Seven-Round Packers Mock Draft 2.1: Corners, Safeties, Stud Running Back
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers need to revamp their secondary, rebuild their offensive line depth and add to their backfield in the 2024 NFL Draft. And that’s just what we did in our second mock draft of the season.
Let’s get after it with the help of the Pro Football Focus simulator. (Here’s our first mock, which was done with the Pro Football Network simulator.)
This draft is highlighted by a total of nine offensive linemen, cornerbacks, safeties and linebackers as we took advantage of the abundance of young talent in place at quarterback, receiver and tight end.
First Round: Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
One of the top cornerbacks in the draft was still on the board with Rakestraw, who not only can cover but he’ll get after it in the run game. According to PFF, he allowed 18-of-28 passing in 2023. The one knock: His only career interception came in 2022, when he had a career-high 12 passes defensed.
Second Round: Arizona OT Jordan Morgan
I considered Morgan in the first round, so was thrilled to get him at No. 41 in the pick acquired in the Aaron Rodgers trade. He was a three-year starting left tackle in the Pac-12 with two sacks allowed in 2023 and one in 2022. Does he have the physical tools to play left tackle in the NFL? The Scouting Combine measurements will be important, but his Senior Bowl performance was encouraging. If Morgan can’t beat out Rasheed Walker at left tackle, he should be able to find a home somewhere else on the line.
Second Round: USC S Calen Bullock
It was interesting listening to new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley discuss what he’s looking for in a post safety. In a nutshell: Sideline-to-sideline coverage ability and proven playmaking production. The 6-foot-3 Bullock intercepted nine passes in three seasons, including five in 2022. Getting him was a nice consolation prize with Georgia’s Javon Bullard and Washington State’s Jaden Hicks going off the board in the previous five picks.
Third round: Ohio State LB Tommy Eichenberg
If the Packers move on from veteran De’Vondre Campbell, the Packers will need another starting linebacker to join Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie in Hafley’s 4-3 scheme. The last three years, the physical Eichenberg delivered 266 tackles, including 21 for losses.
Third Round: Florida State RB Trey Benson
The Packers need an impact running back to keep the offense humming when Aaron Jones is off the field. Benson is coming off back-to-back seasons of more than 900 rushing yards; he caught 20-of-24 passes in 2023. The 220-pounder is a physical runner with big-play ability. Unlike AJ Dillon, the second-round pick in 2020, Benson will enter the NFL without a lot of wear and tear.
Fourth Round: UCLA Edge/DE Grayson Murphy
In two years at UCLA, he recorded back-to-back seasons of five sacks and nine tackles for losses. Run or pass, he produced to take the place of Kingsley Enagbare, who suffered a torn ACL in the playoff win at Dallas, as the fourth man in the rotation.
Fifth Round: Miami G Javion Cohen
In three years as the starting left guard, Cohen allowed one sack, according to PFF. Assuming Jon Runyan leaves in free agency, the Packers will need a guard to challenge Royce Newman as the top backup (if not Sean Rhyan as the starter).
Sixth Round: Temple LB Jordan Magee
If the Packers release Campbell, they’ll not only need another starter but they’ll have to improve the depth chart. Enter Magee, who is coming off back-to-back seasons of 86 tackles, 4.5 sacks and nine tackles for losses in 2022 and 80 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 14 tackles for losses in 2023. He’s athletic and has a nose for the ball.
Sixth Round: Oregon State S Kitan Oladapo
With three veterans headed to free agency, the Packers need to revamp their safety room with more than one draft pick. Oladapo had three interceptions, 22 passes defensed and 12.5 tackles for losses the last three seasons. He’s played deep, in the box and in the slot.
Seventh Round: Wisconsin C Tanor Bortolini
Josh Myers is the only center on the roster and he’ll be a free agent at the end of the season. Bortolini played mostly right tackle in 2021 and mostly guard in 2022 before locking in at center in 2023. He’s played everywhere but left tackle while allowing only three career sacks.
Seventh Round: Tulane CB Jarius Monroe
Picking Carrington Valentine in the seventh round worked last year, so why not try again? Listed at 6-foot-2, Monroe had six interceptions and 18 passes defensed the past two seasons. PFF charged him with a 48.4 percent completion rate in 2023.
