Shocking Trade Proposal for Packers In Post-NFL Free Agency Mock Drafts
GREEN BAY, Wis. – In the 2020 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers could have added receiver Tee Higgins to a roster that had just reached the NFC Championship Game. Instead, general manager Brian Gutekunst selected Jordan Love.
Could Higgins land with Love now?
That was the proposal made in a new NFL mock draft by Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt, the network’s No. 1 college football analyst. Higgins has asked for a trade. If the Cincinnati Bengals make it happen, Klatt thought “it’d make a lot of sense to pair him with Jordan Love and that young Packers team.”
Ultimately, Klatt merely “plant(ed) the seed” and had the Packers select Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins. At 6-foot-1 3/8 and a rail-thin 173 pounds, Wiggins was the fastest corner at the Scouting Combine with a 4.28 in the 40. In his final two seasons, he had two interceptions, 19 passes defensed and two forced fumbles.
Wiggins was the choice over a couple other corners, Iowa’s Cooper DeJean and Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry. Seven offensive linemen were off the board before Green Bay was up.
Click here for the full mock draft.
Pro Football Focus (3 Rounds): Minnesota S Tyler Nubin
New Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley would be getting an infusion of young talent if Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema were making the picks.
In his three-round mock draft, Sikkema’s first four picks were used on Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin, NC State linebacker Payton Wilson, Oregon defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus and Washington defensive tackle Braden Trice.
The first two picks, Nubin and Wilson, would fill enormous needs.
While the Packers signed the best safety in free agency, Xavier McKinney, the other starter at the moment would be 2023 seventh-rounder Anthony Johnson. Like McKinney, Nubin is a do-it-all player capable off playing deep, in the box or in the slot.
Meanwhile, the Packers are transitioning to Hafley’s 4-3 without a third linebacker. That would be Wilson, the rocket-fast and ultra-productive playmaker. As a senior in 2023, Wilson had 138 tackles, including six sacks and 17.5 for losses, along with three interceptions, six passes defensed and one forced fumble. A pairing of Wilson and Quay Walker would cover a lot of ground in nickel packages.
The second of Green Bay’s third-round picks delivered the badly needed offensive tackle.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper: UCLA edge Laiatu Latu
Laiatu Latu is probably the best pass rusher in this year’s draft. In two seasons at UCLA, he had 10.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for losses and three forced fumbles in 2022 and 13 sacks, 21.5 tackles for losses, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in 2023.
There is one big question mark, though.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah: Georgia OT Amarius Mims
There’s one big question mark about Amarius Mims, too. The enormous and athletic right tackle started eight games in his college career.
When Mims did play, he was superb. He didn’t allow a sack in his career and just one pressure in 2023. While the playing time is scant, he is a mountain of a man at about 6-foot-8 and 340 pounds. The Packers don’t like big, plodding blockers. However, Mims isn’t plodding. He ran his 40 in 5.07 seconds.
The Draft Network (2 Rounds): Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton
Ryan Fowler called Tyler Guyton a “special athlete” with the skill to replace David Bakhtiari at left tackle. He played almost exclusively right tackle for the Sooners. In 2023, he allowed zero sacks and 12 total pressures in 10 games.
He was the seventh of eight offensive tackles taken in the first round.
The second-round picks were used on a too-short slot cornerback and a big-time linebacker who will have a pre-draft visit with the Packers.
33rd Team: Duke OL Graham Barton
Graham Barton is probably the most versatile blocker in the draft, Marcus Mosher wrote. Not unlike Zach Tom while at Wake Forest, he thrived at center as well as left tackle. He’d immediately bolster the interior, which has Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers and Sean Rhyan as the starters and only Royce Newman as depth. Myers will be a free agent after this season.
Barton was the choice ahead of three offensive tackles, including Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton.
Pro Football Network: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
Derek Tate noted the “compelling case” for using this pick on an offensive lineman but went with McKinstry to pair with Jaire Alexander.
Seven offensive tackles went ahead of the Packers in this simulation, including Mims to Dallas at No. 24. Four corners were off the board, as well, including Wiggins and Iowa’s Cooper DeJean.
Draft Countdown (3 Rounds): Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga
Brian Bosarge called Fuaga a “nasty blocker” who could be the long-term answer at left tackle. In two years as a starting right tackle, PFF charged him with zero sacks. He fits the bill from a size-athleticism perspective with a 9.61 Relative Athletic Score, though his arms measured 33 1/8 inches.
Borsage added more beef with the 41st overall pick in selecting Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat. The other second-rounder was used on impressive Missouri cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine. In the third round, it was another defensive tackle and a receiver.
