Packers: Two 2021 mock drafts, two different strategies
In just a week, the Green Bay Packers could be making their first pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. The first round of the draft will take place on Thursday, April 29 at 7:00 p.m. CT. With the 29th pick, the Packers won’t likely make their pick until later into the night.
Obviously, there are a few things that could change on draft night. Brian Gutekunst could elect to trade up for a prospect he likes or trade back to gain more picks. We’ve seen him do both.
I would be surprised if the Packers came away from this draft making all 10 picks. I think Gute is going to want to move around a bit this draft and use some of his draft capital to get quality over quantity, the only question in my mind is how he does it.
I wanted to try two different mock drafts using two different strategies. In one, I decided to be more aggressive and trade up. In the second mock, I traded back a few times to try to get as many top-100 picks as possible. I used the PFF Mock Draft Simulator for both of these drafts so I could make trades.
I know a lot of fans want to Packers to take a receiver high in this draft. I think cornerback, linebacker, and offensive line are the most important in the draft. Would I love it if they took a receiver high? Absolutely. But they already had one of the best, if not the best, offenses in the league last season. If they can shore up their defense, I think this team will have a shot at winning it all this year. So I kept that in mind for both of these mocks.
Let’s start with the more aggressive mock first, and then see an example where the Packers could trade back.
Mock draft 1: Packers trade up for a top cornerback
*TRADE* – GB 29th and 173rd picks for WAS 19th pick
Round 1: pick 19 (from WAS) – CB Jaycee Horn – South Carolina
As the draft fell, I wanted to keep an eye on Horn. I think he should be CB1 for the Packers. When he fell down to 19, I wanted to jump in ahead of Chicago because I would hate to face Horn twice a year in the NFC North. I offered Washington the 29th and 173rd pick for their 19th. If the Packers could land Horn this late in the first, it would be committing highway robbery. He would immediately compete with Kevin King for CB2 in training camp.
Round 2: pick 62 – LB Jamin Davis – Kentucky
With a pair of second-year players at the inside linebacker position for the Packers, I could see them investing an early pick on a player like Jamin Davis to fortify the position. Davis’s speed and playmaking ability would put him in a position for a starting spot right away. Also, depth at the position is always a plus.
Round 3: pick 92- T Brady Christensen – BYU
Brady Christensen had a monster pro day. His athletic measurables are a lot higher than would be expected. He has a RAS score of 9.84 out of 10.0. It ranked 19th out of 1,115 offensive tackles from 1987 to 2021, and we all know how much the Packers love athletic linemen. He could be the future at right tackle for Green Bay.
*TRADE* – GB 178th and 214th picks for CLE 110th pick
Round 4: pick 110 (from CLE) – WR Jaelon Darden – North Texas
Round 4: pick 135 – G Kendrick Green – Illinois
Round 4: pick 142 – DL Jonathan Marshall – Arkansas
*TRADE* – GB 220th and 256th picks for LAR 209th pick
Round 6: pick 209 (from LAR) – ED Chauncey Golston – Iowa
Mock draft 2: Packers load up on top-100 picks
*TRADE* – GB 29th and 135th picks for JAX 33rd and 45th picks
Round 2: pick 33 – CB Greg Newsome II – Northwestern
When it came to the 29th pick, there weren’t a ton of receiver options I like in the first round, and I still had a few other options that I would consider past the first round. I traded back with Jacksonville for a pair of their second-round picks. Greg Newsome was still there so I opted to address my cornerback need first. Fortifying the secondary right away while still loading up on picks seemed like a safe play here.
*TRADE* – GB 45th (from JAX) and 173rd picks for CLE 59th and 89th picks
Round 2: pick 59 (from CLE) – LB Jamin Davis – Kentucky
Like the first mock, getting a guy like Jamin Davis seems like a safe play. The Packers would be getting much-needed depth and a potential playmaker at the second level. If nothing else, he could contribute to the special teams in 2021.
Round 2: pick 62 – C Creed Humphrey – Oklahoma
With Corey Linsley leaving in free agency, that leaves a gap somewhere on the offensive line. With David Bakhtiari likely missing part of the season, adding a player that can step in and play would be big for the Packers. This pick could allow Elgton Jenkins to cover the tackle position with Jon Runyan Jr. or Lucas Patrick covering guard. Either way, offensive line depth is huge for this Packers offense.
Round 3: pick 89 (from CLE) – T Brady Christensen – BYU
Round 3: pick 92 – WR Jaelon Darden – North Texas
*TRADE* – GB 178th and 220th picks for NYJ 107th pick
Round 4: pick 107 – DL Milton Williams – Lousiana Tech
Round 4: pick 142 – ED Jonathon Cooper – Ohio St.
*TRADE* – GB 214th and 256th picks for DET 153rd pick
Round 5: pick 153 – RB Chris Evans – Michigan
I came away from this mock with eight picks. Five of those were in the top 100. This is a case of quality over quantity. With the cap situation being what it is, the fewer players under contract, the better.
The NFL Draft is always a crapshoot. Gutekunst could very well just stand pat and take the 29th pick. Either way, it’s always more fun when the Packers move around in the draft and don’t just sit and wait for their picks. Which draft strategy would you rather see? Aggressively trade up or trade back and stockpile some picks in the top 100?