The Green Bay Packers exit the chaos of free agency almost exactly where they started.
Nate Hobbs helps a secondary that has lost Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine, Robert Rochell, and potentially Jaire Alexander, but cornerback remains a concern. Aaron Banks provides an upgrade over the departing Josh Myers, but the Packers still need to add at least one offensive lineman.
Signing Mecole Hardman should have no bearing on the Packers' need for wide receiver help, while their lack of pass-rush additions increases the pressure in the draft.
Trading down is a possible solution. The Packers are too far down the order to land one of the elite prospects in the class, but acquiring additional draft capital can help them find incredible value.
Packers trade down twice to address biggest needs in 7-round mock draft
Packers trade down with Browns
If the Browns pass on a quarterback at No. 2 overall, they may need to trade back into the first round to find their long-term starter. It could bring the Packers into play. They could have multiple options at No. 23, allowing them to move down and acquire more draft capital.
Green Bay only moves 10 positions but lands another Top-100 pick with a sixth-rounder going the other way.
Round 2 (33): Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
The plan works perfectly. With Derrick Harmon still available, the Packers trade down and land a dream first-round addition. Green Bay sent its key decision makers to the Oregon pro day, where they would've had a front-row seat to watch Harmon.
It's a classic case of draft value meeting a need. The Packers must prioritize the trenches, and Harmon would be a home-run addition to the defensive line, joining Pro Bowler Kenny Clark.
Harmon made an impact as an interior pass-rusher at Oregon last season. Pro Football Focus credited him with an FBS-best 55 pressures at his position, and he also made five sacks and seven hits. The Packers need to collapse the pocket and hurry quarterbacks more consistently. Drafting Harmon would be a great start.
Packers trade down with Eagles
With no must-have prospect still on the board, trading down was the best route rather than reaching at a position of need. Brian Gutekunst has made a habit of trading down on Day 2, and to good effect. In 2023, a quick double trade-down helped the Packers land Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Karl Brooks.
Round 2 (64): Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Benjamin Morrison is a first-round talent who will likely slide due to his injury history. I can already hear the groans from Packers fans about the prospect of replacing one injury-hit cornerback with another. But at No. 64 overall, Morrison could be the steal of the entire draft.
He is a playmaker. Morrison only played six games in 2024, but in the 25 contests in 2022 and 2023, he made nine interceptions and 14 pass defenses.
According to PFF, across Morrison's three-year stay at Notre Dame, he allowed quarterbacks to complete just 45.7 percent of passes for 337 yards, four touchdowns, and nine interceptions, for a passer rating of 44.1. He could quickly become a starter on the boundary in Jeff Hafley's defense.
Round 3 (67): Jordan Burch, Edge, Oregon
The Packers improved their front seven by selecting Harmon, and they now add his Oregon teammate. There's a reason why Gutekunst took his two biggest decision-makers with him to their pro day. Multiple Oregon prospects could end up in Green Bay.
Edge defender Jordan Burch is a classic Gutekunst target. While he needs to become more consistent, he has star potential.
"Burch's tape can be inconsistent, but he offers physical traits and upside as a rusher," writes Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. "Burch leaves too many plays on the field, but the upside will have teams anxious to light the fire and get more out of him."
Burch recorded 8.5 sacks in his final season at Oregon, and the best is yet to come.
Round 3 (87): Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
Here we go. The Packers finally get their wide receiver.
While the dreams of Gutekunst finally ending the franchise's two-decade-long wait for a first-round receiver are alive and well, he could also wait until Day 2 to find his man. Utah State's Jalen Royals checks a lot of boxes.
We don't have agility numbers, but Royals ran well at the NFL Combine and passes the Packers' strict size and production thresholds at the position. In the past two seasons, Royals caught 126 passes for 1,914 yards and 21 touchdowns.
"Royals is going to be a player an offensive coordinator wants to get the ball to on the run or quickly after the ball is snapped. He is fantastic on the run and simply knows how to gain yards after the catch," writes FanSided's Ryan Heckman. "If you don't remember anything else, remember that about him. Royals is somebody to look out for once he has the ball in his hands."
Royals can play on the boundary. He can play in the slot. He could do a bit of everything in Matt LaFleur's offense and give Jordan Love the consistent target he needs.
Round 3 (96): Charles Grant, T, William & Mary
The Packers have no obvious swing tackle, and the bigger concern is who starts in 2026. Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker have expiring contracts next year, and the team needs to consider drafting a potential long-term replacement for Walker.
Charles Grant has elite athleticism and can become an excellent starter at either tackle position. He could even move inside if needed. Grant earned a 91.2 PFF overall grade last year and allowed only three sacks in his final two seasons.
Round 4 (124): Nohl Williams, CB, California
The Packers lost Stokes, Ballentine, and Rochell this offseason, and Alexander might be next. Even after signing Hobbs and drafting Morrison, they should keep restocking the depth at corner.
Nohl Williams is another turnover machine, having intercepted seven passes in his final season for California. He wouldn't start immediately, but his comfort playing press-man would make him an ideal fit in Hafley's defense.
Round 5 (159): Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Edge, Georgia
The Packers love to draft pass-rushers with elite athleticism, even if they still need time to develop. Oh, and they also have a track record of selecting Georgia defenders (Eric Stokes, Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt, Javon Bullard).
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins needs time before he can earn a featured role on defense, but there's no doubting his upside. In Round 5, the Packers can take a swing on his potential.
Round 7 (250): Graham Mertz, QB, Florida
Gutekunst said he wants to keep drafting quarterbacks, and that will continue even after Malik Willis' impressive season. Graham Mertz only played six games for Florida last season, but in 2023, he threw for 2,093 yards, 20 touchdowns, and three interceptions. Green Bay adds another developmental quarterback who can push for a spot on the practice squad ahead of Sean Clifford.