Mock Draft Roundup: Packers Land Two Receivers, Quarterback in CBS Mock

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The 2022 NFL Draft will begin on Thursday, April 28, with the Green Bay Packers possessing a pair of first-round picks. Who will the Packers take with those selections? Here is a look at a several mocks drafts.

CBS Sports Mock Draft: Seven Rounds

Josh Edwards’ seven-round mock checked off most of the boxes.

With five receivers gone in the first 20 picks, Edwards grabbed Penn State receiver Jahan Dotson with the 22nd pick. Next, at No. 28, he went with Central Michigan’s Bernhard Raimann to fill the void created by the release of Billy Turner.

“Elgton Jenkins has done everything for the Green Bay offensive line since he arrived. He is a stud,” Edwards wrote. “While I agree he could play right tackle, I would rather he stay inside where he has spent the majority of his career and bring in a prospect like Raimann to play on the opposite end of David Bakhtiari.”

In the second round, the Packers wound up with a playmaking tight end and a potential-packed outside linebacker. In the third round, the pick was a receiver with a polar-opposite skill-set to Dotson.

The second of the fourth-round picks would surely be the talk of Day 3 of the draft. Edwards went with Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe. Zappe started 50 games for the Hilltoppers, finishing his career with 15,971 passing yards and 140 touchdowns vs. 50 interceptions.

Zappe doesn’t have the biggest of arms but he works the full field. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked first in the nation in deep yards and third in screen yards. He benefitted from superb protection and in facing subpar competition. He’d be a good fit for coach Matt LaFleur’s scheme and would be in place should the Packers ultimately trade Jordan Love.

Click here for the full seven-round mock.

NFL.com Mock Draft: One Round

In a first-round mock in which the top five receivers were off the board, Adam Rank went with Penn State’s Jahan Dotson at No. 22.

“I mean, there is a Matt Corral joke that just writes itself here, but I’m not about to take the easy way out,” Rank wrote in noting the Ole Miss quarterback was on the board. “But here’s the deal: You have to draft a wide receiver. Even if Aaron Rodgers is intent on ignoring him and giving Allen Lazard and Sammy Watkins 500 targets each this season, you have to make this move. And if I’m being honest, Dotson likely ends up being a really good player. Once Rodgers leaves next season.”

Apparently, the lineman he took at No. 28 will be blocking for Jordan Love next year.

USA Today’s Draft Wire Mock Draft:Three Rounds

In a three-round mock, USA Today’s Luke Easterling started with Arkansas receiver Treylon Burks at No. 22.

“After trading away Davante Adams, the least the Packers can do for Aaron Rodgers is spend one of the picks they got on another explosive pass-catcher to help replace him,” Easterling wrote. “Burks has a fantastic blend of size, athleticism and physicality that would make him Aaron Rodgers’ new favorite target.”

Pick No. 28 was used on an undersized but athletic linebacker to pair with De’Vondre Campbell.

In the second round, the 53rd overall selection was spent on Colorado State’s prolific tight end, Trey McBride. He caught 90 passes last season in earning All-American accolades. With Robert Tonyan back on a one-year contract, he’d give Aaron Rodgers another target now with the potential to take over as the No. 1 tight end next season.

No. 59 of the second round was spent on an offensive lineman with tackle-guard versatility, and No. 92 of the third round provided the outside linebacker the Packers need to improve the depth behind Rashan Gary and Preston Smith.

Fox Sports Mock Draft: One Round

In a first-round mock, Jason McIntyre went with Arkansas receiver Treylon Burks at No. 22.

“Burks isn’t quite in the Deebo Samuel mold, but in this draft, there might not be anyone closer,” he wrote. “This selection will be a receiver because the Packers cannot go into the season with Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Amari Rodgers as their top pass-catchers.”

At No. 28, McIntyre went with an outside linebacker. In an excellent note, he pointed out that Green Bay’s pressure percentage dipped from 15th in 2020 to 27th in 2021, when the Packers had only Rashan Gary and Preston Smith.

