Green Bay Packers 2019 mock draft: Offense edition

Offense is the focus in this Green Bay Packers mock draft.

The Green Bay Packers addressed a number of needs in free agency, and with the added flexibility that comes with it in the draft, what would happen if general manager Brian Gutekunst focused on offense only in the first round?

While there could be a number of top defensive talents available when the Packers hit the clock with the 12th and 30th overall selections, in this mock draft we’ll take a look at how they can improve on offense.

Let’s begin.

Round 1, Pick 12: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa

Here, Gutekunst kicks off his second draft class as Green Bay Packers GM by selecting arguably the draft’s best tight end. While picking Hockenson’s Iowa teammate Noah Fant would certainly be tempting here, the Packers go with the more balanced tight end.

Hockenson can do it all. In Matt LaFleur’s offense, he’d be more than ready to step in as a blocker to help the run game. And he could also make a huge impact as a receiver right away.

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com ranked Hockenson fifth among all prospects in the class, so while the tight end position might not be valued highly among NFL teams, it’s a position of need for the Packers and they would have the opportunity to select one of the very best players at any position available.

By selecting Hockenson, the Packers would have their long-term answer at tight end, while also giving them a strong depth chart in 2019. Jimmy Graham won’t be relied on for his blocking ability any time soon, but Hockenson and Marcedes Lewis both could. And Hockenson’s talent as a pass catcher would give Aaron Rodgers another top target.

Round 1, Pick 30: Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma

When was the last time the Packers had a true deep threat? A wide receiver who has the speed to run past defensive backs with ease?

Marquise Brown could give the Packers offense something it lacks, and he’d be the perfect complement for Davante Adams at wide receiver. With Brown on the field, defenses would always have to respect the vertical threat and that alone would create more opportunities underneath.

Brown wouldn’t need to be the No. 1 receiver in Green Bay, but he could be a big-play threat in every game.

Bucky Brooks of NFL.com has Brown as the No. 1 wide receiver in this year’s class. Brooks wrote: “The 5-9, 166-pounder is a DeSean Jackson-like deep threat with speed to burn.”

The Packers will be committed to the run game under LaFleur, and that creates play-action opportunities. With Brown, they’d have a receiver able to make defenses pay.

With the addition of Hockenson and Brown, the Packers would add the best all-round tight end in the class and a vertical threat at receiver they’ve lacked since Jordy Nelson was breaking free downfield regularly in 2014.

What are your thoughts on this mock draft? If you could only pick players on offense in the first round, who would you choose?