Packers focus on offense in latest FanSided mock draft
The latest FanSided mock draft has the Green Bay Packers focusing on offense in the opening round.
After focusing on defense early in free agency, could the Green Bay Packers use both of their first-round draft picks on offense?
It might not be the most popular choice among Packers fans, but it could make a lot of sense. The Packers will be running a new offense in 2019 under new head coach Matt LaFleur, so it’s important to find players who fit his scheme. And after the offense failed to meet expectations for much of 2018, adding more talent on this side of the ball would be a good move.
The luxury of signing two edge rushers and a safety in free agency is that it makes life much easier in the draft.
With that in mind, Brad Weiss of FanSided has the Packers going all offense in the first round of his latest mock draft.
What the Packers have lacked for some time is a top tight end, and finding one should be one of the priorities in the draft. With the 12th overall pick, Weiss has Green Bay selecting the best tight end in the class, T.J. Hockenson out of Iowa.
Green Bay would have a pass-catching tight end in Jimmy Graham, an excellent blocking tight end in Marcedes Lewis, and a first-round pick who can do both very well. Robert Tonyan could also see an increase in snaps this year.
Later in the round, Weiss has the Packers selecting Mississippi wide receiver A.J. Brown with the 30th overall pick. Randall Cobb is a free agent, so it’s possible Green Bay uses an early pick at the position.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com has the Mississippi wide receiver as the 37th best player in the draft class in his top-50 rankings. Jeremiah wrote that “Brown lacks top-end speed, but he’ll have a Day 1 role as a big slot receiver”.
It’s hard to predict what the Packers will do on the draft’s opening day. They may continue to strengthen the pass rush by selecting another edge rusher. Maybe they’ll trade down and add more picks in the middle rounds, or even trade up.
Next. Top 30 moments in Green Bay Packers history. dark
One option we can’t rule out is using both picks to add talent on offense. And a combination of Hockenson and Brown would give them a strong start to the draft.