The Green Bay Packers lost one of the best WR in franchise history. Here’s how they can replace him in this seven-round mock draft.
There is no eloquent way to say this; after trading their all-pro WR Adams, the Packers can not blow this draft. They almost have to hit every player to keep them atop the NFC North. The Vikings and Bears are not throwing in the towel and are licking their lips seeing a weakened Packers team. In this mock, the Packers can blow out this division, should the players pan out, for years to come.
While the Packers are still the odds on favorite to take the division, they cant take this draft lightly. There is not the top-end heavy talent of years past, but in the mid-rounds, you can get some steals. With the extra haul from the Adams trade to the Raiders, they need to use them on high ceiling playmakers.
1st round pick 22nd overall- Chris Olave, WR Ohio State
Devonte Smith changed the game last year. If he didn’t play well at the next level, we would not be talking about Olave here. He is similar in body type but not identical in play. Olave is much more of a game-breaker and less of a route runner.
If you look back at the Packer’s picks for WR, he fits the mold. Olave might be the best WR in this class if his route running was a little cleaner. But, at his height and that speed, he’s a weapon you can use multiple ways. This should take the top off the defense and allow that RB duo of Jones and Dillon to feast.
1st round pick 28th overall- Treylon Burks, WR Arkansas
Yes, the Packers go back to back on wide receivers. This is a great move not only money-wise, but they get two of the top-5 wide receivers in this class. Both of them have two different styles of gameplay. One is pure speed; one is contested catch and over the middle.
This will make for a very cheap dynamic offense as they push forward in the final days of Aaron Rodgers. In the last several drafts, Burks might be one of the best jump-ball wide receivers. He will be an instant problem in the RedZone, which makes for some fun game planning with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillion already being a problem for defenses down in the RedZone.
2nd round pick 53rd overall- Josh Paschal, EDGE Kentucky
The Packers now need another EDGE, and Paschal fits the mold. He could do both defensive end and outside linebacker based on his size, speed, and arm length. Though I think he might make a better outside linebacker due to his height, his burst and arm length will be an issue for any tackle should he have his hand in the dirt.
Kentucky is still not a big powerhouse for NFL players, but Josh Paschal could change that and help put them on the map. With an already deep secondary getting to the quarterback is a high priority. When you look at the NFC North, you have three different types of quarterbacks. Cousins doesn’t move much, Goff moves a little, and Fields moves a lot. Paschal can flex positions as they play each team to be able to spy or get to the quarterback accordingly.
2nd round pick 59th overall- Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT Ohio State
While he was a tackle at Ohio State on one of the best offenses in the country, he profiles more as a guard or center at the next level. His mix of size and speed have him more as a tweer than a bonified guard or tackle. Guard is where I think he ends up playing most of his time, with some rotation in at center.
His height suggests tackle, but I’m a little concerned he’s a little light, and the long arms could be more useful as a pulling guard with his speed. Should he learn to use his feet and arms more to his advantage, he could be a solid tackle, but right now, I don’t see the left tackle he’s labeled as. Either way, he still has some substantial upside, but his floor could be that of a jack of all trades master of none.
3rd round pick 92nd overall- Matthew Butler, IDL Tennessee
His bench press is a concern at the position as he only threw up 225 17 times. Butler’s mix of size and arms limit his ability to be pushed to the outside, but should he get up to 325 and keep his speed, he can be a solid IDL for the Packers. I like his burst and what he can do in the trenches, but he seems to be a one-spot player, he’s too slow to lighten him up and move him to OLB, and his arms and height don’t mesh well with a defensive end.
But there is enough upside to fill a DT role here that he could be an excellent pick at a bargain price. With everyone else eating up the elite IDL in the first 60 picks. If he ends up settling in around 305, I think he can play either DT or DE if he continues to get stronger and keep his edge.
4th round pick 132nd overall- Cole Turner, TE Nevada
Turner could be another one of these Gronk-ish type players who can play both tight end and in a wideout position. 4.7 is moving for a guy his size, and he plays faster on tape. He will be a good match with their current tight end coming off an injury and give Rodgers more options in the RedZone and short-yardage situations.
Don’t expect him to do much in the run-blocking game, but he can. I like him better standing up or doing quick hits for check downs. If a run on tight ends starts early, Cole Turner could go higher in this draft. He will need to learn how to adjust to a mobile QB, as Carson Strong was about as mobile as a light pole.
4th round pick 140th overall- Dane Belton, S Iowa
Belton can play, and he can play well. He has a great mix of size and speed and can jump with his best. If his arms were longer, I think he would end up in an outside corner at the next level. Belton should be able to come in and play safety on day one and come down into the slot or a center three high safety.
Like the OT they drafted earlier, he can do just about anything. I think his best bet will end up being at free safety and being able to use that speed to roam around the field. With an already pretty stout secondary, adding him only amplifies it as the league starts to go to more three wide-out sets.
5th round pick 171st overall- Hassan Haskins, RB Michigan
I am a Haskins fan, I think this gives the Packers even more flexibility on offense, and he can do just about everything. Sort of a mix between Jones and Dillion, and should either of them get hurt, he can step in.
As we have seen in the league, you can never have enough running backs; look at the Ravens last year for reference. Haskins won’t ever be an every-down back, but he can run and catch and block. Good value here for a utility player with the ability to spot start.
7th round 228th overall- Jean Delance, OT Flordia
He stands 6-foot-5 and 296 lbs, with a sub-5.3 40-yard dash. I would expect him to come to camp closer to 310 pounds and profile more as a rotational tackle and a special teams player. He has spot start ability, but depth is vital on the offensive line, and he can play both tackle spots. Jean is also used to a mobile QB coming from Florida, so he should mesh well with what the Packers ask of their offensive linemen.
7th round 249th overall- Erik Ezukanma, WR Texas Tech
This would be a faster, far less polished Treylon Burks; the Packers have little to no depth or starting talent at the WR position. So taking a shot at a guy who can jump, catch, and is big enough to take hits is a win here this late in the draft. Also, coming from Texas Tech, he is used to improvising on the fly with running quarterbacks and running straight down the field and jumping to catch a ball.
I don’t know if he will ever be more than a depth player, but in the RedZone, with injuries, he is worth the pick. Ezukanma is another player who can come out of the backfield on end-arounds, or be an excellent decoy. He is a mismatch in almost any jump ball, but that’s about the extent of his game at the moment.