Packers four-round mock draft: Dream scenario with multiple trades

Round 1 (29): Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota

The Packers need to strengthen their pass-rush depth in the draft and possibly early on.

At No. 29 overall, with Minnesota’s Boye Mafe still available, this was too good an opportunity to pass up.

Mafe ticks almost every box the Packers look for in a first-round prospect. He also plays at a position of need.

A phenomenal athlete, Mafe earned a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.92 out of 10.

Mafe’s game needs some development, but there’s little doubting his talent and potential as a pass rusher.

“Overall, Mafe is still a raw prospect, but he’s trending in the right direction and provides double-digit sack upside,” wrote NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah.

Mafe has drawn comparisons to Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary, and for good reason. When Green Bay picked Gary 12th overall in 2019, he was an outstanding athlete but needed some time to develop his game.

Gary began life as a backup behind Za’Darius and Preston Smith. He is now coming off a breakout third season and enters 2022 as Green Bay’s top pass rusher. Mafe would be entering a similar situation, starting his career as the number three edge rusher behind Gary and Preston Smith.

The only box Mafe doesn’t tick is age. The Packers tend to pick players between 20 and 22 years old in the first round. Mafe is 23 and turns 24 in November.

However, if there was ever a player to make an exception to that rule, it’s Mafe. He would be a great addition to Joe Barry’s defense with his talent and potential.