USA Today Mock Draft: One Round

In a first-round mock, Nate Davis double-dipped at receiver. The second of those was Western Michigan’s Skyy Davis, the undersized (perhaps to the extent of not being on Green Bay’s draft board) slot threat.

“Yep, we're doubling down on receivers for a franchise that hasn't taken one in Round 1 in two decades,” Davis wrote. “Moore (95 catches for 1,292 yards and 10 TDs in 2021) is a quick, shifty type who can operate out wide or from the slot and broke an FBS-high 26 tackles last season. … Given Allen Lazard's inconsistency, Randall Cobb's decline – both are free agents next year – and Amari Rodgers' lack of impact (4 receptions) as a rookie, GM Brian Gutekunst might be wise to continue throwing resources at this critical position.”

Pro Football Network Mock Draft: Two Rounds

In a two-round mock authored by Joe Broback, the Packers grabbed Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd at No. 22.

“I’m already imagining the boos that would reign down with this pick,” Broback wrote. “Green Bay traded away Davante Adams, so nearly everyone in that fan base expects a wide receiver to be selected first. Once the frustration dies down, Packers fans would realize that Devin Lloyd is an uber-productive and talented player who can step in and win a starting job immediately. They also have another first-round pick to take a receiver.”

Broback traded away a 2023 third-round pick to move up to No. 26 of the first round, where he selected Arkansas receiver Treylon Burks.

“Aaron Rodgers would probably still like more help even with this pick, but adding Burks gives him something to work with for now,” reads a snippet of the analysis.

Round 2 included a trade and the selections of a tight end and guard.

A first-round mock at Pro Football Network would probably result in general manager Brian Gutekunst doing cartwheels and backflips into the media auditorium.

Establish the Run Mock Draft: One Round

Evan Silva produced his first mock draft. With No. 22, he went with Arkansas receiver Treylon Burks.

“Can inherit some of Davante Adams’ old screen-game and back-shoulder targets,” Silva wrote.

The 28th selection bolstered the defense with a sidekick for All-Pro De’Vondre Campbell.

The Athletic Mock Draft: Seven Rounds

Here is our post from Thursday.

Packer Central All-Packers Mock Draft: Seven Rounds

First Round – No. 22: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia

With the first-round pick obtained in the Davante Adams trade, the Packers grab Devonte Wyatt. When pointed out that his group was short on numbers, defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery on Tuesday said he’d like someone with twitch. Well, at 304 pounds, Wyatt ran his 40 in 4.77 seconds. While a bit lost in the draft shadow of his mountainous teammate, Jordan Davis, Wyatt is the better player and will be a three-down sidekick with Kenny Clark. In this year’s defensive tackle class, he ranked second in pass-rush win rate, according to Pro Football Focus.

First Round – No. 28: George Pickens, WR, Georgia

In this simulation, receiver was hit hard: Jameson Williams went at No. 15, Chris Olave at No. 16, Drake London at No. 17 and Treylon Burks at No. 21. So, I rolled the dice on Pickens at this spot. And, with merely 90 career catches, it is a roll of the dice. He looked like the next big thing as a freshman in 2019, wasn’t as productive in 2020 and missed most of 2021 with a torn ACL. He’s tall and fast and made big plays in a big-time conference. “I watch Davante Adams a lot,” Pickens said. “I'm bigger than Davante Adams. That's kind of the lane I kind of want to go into because with the size I am, a guy who can move is almost unguardable.”

Second Round – No. 59: Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State

Lucas started 42 games at right tackle the last four seasons. He was a Freshman All-American in 2018, second-team all-conference in 2019 and 2020, and first-team all-conference in 2021. He didn’t give up any sacks as a senior, according to Pro Football Focus, and he aced the predraft testing with the type of athleticism the Packers covet for their scheme. As was the case with Pickens, he had a predraft visit with Green Bay.

