It’s just a few days before the 2024 NFL Draft — Christmas morning for football nerds like me. And this year, there promises to be a bounty of shiny new presents under the tree, courtesy of the Green Bay Packers’ whopping 11 total picks, including five in the first three rounds.
This is destined not to be a big-ticket present year, like that time your new bike with the bow on it pretty much stood alone under the tree. This will be a year of abundance. If the sheer surplus of picks didn’t convince you of that, consider that Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said on Monday that he’d be willing to trade up for the right player, he’s more inclined to trade down for more ammunition. He wants to flood the already-young roster with rookie talent to raise the level of competition across all three phases of the game.
So, how might that shake out? Plenty of mock drafters try to make showy choices or predict elaborate trades. But let’s say Gutekunst is true to his word — always a gamble in the subterfuge of pre-draft chatter — and try to guess who he’s most likely to take with those 11 picks.
The rules for this are pretty simple. I will use the PFF mock draft simulator for all seven rounds. There will be no trades or movement of any kind. With all of the draft visits and draft tendencies Green Bay has, I’ll try to predict what they will do, not what I would do, and suss out the most likely scenario for the upcoming draft.
Round 1 (25) – Kool-Aid McKinstry – CB – Alabama
I had a difficult choice with pick 25. One of the best players in the draft, Johnny Newton, was available, but I ultimately went elsewhere.
The Packers had a visit with Kool-Aid McKinstry. He fits their athletic thresholds and can play in the new scheme. The Alabama product was one of the most elite corners in the country last season.
With Eric Stokes’ injury history, Green Bay only has one reliable corner in Jaire Alexander. Besides, the Packers are not shy about taking Alabama defensive backs with cool nicknames in the first round.
Round 2 (41) – Jaden Hicks – S – Washington State
Hicks is an aggressive safety who can play at all three levels. He’s a perfect chess piece to complement the newly signed Xavier McKinney and fits Green Bay’s athletic and age thresholds.
New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley stressed that his defense will do a better job of taking the ball away. Hicks provides Hafley with someone he can use in a versatile role on Day 1 to make things happen for Green Bay’s defense.
Round 2 (58) – Marshawn Kneeland – Edge – Western Michigan
The Packers recently had Kneeland on a visit and need an edge rusher. Kneeland has the athleticism and the size the Packers look for on the edge. Green Bay has also not hesitated to strengthen that position even when it is not an immediate need. Kneeland can rush from either gap on the inside or be a standup on the outside.
Kneeland dominated his competition and would be a welcome addition to an edge rusher group.
Round 3 (88) – Mason McCormick – G – SDSU
Green Bay needed to address the interior of the offensive line, and McCormick will do that well. He’s a guy who could immediately play at right guard and is as athletic as they come. McCormick is a solid addition to a Packers offensive line room that needs help on the interior.
Round 3 (91) – Michael Hall Jr. – DT – Ohio State
The Packers like picking from college football’s blue bloods, and they really like athletic players. Hall is both and gives the Packers another talented body in the trenches.
Round 4 (126) – Cedric Gray – LB – North Carolina
Green Bay is not going into the season with Isaiah McDuffie as their other inside linebacker. Grey is a solid linebacker who can read the field well and be a tackling machine in the NFL. He may not be an amazing player, but he will fill a role as a solid weak side backer.
Round 5 (169) – Javon Foster – T – Mizzou
The Packers will try to replace No. 69 with pick 169. Like David Bakhtiari, Foster will be a late-round pick, but he has the tools to develop into a starting-caliber tackle with some time to develop on the sidelines.
Foster is a good athlete who the Packers can mold. Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom are a fine duo at tackle, and the Packers just signed Andre Dillard, who can be a solid backup. I see the Packers taking a tackle late like Foster and developing him like they’ve done in the past.
Round 6 (202) – Jase McClellan – RB – Alabama
Green Bay will need more depth at running back, and McClellan can be a reliable backup. The Alabama product is a versatile back who probably won’t be a star. However, he can be a solid third back behind Josh Jacobs and A.J. Dillon.
Round 6 (219) – James Williams – S/LB – Miami
Williams would be another versatile chess piece for Green Bay. The Packers are all about acquiring players with diverse athletic skill sets, and Williams does all of that. He was a tackling machine at Miami with elite coverage grades. Determining his position in the NFL will be difficult, but he offers the Packers a lot to work with.
Round 7 (245) – Will Reichard – K – Alabama
Green Bay won’t be afraid to triple-dip with the Tide. Anders Carlson needs competition, and the Packers have shown they are not afraid to draft kickers. Reichard was a solid college kicker with an 88% Field Goal percentage and 100% on extra points. The senior could win a job out of camp.
Round 7 (255) – David White Jr. – WR – Western Carolina
The Packers will take at least one pass-catcher in the draft. White is (list his size) and could be an intriguing player if Green Bay develops him correctly. He’s got the athletic profile that the Packers like, so I could see the fit.
Overall, this is not as exciting of a class as I would have hoped for, but it fills Green Bay’s needs and the type of players they usually pick. In this mock, the Packers got playmakers in the secondary and filled some holes along the offensive line and the defensive front.
All stats and data via ESPN, CBS, NFL, and PFF unless otherwise noted.
