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Packers trade up in mock draft following free agency signings

By Freddie Boston

IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 22: Tight end Noah Fant #87 of the Iowa Hawkeyes catches a touchdown pass during the second half in front of safety D'Cota Dixon #14 of the Wisconsin Badgers on September 22, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 22: Tight end Noah Fant #87 of the Iowa Hawkeyes catches a touchdown pass during the second half in front of safety D'Cota Dixon #14 of the Wisconsin Badgers on September 22, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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Green Bay Packers
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 06: Julian Huff #20 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers pushes Noah Fant #87 of the Iowa Hawkeyes out of bounds during the second quarter of the game on October 6, 2018 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Round 1, Pick 21: Noah Fant, TE, Iowa

One area the Packers are yet to address this offseason is tight end. Currently, Jimmy Graham and Robert Tonyan are the only tight ends under contract, and in my opinion they should avoid the position in free agency and find an upgrade in the draft.

I’d absolutely love the Packers to use an early pick on one of the top tight ends in the class. The two names to watch are Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson, who both played at Iowa.

I’m not sure either player will still be there at No. 30, so after going edge rusher with their first pick, the Packers make a trade with the Seattle Seahawks to select Fant at No. 21 overall. The Houston Texans could be a landing spot for Fant at No. 23, so moving ahead of them is important.

As for the Seahawks, they enter the draft with just four selections, with none in the second round. To move up nine positions, Green Bay gives up the No. 30 pick, its third-round pick (No. 75 overall), and a fifth-rounder (No. 150) in return for the No. 21 pick and a fourth-rounder (No. 124).

The Packers have the chance to add two difference-makers in the first round, and Fant could be a game-changer in Matt LaFleur’s offense.

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