Best player available doesn’t always match up with perceived team needs, but no team ever has too many defensive backs or offensive weapons. This board fell in a way that would allow the Packers to stock up on both.
Here are the results:
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Round 1
Grant Delpit – Safety
Profile: Good size at 6’2 213, Delpit is aggressive and physical. He goes all out and blows up jet sweeps and screens. The Jim Thorpe winner as the nation’s best defensive back, he showed the ability to cover in zone and man. He sometimes overplays tackles, but is a smooth ballhawk with the presences to play in the box.
Analysis: Safety doesn’t feel like a top need, but if Delpit falls, he could be the best talent on the board. His cover skills combined with Darnell Savage’s would give them a lot of coverage versatility. Given his ability to play in the box, he could fill in as a hybrid linebacker and trade off with Amos. This pick would make it really tough for opposing QBs to dissect coverages with those three on the field at the same time.
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Round 2
Michael Pittman Jr – Wide Receiver
Profile: At 6’4 220, Pittman is the kind of receiver that Matt LaFleur loves. With 4.52 speed, he won’t blow anyone away, but he runs solid routes and is very physical in creating separation. He tracks the ball well and adjusts for contested catches. Strong hands and red zone presence. Also a good blocker.
Analysis: He would fit well in this offense. Maybe a younger, healthier, faster Devin Funchess who would be around for the long haul. Having him and Adams on opposite ends would make the red zone a fun house for Aaron Rodgers,
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Round 3
Clyde Edwards-Helaire – Running Back
Profile: Nothing about Edwards-Helaire measures well. At 5’7 206 with 4.6 speed, he doesn’t jump off the paper. However, he does jump off the film. His spin move looks like a buffer error. He is a cut and go runner than can dance his way out of a defender that has him halfway wrapped up. He’s also a productive receiver, even playing some slot and bounces off tacklers even with small stature. His body won’t take the pounding to be an every down starter, but he’s a great weapon in a committee.
Analysis: The Packers have Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, and Tyler Ervin all coming up on contract next year. Odds are they won’t be able to re-sign them all and will need some bodies to fill out the backfield. CEH would make a nice weapon in the arsenal
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Round 4
Logan Wilson – Inside Linebacker
Profile: A converted safety, Wilson can cover, but also shows the instincts and decisiveness to play the run well. Has a wide arm tackling form where it looks like he’s playing superman, and he rarely misses tackles. High motor, quick processor, doesn’t get fooled. He can get tied up with blockers sometimes, but is a very good prospect for the inside.
Analysis: Wilson can play the run and the pass very solidly and could be the steadying presence in the middle of the defense that Blake Martinez was, but an athletic upgrade with coverage ability.
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Round 5
Colton McKivitz – Offensive Tackle
Profile: With a great frame at 6’6 305, McKivitz is a nice Day 3 project. His footwork can be messy, but he’s shown improvement throughout his four years as a starter (3 at right tackle and 1 at left tackle). He needs to get a little stronger, but plays with tenacity in drive blocking even if he isn’t physically dominating. He has good balance and a quick kick step for holding edge and enough mobility to start in a zone scheme.
Analysis: McKivitz is a bit of a project who needs to clean up his footwork to be a better zone blocker, but with the signing of Ricky Wagner, the Packers have time to bring him along.
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Round 6
Zach Shackelford – Guard
Profile: A very mobile prospect lacking power. Shackelford has good strikes and handwork, but lacks the strength to drive lineman away. He relies on his movement to make up for his short arm reach and create holes.
Analysis: Another developmental lineman for the inside. The Packers are all-in on zone blocking, so mobile prospects like this could make for nice long-term investments.
Reggie Robinson – Cornerback
Profile: A strong corner with a good frame at 6’1 205, Robinson put up 22 reps on the bench press and still ran a 4.44. There’s a lot of physical tools there. Robinson doesn’t have the quick feet and smooth hips to stick with receivers off the bat, but his instincts and closing speed led to a lot of pass breakups. He covers the sideline particularly well and is a big hitter.
Analysis: The Packers have a lot of big names coming up for contract next year and Kevin King is on the fence right now. His loss would mean the Packers don’t have a big physical corner. With a year to develop, Robinson could come to fill that role.
Tyler Clark – Defensive Line
Profile: A big, long, player at 6’4 300, Clark plays with a lot of natural strength. He has a killer swim move and the ability to follow laterally and use his length to clog run lanes. He’s capable of beating double teams, but only when he uses leverage (which he doesn’t always do). His effort is frequently in question, but he did finish his senior year with 8 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Analysis: Clark needs to develop some more moves and get his motor in gear, but there just aren’t a lot of people with his natural gifts. It wouldn’t be a stretch to hope he could be more productive than Tyler Lancaster as a rookie and improve from there. Of course, it’s just as likely his work ethic bounces him from the league before he sees his first game check.
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Round 7
Kendrick Rogers – Wide Receiver
Profile: A 6’4 jump ball specialist. Rogers uses a 36″ vertical and great body control to offer an enormous catch radius. He shows a lot of potential in the red zone and ability to make circus catches. He doesn’t play as strong as his frame should allow him to. With 4.51 speed, he has the wheels for the pro game, but doesn’t get in and out of breaks quick or run great routes.
Analysis: Rodgers has the size and speed that can’t be taught. His frame would fit this system and if he could improve his route running, he could become a contributor at the next level.
Stanford Samuels – Cornerback
Profile: Another physical specimen at 6’1, Samuels is disruptive with a physical press style, but lacks the athleticism to mirror in man coverage and his 4.65 speed can get him in trouble one on one. He has a good feel for zone coverage and shows good ball skills, but is not strong or imposing in run support or tackling.
Analysis: This late in the draft, you look for guys with physical traits and hope you can coach the rest. Samuels likely isn’t getting faster, but has the size and instincts to be a role player in dime packages.
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Of Note
Justin Herbert made it to 29… or this would have been a much different draft.
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Check out our PFTW 2020 Mock Draft Archive to see how other scenarios played out!
Check out Packers Draft Central 2020 for all our 2020 NFL Draft coverage!
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