Seven-Round Packers Mock Draft 5.1: Getting Their Guy(ton)

Our fifth mock draft of the year is filled with high-end athletes and some smaller-school standouts.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Whatever the Green Bay Packers think of Rasheed Walker’s long-term potential, they will enter the 2024 NFL Draft with an enormous need at offensive tackle.

The Packers reached the divisional round of the playoffs with Walker at left tackle and Zach Tom at right tackle. However, longtime left tackle David Bakhtiari is officially out of the picture and valuable veteran Yosh Nijman signed with the Carolina Panthers. The No. 1 backup at the moment? Perhaps Caleb Jones, who didn’t play a single snap in the regular season.

With veteran guard Jon Runyan also leaving in free agency, fixing the offensive line was a priority in our fifth mock draft, this one conducted with the simulator at NFL Mock Draft Database.

First Round: Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton

This is an odd group of offensive tackles. After you get past the elite duo of Joe Alt and Olu Fashanu, there’s a lot of projection. Can Guyton and Georgia’s Amarius Mims make the move from right tackle to left tackle? Do Washington’s Troy Fautanu, Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga and Arizona’s Jordan Morgan have the height-length numbers to survive on the edge?

A two-year starter at right tackle after starting his career as an H-back at TCU, Guyton allowed zero sacks and 12 total pressures in 2023. At almost 6-foot-8 and 322 pounds, he ran his 40 in 5.19 seconds. The athleticism shows up on the film. He’s got the arm length (34 1/8 inches), too. That’s an elite toolbox. With Walker in place, the Packers can afford to be patient as Guyton acclimates to life at left tackle.

GM Brian Gutekunst was at Missouri’s pro day, where defensive lineman Darius Robinson was the star attraction. He was considered at this spot, as was the mammoth Mims and Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins. Iowa’s Cooper DeJean, Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry and Fautanu were off the board.

Second Round: Texas A&M LB Edgerrin Cooper

With the move to the 4-3 base defense and the release of De’Vondre Campbell, the Packers have a glaring need for a linebacker. And if that linebacker can be a three-down player, all the better. That’s Cooper, who could become a major weapon for new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. In 2023, Cooper had eight sacks and 17 tackles for losses among 84 tackles. At 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, he ran his 40 in 4.51 seconds and posted a Relative Athletic Score of 9.26. With a better health history, he was the choice over NC State’s Payton Wilson, another athletic, playmaking linebacker.

Cooper will take a predraft visit to Green Bay.

Second Round: Ohio State DL Michael Hall

Hall went from 4.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for losses in 2022 to just 1.5 sacks and two tackles for losses in 2023. So, what’s the appeal? He finished second in the draft class in pass-rush win rate, according to PFF. At 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, he’s got athleticism and brute strength, giving him the ability to play on the edge on first-and-10 and rush from the middle on third-and-long.

He will take a predraft visit to Green Bay.

Third Round: Florida State RB Trey Benson

In 2020, the Packers had Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams but used a second-round pick on AJ Dillon. With Josh Jacobs taking over the backfield and Dillon back on a one-year deal, using an early pick on a running back makes sense. It also makes sense from a big-play perspective. Jacobs and Dillon are powerful runners. At 6-foot and 216 pounds, Benson is a threat to go the distance. His career average is 6.1 yards per carry and he caught 20-of-24 passes in 2023. In three seasons, he had only 349 touches.

At the Combine, he ran his 40 in 4.38 seconds and has a RAS of 9.70.

Third Round: Utah S Cole Bishop

The physical Bishop seems like the perfect partner for big free-agent pickup Xavier McKinney. In three seasons, he posted 197 tackles, including 7.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for losses, along with three interceptions, 12 passes defensed and one forced fumble. PFF charged him with 17 missed tackles in 2022 but a manageable nine in 2023. At 6-foot-2 and 206 pounds, he’s an elite athlete with a 4.45 in the 40 and a 9.81 RAS.

Fourth Round: South Dakota State IOL Mason McCormick

McCormick was a two-year FCS All-American at left guard, with the Jackrabbits winning back-to-back national championships. As a senior, he allowed zero sacks and just three pressures in 15 games. He finished his career with 57 consecutive starts. At 6-foot-4 1/4 and 309 pounds, he ran his 40 in 5.08 seconds and flashed elite all-around athleticism for a RAS of 9.97.

Fifth Round: Auburn CB Nehemiah Pritchett

Pritchett was a key contributor for his final four seasons. He had three interceptions during that span and added 10 passes defensed in 2020 and eight in 2023. PFF charged him with sub-50 percent catch rates each of his final two seasons. At 6-foot and with 4.36 speed, his RAS was 9.07. He’s only a perimeter corner; we’ll deal with slot later.

Sixth Round: Michigan edge Braiden McGregor

The 6-foot-5, 257-pounder would provide needed depth on the edge, where the Packers will be short-handed with Kingsley Enagbare coming back from a torn ACL. He had seven sacks and 14 tackles for losses during his final two seasons as a key player on a championship-winning defense.

Sixth Round: Holy Cross IOL C.J. Hanson

Hanson was a three-year all-conference selection and an FCS All-American as a right guard. Of course, competition is a factor, but PFF charged him with one sack during those three seasons. The draw? At 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, he ran his 40 in 5.00 seconds, put up stellar numbers in the jumps and posted a RAS of 9.86.

Seventh Round: South Dakota CB Myles Harden

Harden earned FCS All-American honors in 2023 with one interception and seven passes defensed. The lone interception came in an upset win over Missouri. In 2022, he missed half the season with an injury and yet put up an astounding three interceptions and four forced fumbles. At 5-foot-10 7/8 and 4.50 speed in the 40, he might be destined for the slot, where he could provide depth behind Keisean Nixon.

Seventh Round: Temple LB Jordan Magee

I’ve picked Magee in just about every mock. With the aforementioned shortcomings at linebacker, I wanted to get a second. And there was Magee. Again. I’m kind of a simpleton. I like players who are athletic and put up numbers. During his final two seasons, Magee had 166 tackles, eight sacks, 23 tackles for losses, seven passes defensed and two forced fumbles. And he ran his 40 in 4.55 seconds.