With Nine Weeks Until NFL Draft, Packers Take CB Nate Wiggins in New Mocks

GREEN BAY, Wis. – New Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will meet the press for the first time on Thursday. His seven years of NFL experience came coaching defensive backs. Coincidentally, obviously, a fresh batch of NFL mock drafts focus on the Packers’ injury-riddled cornerback corps.

Here are the latest and greatest.

The Athletic: Clemson CB Nate Wiggins

In a mock draft involving The Athletic’s team beat writers, Matt Schneidman grabbed Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins at No. 25 overall.

Schneidman ran down all the question marks at cornerback opposite Jaire Alexander. Is Carrington Valentine good enough to be a full-time starter? Can Eric Stokes get healthy and stay healthy? What is the future of starting slot Keisean Nixon, the two-time All-Pro returner who is headed to free agency?

Three edge defenders, a huge defensive tackle and another cornerback were among the players taken after Wiggins.

MLive.com: Clemson CB Nate Wiggins

Noting “Rasul Douglas was traded to Buffalo and Jaire Alexander was suspended for, well, whatever that was. Green Bay has issues in a secondary that finished 31st in interceptions last year,” Lions beat writer Kyle Meinke took the long and athletic Wiggins to bolster Green Bay’s secondary.

According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed 18-of-41 passing for merely 176 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in 2023.

Four picks later, the Lions took a cornerback, too.

Draft Countdown (7 Rounds): Clemson CB Nate Wiggins

Shane Hallam’s seven-rounder started with Wiggins over Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry, Iowa’s Cooper DeJean and Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw, not to mention Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham.

With two second-round picks, the choices were Miami safety Kamren Kinchens and Houston offensive tackle Patrick Paul. With two picks in the third round, the selections were Michigan running back Blake Corum and Miami guard Javion Cohen.

Paul is the noteworthy pick here considering the uncertainty at left tackle. Paul was a three-year starter. He allowed three sacks with eight penalties in 2021, one sack with 10 penalties in 2022 and one sack with three penalties in 2023. He pressure count went from 18 to 9. Paul has the required length and athleticism but isn’t a ready-made starter.

Two linebackers and two edge defenders were part of the Day 3 haul.

247 Sports: Iowa DB Cooper DeJean

Here’s your legally mandated mocking of the versatile DeJean to Green Bay. If you’ve been paying attention, you know the logic. The Packers have holes/potential holes at cornerback, safety and slot entering free agency. DeJean can fill them all (just not all at the same time). He had three pick-sixes in 2022 and a punt-return touchdown in 2023.

Pro Football Network: BYU OT Kingsley Suamataia

Joe Broback thinks Kingsley Suamataia “will learn plenty from David Bakhtiari.” I don’t know about that. The pick makes sense, though. The Packers will love his combination of athleticism and power. He might just need some time – which the Packers would have given how well Rasheed Walker played in place of Bakhtiari last year.

NFL Scouting Combine Preview: Offensive Line

Suamataia allowed two sacks (both against Texas) and 15 total pressures in 11 games at left tackle in 2023, according to PFF. At right tackle in 2022, he gave up zero sacks and 11 pressures.

CBS Sports (2 Rounds): Washington OL Troy Fautanu

In a new two-round projection, Chris Trapasso went with Washington left tackle Troy Fautanu, who might be capable of “playing all five offensive line spots” in the NFL. The Packers, of course, covet versatility among their linemen, but would the Packers spend their first-round pick on someone who may or may not be able to play left tackle?

For what it’s worth, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah lists Fautanu as an offensive tackle but has sent him to guard in his two mock drafts.

As a two-year starter at left tackle for the Huskies, PFF charged him with two sacks (both in 2023), 38 total pressures and 14 penalties. Those aren’t terrible numbers but he really might be better at guard. This week’s Combine measurements and testing will be key.

The second-round picks were used on Missouri edge Darius Robinson and USC safety Calen Bullock. Both are big prospects for their positions and would fill needs. With an abundance of length and power, Robinson would have inside-outside versatility. Bullock, who was listed by the Trojans at 6-foot-3, had nine interceptions in three seasons and should be in the mix to be the first safety off the board.