Now that the dust of free agency has settled and the Green Bay Packers have made their moves, mock draft season shifts into focus.
The Packers shored up safety and running back while neglecting to upgrade at offensive line and linebacker. With that in mind, Green Bay’s potential draft class is easier to decipher.
Green Bay may move in the draft, but I’m going to run this mock without any trades. The Packers also tend to target athletic defensive players in the first round. While that could be the case this time, I’m drafting as if they called me to run the table while Brian Gutenkunst took a sick day.
I used the PFF Mock draft simulator:
Round 1 (25): Graham Barton – OL – Duke
Tyler Nubin, Jackson Powers-Johnson, and Kool-Aid McKinstry were other options for this pick. But, ultimately, Barton seemed like the best choice. The Packers covet versatility along the offensive line, and Barton answers that. Barton could play guard and tackle in the NFL and be a capable starter at both positions, similar to what they have in Elgton Jenkins. Barton would be in that group if the goal is to put the best five offensive linemen out there.
Round 2 (41): Mike Sainristil – DB – Michigan
Braden Fiske, Troy Franklin, Kris Jenkins, and Keon Coleman were other options here. But Sainristil is such a good football player that I couldn’t resist taking him. The Michigan product can do almost anything you ask out of a corner or safety. Sainristil would be a useful chess piece for new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
Round 2 (58): Jermaine Burton – WR – Alabama
Burton was almost a luxury pick at this spot. Adding Burton to the already-loaded young Green Bay receiver room would be unfair to opposing defenses. Burton has elite hands, good speed, and is a crisp route runner. He has also been a willing blocker, which Matt LaFleur loves in his wideouts.
Round 3 (88): Christian Mahogany – G – Boston College
This dude is just a beast. Mahogany is strictly a guard in the NFL, but that might be all the Packers need him to be. The BC product is a violent run blocker and a capable pass blocker. Mahogany moves well for a guy who is 6’3”, 322 lbs., which will help him in Green Bay’s zone-blocking scheme. Mahogany can be a mauler on the interior of the Packers offensive line, and I think that’s well worth it for a third-rounder.
Round 3 (91): Calen Bullock – S – USC
Bullock is one of the rawest safety prospects in the draft but has the upside to be one of the best. Now that the Packers have Xavier McKinney in the fold (thank God), they can develop Bullock behind him. Bullock is one of the best safeties in coverage in the class, but he occasionally struggles to read offenses and has shown passiveness when tackling. But give him some time to develop and watch, and Green Bay could have something special.
Round 4 (126): Cedric Gray – LB – North Carolina
The Packers need some linebackers to work into their new 4-3 defensive scheme, and Gray could fit the bill. Gray has great lateral speed and was a tackling machine at UNC. He is occasionally a bit slow to recognize offensive schemes, but he still showed enough to be worthy of this pick.
Round 5 (169): Dillon Johnson – RB – Washington
Johnson was a solid all-around back with the Huskies. He displayed speed and agility while being more of a physical back. The Packers seem to be investing in some big backs with Josh Jacobs and A.J. Dillon, so Johnson may not be exactly what they are looking for. Still, he’s another solid back to fill in as RB3.
Round 6 (202): Javion Cohen – G – Miami
Cohen is another interior offensive lineman. He was solid during his time with Alabama and the Hurricanes. Cohen is a powerful guard who was solid in Miami’s zone scheme, which could help him in Green Bay. He won’t likely be a superstar, but Cohen would be a reliable depth option in a depleted guard room for the Packers. I would take Cohen over Royce Newman any day.
Round 6 (219): Tanor Bortolini – C – Wisconsin
A Wisconsin player stays in the state with Bortolini. Gutenkunst was recently at the Badgers’ pro day checking out Bortolini, so the Packers have some interest in him. Bortolini would be a great option as a developmental backup center who could put pressure on Josh Myers to perform.
Round 7 (245): Jalen Green – EDGE – James Madison
This is a bit of a longshot pick, but Green would help provide depth to Green Bay’s edge-rushing group. Green could be more of an outside linebacker in the Packers 4-3 but provides some tools that Hafley may find intriguing. Green was productive in college, with 15.5 sacks last season, and could be another FBS steal like Karl Brooks.
Round 7 (255) Kedon Slovis – QB – BYU
With the last pick, I have the Packers providing some competition at the backup quarterback spot. Slovis is a great athlete with a big arm and has more pro potential than Sean Clifford. The kid is worth a shot in the seventh round and would be a solid developmental option.
That concludes this post-free agency Packers mock draft. Green Bay comes away with a ton of solid depth on the offensive line and a stud defensive back and receiver. Grey could be a Day 1 contributor, and Bullock is an awesome developmental safety. I failed to address the tackle or running back position with anything substantial, but it’s hard to add a premium asset at every position in one class.
I think the Packers and their fans would be very happy with this class. It helps Green Bay build a team with more talent and depth on both sides of the ball.
All stats and data via ESPN, PFF, NFL, and CBS unless otherwise noted.
