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Packers strengthen defense in latest FanSided 2019 mock draft

By Freddie Boston

BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 03: Deionte Thompson #14 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after the LSU Tigers missed a second half field goal at Tiger Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Alabama won the game 29-0. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 03: Deionte Thompson #14 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after the LSU Tigers missed a second half field goal at Tiger Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Alabama won the game 29-0. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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The Green Bay Packers focus on defense in the first round of the latest FanSided 2019 mock draft.

Now that we know the Green Bay Packers own the 12th overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, we can begin to get an idea of the players who might be available when they hit the clock for the first time in April.

Brad Weiss of FanSided has put together his latest NFL mock draft, and he has the Packers strengthening their defense in the first round.

At 12th overall, Weiss has the Packers selecting safety Deionte Thompson out of Alabama, which would address one of the team’s biggest needs.

Here’s what Weiss wrote about the first selection:

"“During the season, Green Bay traded away Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, and if they were wise,  they would replace him with the best safety in this draft class in Deionte Thompson. Thompson has been a leader on an elite Alabama defense for years now, and at the NFL level, he will be able to step in and be an immediate impact player.”"

Thompson would come in to replace Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who Green Bay traded away during the season. It was five years ago when the team needed safety help, and would select Clinton-Dix, also out of Alabama, with the 21st overall pick.

We don’t yet know when the team’s second first-round selection will be made, as the New Orleans Saints are in the playoffs. Green Bay owns New Orleans’ first-round pick after a draft-day trade last year.

In this mock, Weiss has New Orleans going all the way and winning the Super Bowl, giving the Packers the 32nd overall pick. There, Green Bay adds talent to the defensive line with Montez Sweat out of Mississippi State.

The Packers enter the draft with a number of positions of need, particularly at edge rusher, safety and offensive line. The defensive line could certainly use more depth, despite having two excellent starters in Mike Daniels and Kenny Clark.

Both Thompson and Sweat could help improve the defense, but I’m not a huge fan of the Packers leaving the first round of the draft without taking one of the top edge rushers in the class. Especially with two first-round picks.

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Who do you hope the Packers select at 12th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft?

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