Packers Mock Drafts: Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton Starts Three-Rounder
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers have five picks in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. In a new mock draft for The 33rd Team, Connor Livesay addressed most of the critical needs.
Batting lead off was Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton in the first round. Guyton played right tackle at Oklahoma, which is neither a short- nor long-term need for the Packers. But Guyton played some left tackle at the Senior Bowl. He’s got the athleticism to succeed as the long-term replacement for David Bakhtiari.
Three of the four Day 2 choices were used on defensive players, with Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin and Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro in the second round and Missouri cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine in the third round.
Nubin intercepted 12 passes during his final three seasons with the Golden Gophers. He spent his freshman year alongside Buccaneers star Antoine Winfield and credits his mentorship for his film study and approach.
Abrams-Draine allowed just 24-of-51 passing last season, when he set a career high with four interceptions. Over his final three seasons, he had seven interceptions and 34 passes defensed.
Orhorhoro had back-to-back-to-back seasons of eight tackles for losses. “A lot of people talk, a lot of people bark, but turn on the tape. I’m a real dog,” he said at the Scouting Combine.
How about the other third-rounder? It was a running back. Click here for the full mock.
Sporting News (2 Rounds): Clemson CB Nate Wiggins
In selecting Wiggins, Vinnie Iyer noted the uncertainty at cornerback, with Eric Stokes missing most of last season due to hamstring injuries and Keisean Nixon headed to free agency.
Primarily a perimeter cornerback at Clemson, the 6-foot-2 Wiggins allowed just 18-of-41 passing in 2023 with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Could Wiggins dominate the Combine? In his training, he said he hit 4.27 seconds in his 40.
The second round knocked out two more big needs on defense with linebacker and safety. The linebacker is Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper. The Packers would have a big hole at that spot if they release De’Vondre Campbell.
“The Packers need to get better in second-level coverage, and Cooper can provide that with his speed and quickness,” Iyer wrote.
Who’s the safety? Click here for the full draft.
CBS Sports (2 Rounds): Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
This mock went with McKinstry in the first round ahead of Iowa’s Cooper DeJean and Missouri’s Kamari Lassiter, and Houston offensive tackle Patrick Paul and Georgia cornerback Javon Bullard in the second round.
Listed at 6-foot-7, Paul was a three-year starting left tackle. He allowed one sack in 2022 and one sack in 2023. This past season, he cut his pressure count down from 18 to nine. With excellent arm length, it’s over once Paul gets his hands on the defender.
Bullard had two interceptions each of his final two seasons. He’s got a lot of experience in the slot, as well.
Touchdown Wire: Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw
Like Iyer, Natalie Miller referenced the Packers’ problems at corner in picking Rakestraw ahead of Wiggins and Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry.
“Ennis Rakestraw is a incredibly physical player who possesses the right amount of grit and playmaking ability to be an established starter in this league in no time,” she said.
CBS Sports: Minnesota S Tyler Nubin
With Iowa’s Cooper DeJean among four cornerbacks taken in the top 23 picks and Miami safety Kamren Kinchens off the board, as well, Chris Trapasso went with Nubin to fill the huge hole at safety.
“Nubin's an instincts-and-range-based safety who'll bring a huge playmaking element to the backend of the Packers defense,” he wrote.
Buccaneers.com: Arizona OT Jordan Morgan
Buccaneers beat writer Scott Smith made the same pick that ESPN’s Mel Kiper did a day earlier. Morgan has the “foot quickness to be able to handle speed rushers one-on-one,” Smith wrote.
Four corners were off the board, but Morgan was the choice ahead of DeJean and Rakestraw.
