100 Days of Mocks: ‘Plug-and-Play Tight End’

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Calling him a “plug-and-play tight end,” Bleacher Report sent Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer to Green Bay in its new mock draft.

At No. 15 overall, all of the tight ends were available. So, why Mayer?

Derrik Klassen noted that it’s a necessity for Green Bay’s tight ends be able to block. Mayer “passes the test,” Klassen said, in that regard. As a receiver, he might not have the eye-popping athleticism but he routinely got open against top competition at Notre Dame.

“As a pass-catcher, Mayer has no real flaw besides his speed being merely fine rather than eye-popping,” Klassen said. “The 21-year-old primarily wins with excellent body control – both in his routes and when locating the ball – as well as elite ability to box defenders out of the catch point.”

If the real draft played out like this mock, Packers Twitter might burn after the Minnesota Vikings made their pick.

Calling him “the best all-around” tight end in this year’s draft, CBS Sports’ Kyle Stockpole went with Mayer, as well.

The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez also picked a tight end but went off the beaten path a bit with Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave. At 6-foot-6 and with 4.61 speed in the 40, Musgrave could be a matchup nightmare.

“Luke Musgrave has as much upside as any true tight end that has come through the draft in the last 10 years,” Sanchez noted.

Sanchez went defensive line in the second with Michigan’s Mazi Smith.

Aaron Rodgers was not traded in this mock; a solid group of defensive backs was available but the receiver group had been picked over.

Yardbarker’s Seth Trachtman picked TCU receiver Quentin Johnston. There’d be some serious long-ball potential with Christian Watson and Johnston.

At The Ringer, Danny Kelly chose Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones.

Kelly noted standout starter David Bakhtiari’s injury history – he’s missed 23 games the past two seasons – and the need to develop a successor. It’s also worth noting Bakhtiari’s cap charge for next season soars beyond $40 million, the byproduct of a series of contract restructures.

Kelly said Jones “moves like a power forward” and has “sky-high upside.”

Nick Guarsico of the gambling site Action Network selected Iowa pass rusher Lukas Van Ness.

The NFL Draft is about four weeks away. The #Packers need a third quarterback. Who makes sense?

Here is everything you need to know about our eight best-of-the-rest prospects, from the stats to the personal stories.https://t.co/Nl7BslMLTR
— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) April 1, 2023

100 Days of Mocks

Starting Jan. 17, when there were 100 days until the start of the NFL Draft, we started our mock-worthy goal of 100 mock drafts in 100 days. Here are the last 10 days of the series.

27 days: NFL.com picks Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Packer Central’s fifth seven-round mock draft

28 days: An “Energizer bunny”

Breaking down ESPN.com’s seven-round mock

29 days: Tannenbaum takes a tackle

30 days: Three mocks, three different first-round tight ends

31 days: First-round receiver streak in Jeopardy

32 days: A Rodgers trade and a short story

33 days: Breaking down NFL.com four-round mock

34 days: Kincaid rests his case

35 days: You can bet on Michael Mayer

36 days: Defensive tackle with “special” skill-set