Packer Central Mock Drafts Following Rodgers Trade

It’s (almost) official: The Green Bay Packers are sending Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. With the addition of a second-round pick, here are two new mock drafts.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Apr 25, 2023 8:20 AM EDT

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Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – In a new Head of the Pack podcast with The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman following Monday’s trade of Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, the conversation turned to what I would do in the NFL Draft if I were general manager Brian Gutekunst.

The short answer: Help Jordan Love succeed. Get him some marquee help to help him succeed. Use this year to build on offense with a young group of playmakers as a way to launching into 2024.

That’s what we did in two new all-Packers mock drafts. As usual, I played the role of Gutekunst. This time, Pro Football Network’s simulator handled the rest.

First Round: No. 13 – Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (USA Today Sports Images)

Can Love be a winning quarterback? The only way to find out is to give him some weapons. If Love is a legit starter, he’ll have all year to grow alongside the new Fab 4 of Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Smith-Njigba and the tight end I planned on drafting in the second round.

Also considered: Nobody, given the game plan with this draft.

Second round: No. 42 – Georgia TE Darnell Washington

I figured Washington or Oregon State tight end Luke Musgrave would be available. They both were on the board. I think coach Matt LaFleur would like to run the football more, so let’s take the big guy who can help Aaron Jones get around the corner.

Also considered: Musgrave.

Second round: No. 45 – Georgia Tech edge Keion White

The Packers brought in three outside linebacker candidates for predraft visits: White, Kansas State’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Iowa State’s Will McDonald. The first two were available. I took White, the 6-foot-5, 285-pound former tight end who has the size and power to set an edge and collapse the pocket.

Also considered: Anudike-Uzomah, Michigan DT Mazi Smith, Wisconsin DT Keeanu Benton.

Third Round: No. 78 – BYU OT Blake Freeland

The Packers need to develop an offensive tackle behind David Bakhtiari and Yosh Nijman. Enter Freeland, who has some Jared Veldheer vibes with his height and athleticism.

Also considered: Illinois S Quan Martin, Stanford WR Michael Wilson.

Fourth Round: No. 116 – Cal S Daniel Scott

Safety and defensive tackle are the last of Green Bay’s big needs. At safety, Scott and Oklahoma State’s Jason Taylor are high-upside players. Taylor had more production but Scott is a bit bigger – and Green Bay tends to like big.

Also considered: Taylor, LSU DT Jaquelin Roy, Tulane RB Tyjae Spears.

Fifth Round: No. 149 – LSU DT Jaquelin Roy

Unexpectedly, Roy fell all the way to the fifth round. No defensive lineman in the draft forced more holding penalties than Roy, so he can be tough to block. The Packers have only three under contract who’ve played a snap. Roy is the No. 4 in the rotation and we’ll find some undrafted free agent to challenge Jonathan Ford to be No. 5.

Also considered: Nobody, though Oklahoma RB Eric Gray, UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, TCU QB Max Duggan and Miami TE Will Mallory were appealing.

Sixth Round: No. 207 – Michigan K Jake Moody

I was told this week that Moody, the best kicker in the draft, wouldn’t last until the seventh round. In fact, he might not be available at this spot, either.

Also considered: Purdue TE Payne Durham, Oklahoma DT Jalen Redmond, Houston S Gervarrius Owens.

Seventh Round: No. 232 – Cincinnati TE Josh Whyle

It’s imperative to get a second tight end. Whyle isn’t a great athlete but he is a matchup problem with good blocking skills.

Also considered: Florida WR Justin Shorter

Seventh Round: No. 235 – Florida WR Justin Shorter

Having drafted Smith-Njigba in the first round, let’s get a big, physical receiver capable of growing into the Allen Lazard role.

Also considered: Nobody.

Seventh Round: No. 242 – Central Michigan RB Lew Nichols III

The Packers have a potential long-term need in the backfield with Aaron Jones (cap) and AJ Dillon (free agency) not guaranteed to return in 2024. Nichols is a 220-pounder with a history of catching the rock.

Also considered: Northwestern RB Evan Hull, who I’ve taken in just about every mock, San Jose State edge Viliami Fehoko.

Seventh Round: No. 256 – Arkansas WR Matt Landers

With just five under contract, the Packers need to come out of draft weekend with five receivers. So, let’s draft a third with Landers, who is 6-foot-4 with 4.37 speed.

Utah TE Dalton Kincaid (USA Today Sports Images)

Packer Central Mock 10.1

So, what if Smith-Njigba is off the board but the goal is still to help Love? The target becomes Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid. Here’s a quick three-rounder using PFN’s simulator.

First Round: No. 13 – Trade

In a simulator-proposed trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I shipped the first- and fourth-round picks, Nos. 13 and 116, to the Bucs for their first- and second-round picks, Nos. 19 and 50. That gives Green Bay four of the first 50 picks: No. 19 of the first and Nos. 42, 45 and 50 of the second. That’s four premium picks to address most of the key needs.

First Round: No. 19 – Utah TE Dalton Kincaid

Kincaid and Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer are on the board. You can’t go wrong with either but we’ll take Kincaid to give Love the best possible option in the passing game.

Also considered: Nobody other than Mayer, because trading back for a tight end was the idea behind this draft.

Second Round: No. 42 – Kansas State edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah

Of the aforementioned three edges to have predraft visits, Anudike-Uzomah – the reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year – is the last man standing.

Also considered: SMU WR Rashee Rice, Wisconsin DT Keaanu Benton

Second Round: No. 45 – SMU WR Rashee Rice

The Packers have only three receivers on their roster who’ve caught a pass in the regular season. Rice starred on the perimeter and in the slot. He’s a monster after the catch and in contested-catch situations. The slot ability gives him the edge over Tennessee’s Cedric Tillman.

Also considered: Tennessee WR Cedric Tillman, Wisconsin DT Keaanu Benton, Illinois S Quan Martin

Second Round: No. 50 – Wisconsin DT Keeanu Benton

Benton was an all-Big Ten performer each of the last two seasons. At 6-foot-4 and 309 pounds and with long 33 3/4-inch arms, he’s got the length and power to win at the point of attack.

Also considered: Illinois S Quan Martin

Third Round: No. 78 – Illinois S Quan Martin

Martin has experience (36 starts), explosive athleticism (4.46 40, 44 vertical), production (three interceptions, 14 passes defensed, two forced fumbles as a senior) and versatility (safety, slot and cornerback).

Also considered: BYU OT Blake Freeland.