Packers: Post-Aaron Jones signing 7-round mock draft

The Green Bay Packers might need to change up their draft strategy after re-signing Aaron Jones to a big deal on Sunday.

Not only is the running back position seemingly set, but giving Jones $9.5 million a year over the next four years definitely tightens the cap even more. Making all 10 picks seems extremely unlikely for the Packers. I would expect Brian Gutekunst to move up and around in the draft, looking to move up more than once to draft quality over quantity.

In this mock draft, I used the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator since you can make trades.

I wanted to move around a bit and try to scale back the number of picks while trading up for more quality players. I started off making a trade in the first round with the Washington Football Team.

Round 1 (19) – Rashawn Slater – OT – Northwestern

When I traded up here, I was looking for a top corner or a receiver, but when a tackle like Rashawn Slater is available at 18, it was a no-brainer, especially if David Bakhtiari isn’t able to go at the start of the year. When Bak comes back, Slater can slide right on over to right tackle, giving the Packers one of the best pairs of tackles in the NFL.

Slater would also give the Pack their future left tackle whenever Bakhtiari hangs up the cleats. Slater could be protecting Jordan Love’s blind side for a long time.

Round 2 (61) – Greg Newsome II – CB – Northwestern

For this pick, Gutekunst goes back to the well again. We all know how much the Packers like Northwestern players and Greg Newsome somehow falling to the 61st pick is ridiculous. The Packers would get their replacement for Kevin King and probably not skip a beat.

A Jaire Alexander-Greg Newsome tandem would solidify the Packers’ secondary for years to come.

Round 3 (92) – Amon-Ra St. Brown – WR – USC

With the Packers keeping Devin Funchess around, it makes you really feel like the Packers are going to continue with the, “we are happy with who we have” mantra. They had the best offense in football last year and aren’t losing any of their wide receivers that played.

However, that doesn’t mean they won’t look for an upgrade. Amon-Ra St. Brown could be that upgrade. He played a lot of slot for USC, which could be perfect for the Packers and Matt LaFleur’s offense.

Round 3 (99) – Quinn Meinerz – C – Wisconsin-Whitewater

The Patriots are always looking to add more draft picks, so trading back into the third round made sense, especially for a player like Quinn Meinerz. Now that Green Bay re-signed Jones, it’s going to be next to impossible to bring Corey Linsley back.

I could see the Packers not wanting to move Elgton Jenkins to center, so looking to the draft to replace Linsley is logical, especially if Meinerz is there for them to take. Jenkins could start the season at center, but eventually, Meinerz would allow the Packers to keep Jenkins at guard or wherever else they need to plug him in.

Round 4 (137) – Dylan Moses – LB – Alabama

The loss of Christian Kirskey doesn’t necessarily mean Green Bay needs to go out and find a starting linebacker in the draft or free agency. Krys Barnes and Kamal Martin have both shown promise as rookies last season. I would assume they roll with those two, but depth is a question mark.

Dylan Moses is a proven linebacker from the college pipeline of Alabama. He isn’t the quickest or most mobile linebacker, but he would provide some valuable depth as well as contribute to special teams.

Round 4 (143) – Patrick Jones II- EDGE – Pitt

While the Packers are set at the edge as far as outside linebackers go, they still need some bodies and contributors at the defensive end position. Kingsley Keke showed some positive improvement last year, but the defensive line still needs some more help.

Patrick Jones would provide some pass rush from the defensive end position, but would also need to add some weight to his frame. He would be a bit of a project in a 3-4 scheme, but I think it would be worth a shot.