Packers Seven-Round Mock Draft 9.0: Predraft Visits Edition

The Green Bay Packers used their 30 predraft visits on players across the NFL Draft spectrum, from first round through potential undrafted free agents. Here’s an all-visits mock.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Apr 21, 2023 1:43 PM EDT
Original:
Apr 21, 2023

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Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – If you don’t think predraft visits are an important indicator of who the Green Bay Packers might select in the 2023 NFL Draft, you have a short memory or haven’t been paying attention.

Last year, the Packers drafted 11 players. Six of them: Devonte Wyatt (first round), Christian Watson (second), Romeo Doubs (fourth), Tariq Carpenter (seventh), Rasheed Walker (seventh) and Samori Toure (seventh) visited before the draft.

With that in mind, here is our ninth all-Packers mock draft based solely on who visited. No, of course, the Packers aren’t going to use all 10 or 11 picks on their visits. The other 31 teams will have a say in who’s available. But, at least based on last year, doing it this way delivers at least a decent chance of getting several picks correct – especially compared to using your favorite draft simulator.

Moreover, this is a fresh way to look at the wide spectrum of players the Packers hosted.

First round: No. 15 – Utah TE Dalton Kincaid

Dalton Kincaid (USA Today Sports Images)

The Packers hosted Kincaid, Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer and Georgia’s Darnell Washington. Those are the consensus three top tight ends. You could go either way here with the do-it-all, plug-and-play Mayer, the elite receiving skill of the plug-and-play Kincaid or the elite upside of Washington. We took Mayer in our last mock so let’s take Kincaid in this one because it really is a toss-up based on Green Bay’s style of play and the desire to help Jordan Love as much as possible.

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

Felix Anudike-Uzomah (USA Today Sports Images)

Projected Aaron Rodgers trade

In a loaded class of pass rushers, the Packers brought in Georgia Tech’s Keion White, Iowa State’s Will McDonald and Kansas State’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Chances are one of those three will remain on the board for this spot. If I had to bet a buck, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Anudike-Uzomah will be the last man on the board. With his physical style, he’d be a good fit.

Second round: No. 45 – Illinois S Quan Martin

The Packers have a hole at safety. Unlike tight end and outside linebacker, this is not a good class. Martin is one of the best of the bunch. With a history of solid tackling, Martin had excellent production in 2022, elite athleticism at the Scouting Combine and experience at corner, nickel and safety.

Third round: No. 78 – SMU WR Rashee Rice

The Packers have an obvious need at receiver. They have only five players under contract, and only three of them have caught a pass. The Packers are known to have brought in only one high-level player. That’s Rice, who won deep, won long, won on contested catches and won from the slot and perimeter.

Fourth round: No. 116 – LSU DT Jaquelin Roy

The Packers’ run defense has been horrible for years and they have only three defensive linemen who’ve played in a game. So, defensive line is a key position and the underrated Roy is a solid player at 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds.

Fifth round: No. 149 – Virginia WR Dontayvion Wicks

Dontayvion Wicks (USA Today Sports Images)

Wicks is a complicated case. He played like a potential first-round pick in 2021, when he had 1,203 receiving yards, a 21.1 average and nine touchdowns vs. six drops. He played like a late-round Hail Mary in 2022 with 430 receiving yards, a 14.3 average, two touchdowns vs. nine drops and the worst catchable-catch rate among draft-worth receivers. Which film study will hold the most sway?

Fifth round: No. 170 – Cincinnati TE Josh Whyle

Compensatory for Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Whyle caught 86 passes and scored 15 touchdowns the last three seasons. At 6-foot-6 1/2 and 248 pounds, he’s almost 3 inches taller than Kincaid. If Kincaid is going to be the matchup-problem receiving threat, someone’s got to block. Not to say Whyle is Marcedes Lewis 2.0 but he’s got the potential to develop into a credible blocker with a year of strength development.

Seventh round: No. 232 – Minnesota S Jordan Howden

A source said the team hoped to get two safeties from this draft. In five seasons, Howden started 49 games on defense and logged about 500 snaps on special teams. He’s got 4.49 speed a track record of strong tackling.

Seventh round: No. 235 – Penn State QB Sean Clifford

From Rams as part of Corey Bojorquez trade

The Packers brought in Clifford and Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan. Neither has a great arm, so let’s go with Clifford’s athleticism and ability to throw on the move.

Seventh round: No. 242 – Central Michigan RB Lew Nichols

Lew Nichols III (USA Today Sports Images)

From Jaguars for Cole Van Lanen

With the uncertain futures of Aaron Jones (cap) and AJ Dillon (free agency), the Packers need to fortify their backfield. The Packers brought in three backs: Nichols, Northwestern’s Evan Hull and East Carolina’s Keaton Mitchell. The guess is Hull will be long gone, and the 179-pound Mitchell is just so small. Nichols lacks Hull’s speed and pass-catching acumen but brings 220 pounds and 61 receptions the past two years to the party.

Seventh round: No. 256 – Furman WR Ryan Miller

Compensatory for Chandon Sullivan

Miller was a three-time All-American tight end at Furman but, at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, obviously will be lining up at receiver. He caught 13 passes against Clemson in 2022. Most of his routes in college came from the slot, so that would be a natural role in the NFL. For what it’s worth, the Packers probably will draft a kicker and, not surprisingly, none visited.