Green Bay Packers: 2019 NFL mock draft roundup 2.0

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)

The latest Green Bay Packers mock draft roundup.

It’s Super Bowl weekend, but for the Green Bay Packers the focus is already on 2019 and getting to next year’s big game.

For that to happen, general manager Brian Gutekunst will need to put together a strong draft class, and he’ll have two first-round picks to begin with.

Let’s take a look at who some of the top draft analysts have going to the Packers in the first round.

Peter Panacy of Niner Noise: S Deionte Thompson (Alabama) and EDGE Jaylon Ferguson (Louisiana Tech)

Safety is one of Green Bay’s biggest needs this offseason, and it’s possible Deionte Thompson will be the selection with the 12th overall pick. Peter Panacy of Niner Noise has the Packers addressing two of their biggest needs in the opening round, with the second pick being edge rusher Jaylon Ferguson.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com: DT Jeffery Simmons (Mississippi St.) and T Dalton Risner (Kansas St.)

The Packers will likely add talent to both the defensive and offensive lines this offseason, and Lance Zierlein of NFL.com has them doing that right away in the opening round of the draft.

Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network: EDGE Brian Burns (Florida State) and TE Noah Fant (Iowa)

A lot of mock drafts have the Packers selecting an edge rusher at No. 12 and then either a tight end or a wide receiver at No. 30. This would be a strong start to the draft.

Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports: EDGE Brian Burns (Florida State) and TE T.J. Hockenson (Iowa)

It could come down to which Iowa tight end Gutekunst likes the most. Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports has Green Bay selecting T.J. Hockenson at No. 30.

Takeaways

I think the number one priority for Brian Gutekunst is to leave the first round with one of the top edge rushers in the class. Of course, that’s no guarantee as the draft board might not fall that way. But the Packers should have two good opportunities to strengthen the pass rush on the opening night of the draft.

Using one pick on offense and one on defense could also work really well, again, depending on which players are available. Strengthening the offensive line or adding a tight end are both good moves, which we’ve seen in this mock.

Interestingly, Florida edge rusher Jachai Polite appeared in last week’s mock draft roundup three times, but he wasn’t selected to the Packers once in this week’s roundup.

Who do you think the Green Bay Packers should select in the first round?

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