Every year, I spend too much time studying the draft. Not all the players or all the teams, just the Packers and prospects that are relevant to them. I run hundreds of mock drafts and write up a full analysis on a small portion of them (see PFTW 2020 Mock Draft Archive) after far too many hours of watching film and reading writeups.
Then I get ready for the big event with my list of players.
After all that, here are the guys I would most like to see the Packers get this year:
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1ST ROUND
Trade Down – That’s right, my first option is no option. There is no one that I expect to be available at 30 that I really like. Kinlaw would be my dream, but the talent drops around 20-25 and I’m hoping someone team wants to trade back into the 1st and give the Packers something in return. One night of waiting up later for the Packers to not pick doesn’t bother me in the long term when they could get so much more value.
Kenneth Murray – I’m not a big fan of drafting inside linebackers high, but the board seems to have a talent shelf around 25 and of all the players who could drop, Murray is probably my favorite, even though champions dont take inside linebackers in the 1st round.
Neville Gallimore – Gallimore is a grown ass man with the same presence factor that I loved from A’Shawn Robinson. He has an anchor, he can penetrate, and he was unstoppable at Senior Bowl practices
Ross Blacklock – A powerful player who can two-gap with leverage instead of just size. Good hands and game out early despite being told by the advisory board to go back to college. He says the NFL has always been his dream and he’s not gonna wait – I like that passion.
Xavier McKinney – A wildcard darkhorse. He was versatile talent that could play well with chess pieces like Amos and Savage.
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2ND ROUND
Brandon Aiyuk – I’ve always felt the 2nd round is the best place to find receivers and if Aiyuk slips, he could be a steal. Most likely, the Packers could trade back and get him at the top of the 2nd. He’s been climbing boards lately, though.
Malik Harrison – Thick frame and good speed, he’s a thumper that can go sideline to sideline.
Lucas Niang – Prototypical athleticism to be a zone blocking tackle.
Laviska Shenault – An athletic wide receiver who could fall towards the end of the second in a deep receiver class.
Raekwon Davis – A giant in the trenches, at 6’7 his wingspan alone closes the gaps.
AJ Terrell – Athletic and fast with great coverage skills.
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3RD ROUND
Van Jefferson – A polished receiver who is ready to contribute immediately. May have the best hands and routes in the class.
Saahdiq Charles – Another athletic tackle who lacks the power for gap scheme, but would be great as a zone blocker.
Cameron Dantzler – A tall corner that drapes himself on receivers and shows great ball skills.
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DAY 3
Antonio Gibson – A freak with identical measurables to Jonathan Taylor, Gibson could play slot receiver or a power zone runner and is a great fit for a LaFleur offense.
Benito Jones – A big run stuffer with the quickness to plug cutback lanes.
Shaquille Quarterman – Strictly a role player with no coverage ability, his run-stuffing demeanor invokes shades of Desmond Bishop.
Reggie Robinson II – A well rounded corner, RR2 has been moving up boards as an under-scouted prospect.
Kalija Lipscomb – The sleeper at wide receiver, a great route runner who has also been moving up boards.
Jon Runyan – A great interior zone blocking prospect, he played tackle in college and is slipping down boards because he will need to kick inside at the pro level and lacks the strength for power schemes – all factors that play into a great value for zone blocking teams in need of a guard.
Madre Harper – Maybe my sleeper for the whole draft. After getting kicked out of D1, he has been tearing up FCS. He has all the physical talent and ability, but he’ll need to screw his head on straight to make it in the pros. If he does, he could be a steal.
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