Second Round – No. 53: Cameron Thomas, OLB, San Diego State

I thought about inside linebacker Quay Walker at this spot, which would have made it three consecutive Georgia players, but the edge group had been hit hard and I was fearful of running out of my top groups of guys. Thomas was a wrecking ball, earning second-team All-American honors in 2021 with his 11.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for losses. At 6-foot-4 and 267 pounds, he’s got the size the Packers have desired at this position. He lined up here, there and everywhere for the Aztecs, much like Za’Darius Smith did for Green Bay.

Third Round – No. 92: Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois

If you’re looking ahead, safety is Green Bay’s biggest need. As it stands, Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage will be free agents next offseason. The team’s No. 3 safety last year, Henry Black, wasn’t even tendered as an exclusive-rights free agents, so there are no obvious young guns waiting in the wings. A first-time starter in 2021, Joseph intercepted five passes. He’s got sideline-to-sideline range. If the Packers want to try Savage in the slot, they need a safety capable of stepping into the lineup. Plus, he played a lot on special teams.

Fourth Round – No. 132: Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State

Kolar won’t wow anyone athletically. An Austin Hooper-type, he’s simply a big guy (6-foot-6 1/2) who knows how to get open and catches what’s thrown his way. He was a four-time all-Big 12 selection with 51 receptions and seven touchdowns in 2019, 44 receptions and seven touchdowns in 2020 and 62 receptions and six touchdowns in 2021. He had just one drop as a senior, according to Sports Info Solutions. He won the Campbell Trophy (aka the Academic Heisman) in 2021. He’s just not a big-play threat or a great blocker.

Fourth Round – No. 140: DeAngelo Malone, OLB, Western Kentucky

New outside linebackers coach Jason Rebrovich sounds like he wouldn’t mind a counter-puncher among his pass rushers. Preston Smith and Rashan Gary are big, physical guys. Malone is smaller but explosive. At 6-foot-3 and 243 pounds, he ran his 40 in 4.54. He dominated with 32.5 sacks, 58.5 tackles for losses and nine forced fumbles the past four seasons. He could start his career as a Designated Pass Rusher.

Fifth Round – No. 171: Erik Ezukanma, WR, Texas Tech

I really needed to get another receiver, so this was a good score after just missing on Nevada receiver/returner Romeo Doubs in the fourth. Ezukanma had at least 42 receptions and four touchdowns each of the last three seasons. He’s good in contested-catch situations, can block and is a strong yards-after-catch producer. At 6-foot-2 and with 4.54 speed, he had three drops in 2021.

Seventh Round – No. 228: Aaron Hansford, LB, Texas A&M

Hansford caught three passes as a redshirt freshman receiver in 2017 before making the move to defense in 2019. In 2021, he led the team with 89 tackles and was third with 8.5 tackles for losses. At 6-foot-2 and 239 pounds, he’s got decent speed (4.64 in the 40) and strength (24 reps on the bench). If his vision improves with experience, he could become a quality starter.

Seventh Round – No. 249: Ryan Van Demark, OT, Connecticut

I wanted an interior blocker but getting Van Demark was too good to pass up. Van Demark was one of the Combine snubs. He backed it up at pro day. At 6-foot-6 1/2 and 307 pounds and with 35 3/4-inch arms, he ran a high-quality 4.54 in the shuttle. He started at right tackle as a freshman and at left tackle his final three seasons.

Seventh Round – No. 258: Dallis Flowers, CB, Pittsburg State

In his one season for the Division II Gorillas, Flowers averaged 33.7 yards per kickoff return with two touchdowns while also intercepting four passes. It was Flowers’ fourth school; he averaged 38.1 yards per kickoff return and 11.1 yards per punt return in 2019 with Grand View, where he was a two-time NAIA All-American. At 6-foot-1, he ran his 40 in 4.40 seconds.