Packers will regret letting Lions draft Day 3 steal with Jeff Hafley connection

It was an on-brand draft class for Brian Gutekunst and the Green Bay Packers, who doubled and tripled down at positions of need, including safety, linebacker, and offensive line depth.

The Packers landed potentially the steal of the entire draft in Kalen King. Quarterback Michael Pratt was projected to go far earlier and could become a capable backup to Jordan Love.

However, no general manager hits a home run on every pick. It's impossible.

The Packers will have paid close attention to the work of the host-city Detroit Lions, who built what appears to be another strong draft class. Detroit landed a prospect on Day 3 with a connection to new Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, and it's one Green Bay may regret letting happen.

Packers may regret letting Christian Mahogany fall to the Lions

Boston College guard Christian Mahogany surprisingly fell to the sixth round despite being projected to go far earlier. Detroit selected him 210th overall, just eight picks after Green Bay drafted offensive lineman Travis Glover.

For comparison, Glover was 237th on the consensus board, while Mahogany ranked 101st.

Mahogany played under Hafley for four seasons in college and should've been on the Packers' radar late in the draft.

Not only is he an excellent run defender, but according to PFF, Mahogany has only allowed one sack on 711 pass-block snaps since 2021. He also has the athleticism the Packers look for, with a Relative Athletic Score of 9.64.

While Green Bay rarely drafts guard-only prospects and prefers versatility, Mahogany was worth making an exception for, especially as late as the sixth round. Instead, he fell to Detroit, who landed a future starter along an offensive line that is already among the league's best.

Mahogany can eventually start at either guard spot and is a perfect fit for Detroit's offense.

He could've competed for the starting right guard job in Green Bay. Now, the Packers will have to play against him.

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