NFL Day 3 Mock Drafts Focus on Safety for Packers

The Green Bay Packers enter Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft with a big need at safety. That was addressed in some new mock drafts.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Apr 29, 2023 12:07 PM EDT
Original:
Apr 29, 2023

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Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – In the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst traded his selection at No. 45 overall to the rival Detroit Lions. The Lions used that pick on the consensus best safety in the draft class, Alabama’s Brian Branch.

Safety was a need in the second round and it’s a need entering the third and final day of the draft.

At Athlon Sports, Luke Easterling selected Boise State safety JL Skinner in his fourth-round mock. Skinner might have gone in Day 2 if not for a pectoral injury suffered before the Scouting Combine that required surgery. A source told Packer Central recently that he should be available at some point in June.

“At the end of the day, my film speaks for itself,” he said at the Scouting Combine. “So, I don’t really think that it’ll hurt me too bad. Being able to showcase my 40 would’ve been nice. Being able to show I can run that 4.4. But my film speaks for itself. So, hopefully, they’ll be able to see that.”

SB Nation’s Mark Schofield did a fourth-round mock in which he took Texas A&M safety Antonio Johnson. Considered one of the top safeties in the draft, he’s got excellent size (6-foot-2), good-enough speed (4.52) and an extensive history in the slot.

CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso also selected Johnson. Why did he fall? Trapasso notes his “tackling woes.” Plus, he intercepted only one pass in his career.

At DraftKings, Green Bay also picked a safety: Cal’s Daniel Scott. Scott’s one of the great prospects in the draft from a pure tools perspective. He’s 6-foot-1 with 4.45 speed, a 39.5-inch vertical, 22 reps on the 225-pound bench press and 10-inch hands. A two-year starter, he had back-to-back seasons of three interceptions.

Another gambling site, Lines.com, also picked Skinner.

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar threw his fourth-rounder on the defensive line with Texas’ Keondre Coburn. D-line is a big need, too. With Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry leaving in free agency, the Packers have only three players on the unit who’ve ever suited up for a game. The 332-pounder was a four-year starter with pretty good athleticism (5.22 in the 40) and 14 career tackles for losses.

Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton mocked the final four rounds. If two tight ends were good for Green Bay on Friday, why not a third on Saturday with Clemson’s Davis Allen? Allen isn’t a great athlete but he has some of the best hands in the draft.

What about the safeties? He grabbed Florida’s Trey Dean in the fifth round and Iowa’s Kaevon Merriweather in the sixth. Merriweather was a second-team All-American in 2022, the lone year as a full-time starter, with three interceptions and superior coverage. Dean had four interceptions in five seasons. He’s got excellent size at 6-foot-2 but ran a plodding 4.75 in the 40 at the Combine (4.67 at pro day).

Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network mocked the final four rounds. He knocked out a big need with Texas defensive lineman Mojo Ojomo, then threw a couple picks at a long-term spot at offensive tackle with Pitt’s Carter Warren and Maryland’s Jaelyn Duncan.

Pete Fiutak of College Football News mocked Day 3. Among the picks: Ohio State safety Ronnie Hickman in the fourth, Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener in the fifth, Minnesota safety Jordan Howden in the seventh and Florida safety Trey Dean in the seventh.

Fantasy Pros’ Day 3 mock led off with Virginia receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who had a predraft visit. He had a huge season in 2021 but struggled in 2022.

Coburn was the pick in the fifth, Iowa State safety Anthony Johnson was a pick in the sixth and Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford was among the picks in the seventh.

It wasn't a mock draft, but PFF said Wake Forest receiver A.T. Perry is the one player the Packers "must" sign.