Moving on with the next our full mock drafts (that we will be doing all the way up until the big day on April 25th), we continue to see boards shift. In many cases, the Senior Bowl standouts are establishing themselves higher up the boards, but that inevitably leads to other players falling, which can give us better picks later.
Here’s the results of our 22nd Packers Mock Draft:
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Round 1
Byron Murphy (CB) Forgoing Edge to mix things up, I wanted to see how the board would fall. I went with Byron Murphy at 12. Great footwork and really good speed – potentially the fastest in a group of corners that appears to lack a true burner, he’s good in space, great in man coverage and is my number one corner in this draft.
TJ Hockenson (TE) At 30, the top tier of Edge was very dried up, which makes me feel more and more like the Packers won’t double up in the first round. There’s too much other value that will be at 30, including my pick: TJ Hockenson. Everyone has a take on the top tight ends, but for me, Hock is the complete package and LaFluer will use him as a receiver and a blocker in a way no Packers Tight End has been used in recent memory.
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Round 2
Yodney Cajuste (LT) I made a true value pick here, taking Yodney Cajuste, who has the tools to play Left Tackle. He’s really a better lineman than they need and would probably fit better in a power blocking scheme. However, he’s athletic enough to play in a zone system and could step in as a capable starter anywhere but Center, making him a versatile piece of the offensive line puzzle.
Picks like this make me think of a great Vic Ketchman quote. When recounting how the Jaguars passed on 6’9 Left Tackle Jon Ogden because they had recently drafted Tony Boselli and then signed Leon Searcy to the largest contract an offensive lineman had ever received, Vetchman said: “Who doesn’t need Jon Ogden?” Ogden went to the Ravens, where he made 11 straight Pro Bowl appearances, nine All Pro teams (4 first team, 5 second team), was the Left Tackle on the All-Decade team, and inducted into the Hall of Fame.
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Round 3
Garrett Bradbury (G/C) I stuck with value here and took my top player on the board, Garrett Bradbury. A great athlete who started college as a Tight End, Bradbury is a great prospect for zone blocking. The Packers will have a much, much better offensive line, and they’ll probably need it because they ain’t gonna be rushing the passer!
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Round 4
Chase Winovich (Edge) I finally stopped the bleeding and get an Edge. Chase Winovich isn’t who I’d choose to be the first Edge the Packers take, but he is a good value here. He makes up for lack of bend with very polished technique and hustle. He’s a smart player that naturally understands gap control and can be an immediate contributor – he just has a ceiling is all.
Terrill Hanks (LB) With the second pick, I took Terrill Hanks, a Linebacker converted from Safety who shows all the speed and tools to be a great coverage backer along with the best physique at the Senior Bowl. Aggressive, but reckless, some compare him to a poor man’s Darius Leonard. However, he needs to quit arm tackling like a safety and get his body into it like a linebacker.
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Round 5
Penny Hart (Slot WR) Staying true to my board, I went with Penny Hart, a small (5’8) fast (4.3’s) slot receiver that was virtually unguardable at Senior Bowl practices. His water bug quickness off the line and breakaway speed will require great timing from a QB that can his a small target. I know just the guy…
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Round 6
Darnell Savage (S) I took Darnell Savage, a complete safety with no business falling this low. I don’t know when boards are gonna catch up to this guy, but he has a well-rounded game with no true weakness and great cover skills for a safety. And. He’s. Fast.
Maxx Crosby (Edge) With second pick in the round, I took Maxx Crosby, a good developmental prospect. He has a big wingspan and uses hand technique and length rather than explosive movements, athleticism, or even strength to get to the QB. He’s a bit of a project, but he’s a crafty rusher that showed his potential at the Senior Bowl.
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Round 7
Ricky Walker (DL) With the last pick, I took Ricky Walker. He’s got an explosive first step and good pad level. He’s a gap penetrator without the size or strength to be a two-gapper. Lots to like a situational role player.
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Of Note
- Deebo Samuels went in the 1st round – I remember before the Senior Bowl when I could grab him in the 5th… that’s not gonna happen
- DaMarkus Lodge is another of my mid-round receiver targets and he seems to be moving up in to the 2nd round… no more grabbing him in the 5th, either
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Analysis
Forgoing Edge at the top meant pretty much forgoing Edge. Winovich could develop into a starter and Crosby is a nice depth guy, but it really looks like the Packers need to take Edge at 12 if they want a top-flight guy.
On the whole, though, this is a talented class. Murphy can be a number one corner at the next level, Hockenson is tailor-made for what LaFleur wants to do, and Cajuste and Bradbury really strengthen the line. Add in potential starters like Hart and Savage and you have a really nice draft class.
However, if it goes down like this, we’re gonna need an Edge in free agency or hope someone else makes Kyler Fackrell-like jump.
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Check out our PFTW 2019 Mock Draft Archive to see how other scenarios played out!
Check out Packers Draft Central for all our 2019 NFL Draft coverage!
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