matthew Bergeron or Wisconsin defensive tackle Keeanu Benton. Otherwise, Reid failed to land an offensive tackle and didn’t get a badly needed defensive lineman until the final round.

With the first-round pick, the selection was Clemson edge Myles Murphy. He fits the big-guy mold personified by Rashan Gary, Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith. The 6-foot-5, 268-pounder had 18.5 sacks, 36 tackles for losses and six forced fumbles in six seasons.

“The biggest thing is versatility,” Murphy said at the Scouting Combine. “I have film of playing from the three-technique all the way out to a wide nine, two-point, three-point. Dominating in every gap, honestly. Great off the ball, great speed off the ball. Great point of attack. Being 275 pounds, I have the strength to go with it.”

The biggest need on offense might be tight end following the departure of Robert Tonyan and potential departure of Marcedes Lewis. Enter Georgia’s Darnell Washington with the second-round pick. He might not be the best tight end today but he might wind up being the best of the class in two years.

“A powerful blocker at the point of attack, Washington has untapped potential as a pass-catcher,” Reid wrote, noting Washington caught 45 passes in three seasons. “He is an ascending player in a 6-8 frame.”

Washington had a predraft visit with the Packers.

In the third round, Reid went with Michigan State receiver Jayden Reed. In 2021, Reed caught 59 passes for 1,026 yards and 10 touchdowns and returned two punts for touchdowns to earn first-team All-American honors. He wasn’t nearly as productive in 2022 but he’s a line-up-everywhere receiver with a big-play resume on special teams.

The fourth-round choice addressed safety with Alabama’s Jordan Battle, a two-time All-American and three-year starter. Reid took Battle one spot ahead of Illinois safety Sydney Brown, who’s a bit undersized but a superior athlete and ballhawk.

Fast forwarding to the four picks in the seventh round, Reid selected two players we took in our most recent mock: Florida receiver Justin Shorter and Northwestern running back Evan Hull. There’s nothing “shorter” about the 6-foot-4 Shorter, and Hull caught 88 passes during his final two seasons. Both players would be excellent fits.

Reid also addressed the rather obvious need at quarterback by selecting TCU’s Max Duggan. There aren’t a lot of good Packers fits at quarterback but Duggan belongs. While he’s a bit undersized at 6-foot-1 1/2, he has the desired hand size (9 7/8) and more than enough athleticism (4.52 in the 40).

Duggan led the Horned Frogs all the way to the national championship game. He completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 3,698 yards with 32 touchdowns vs. eight interceptions as a senior. Between passing and rushing, he accounted for 101 career touchdowns.

Click here for the complete mock and his full breakdowns of the first three picks.