Packers make big splash in seven-round mock draft

The NFL Draft is just about two months away. Green Bay Packers fans are still waiting to hear whether J.J. Watt will sign with Green Bay, and what other moves Brian Gutekunst will need to make to get under the cap by March 17.

In my honest opinion, as much as I would love to have Watt come home to Wisconsin and play for the Packers, I just don’t see it happening with the money. With that said, I still think the Packers will make some moves to essentially go ‘all-in’ for Aaron Rodgers this year, and I think it will start with the draft.

The Packers are expected to have 10 draft picks and I find it hard to believe they would use all 10. With the money situation being what it is, I think Gutekunst will try to move up in the draft, using other picks as ammunition.

For this mock draft, I used the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator. In this simulator, you can make trades and receive grades on your draft. With the ability to trade, I thought about a realistic spot the Packers could actually trade up to. We know Gute is no stranger to trading up in the first round; he’s done it on multiple occasions.

I think this year, he grows even bolder and trades up into the top 15. In the mock draft, I wanted to trade up for a receiver and finally get Rodgers the help Packers fans think he needs. I thought it would be poetic to trade in front of the Vikings at 14 after they traded with San Francisco a year ago so the 49ers could take Brandon Aiyuk, the guy I think the Packers originally traded up for.

It may seem like a good chunk to give up, but when you are going all in, you need to give up some capital to get your guy. Here’s how the trade broke down:

I figured with the 13th pick, there was bound to be a receiver who could contribute right away. If not, I’d take a tackle or one of the top cornerbacks available. Luckily for me, the plan worked in my favor.