Green Bay Packers’ Mock Draft: Fixing past mistakes

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 25: Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers warms up prior to a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 25: Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers warms up prior to a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

The Green Bay Packers look poised to trade Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, which will bring them into a new era. How should they kick that era off?  I think the most obvious need for the Packers is at wide receiver.

This is especially true when they give Jordan Love a shot to be the long-term answer at the position.  The Aaron Rodgers trade is happening at some point in all likelihood, so the Packers may end up having some more 2023 draft capital than what they do now.

To keep things simple, we’ll just use the picks that they have at this point, but we’ll draft with the future in mind.

Green Bay Packers’ Mock Draft: Fixing past mistakes

15th overall pick: Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU

Man, the Packers’ wide receiver depth chart just isn’t good at the moment.  I’d find it nearly impossible for them to not take a WR here if one of their guys is on the board.  I went to Quentin Johnson from TCU.  He’s a big-bodied target that could get a ton of work from Jordan Love.

45th overall pick: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

Oh man, what a stellar first two picks for the Green Bay Packers.  With needs at wide receiver and tight end, the Packers knock both out of the park.  Darnell Washington is 6’6″ and 264 pounds and is a mauler in the run game.  He should also slide into the TE1 role early and would act as a security blanket for Love.

78th overall pick: Warren McClendon, OT, Georgia

Back to back Georgia Bulldog picks!  The Green Bay Packers have a need at tackle, especially with the uncertainty of David Bakhtiari given his age and injury concerns, taking a take at some point in the draft makes a lot of sense.

116th overall pick: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss

The Green Bay Packers learn from their mistakes in the past in not doing enough in the NFL Draft at the wide receiver and double dip in 2023.  Jonathan Mingo seems to climbing up draft boards, so I’m not sure he’ll be here at 116, but man, if he is, the Packers should be all over it.

149th overall pick: Byron Young, EDGE, Tennessee

170th overall pick: Riley Moss, CB, Iowa

232nd overall pick: Spencer Anderson, OC, Maryland

235th overall pick: Puka Nacua, WR, BYU

242nd overall pick: Jovaughn Gwyn, OG, South Carolina

The remaining picks attack immediate needs and potential future needs for the Green Bay Packers.  Would this haul be enough to help them get back into relevancy after the Aaron Rodgers’ era?