Ok, here it is, my final analyzed Packers mock before the draft starts!
I will be doing this in one take without proposing any trades and I will be taking who I would take in the Packers position (note, it you want to explore other options and learn about other prospects, the Mock Draft Archive has them all).
The deepest positions in the draft (wide receiver and offensive tackle) were heavily over-drafted. I ended up taking best player available and in 10 picks, I didn’t get either position. Still, I’m very happy with the results – check the analysis for more.
Here are the results:
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Round 1
Kenneth Murray – Inside Linebacker
Profile: Murray is the super-athletic, powerful linebacker the Packers have lacked for ages. He can cover sideline to sideline, moves like a safety and makes plays (29.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks over his last two season). He’s patient more than reactionary and plays a little upright, but he’s all you can ask for at from an inside linebacker at 30.
Analysis: This was crazy because 8 WRs and 6 OTs went in the first 29 picks, which left Murray and Queen both on the board. I went with best player available.
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Round 2
Neville Gallimore – Defensive Line
Profile: Neville Gallimore looks and plays like a grown ass man. He hustles, he has a strong anchor, and he can penetrate with a quick first step and a lot of twitch. He was an unstoppable pass rush animal in 1x1s at Senior Bowl practices.
Analysis: I wasn’t going to dip into the WR pool as much as I wanted to here, because the value just wasn’t there. Pittman could have been the pick, but I went with who I thought was the best player on the board.
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Round 3
Cameron Dantzler – Cornerback
Profile: At 6’2, Dantzler might be the tallest of the top corner prospects even if he’s a little light at 188. His 4.64 times speed isn’t eye-popping, but he plays with explosion. Competitive and smart, he suffocates receivers and has great anticipation in diagnosing routes, making up for his mediocre speed. He also has good ball skills and zone coverage.
Analysis: This pick was gut wrenching. The 2 picks right before the Packers were Prince Tega-Wangho and Van Jefferson – a tackle and receiver (the positions the Packers need, which are historically deep in this class, but keep getting overdrafted). This, more than anything, shows how hard the draft is. Cornerback doesn’t get enough press as a need for the Packers but they don’t have a slot corner and they usually play nickel most of the time. They need a corner and he was the best player on the board.
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Round 4
Antonio Gibson – Running Back
Profile: At 6’1 220 running a 4.39, Gibson had basically the same combine as Jonathan Taylor. He’s a power runner with the patience for zone and a strong lower body. He hits top speed quick and breaks tackles through contact. Extremely versatile, he played a lot from the slot and is great pass catcher. Also returned kicks.
Analysis: Wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb went two picks before my selection. That is just crazy. There are so many receivers going off the board that I can’t even justify taking one. The value is just never there in this simulation. At this point, I think Antonio Gibson – even as a running back – would be the best receiver available, so I went with him. He could play slot pretty easily and may be insurance for an Aaron Jones contract issue next year.
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Round 5
Thaddeus Moss – Tight End
Profile: Powerfully built at 6’2 250, Moss isn’t the athletic receiver his dad was, but he is a physical, brutal blocker. He has good hands and receiver instincts, and can box out for jump balls, but his lack of speed relegates him to a possession receiver with great blocking.
Analysis: I was all set to take tackle Alex Taylor and he went the pick before me. Moss was easily the best player available at that point. LaFleur uses tight ends as much as receivers and Moss has the look of a young Marcedes Lewis. He could have as much impact and production as a mid round wide receiver.
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Round 6
Jon Runyan – Guard
Profile: Another legacy player, the 6’4 306 Runyan is the son of the Pro Bowl tackle by the same name. This one isn’t a drive blocker, but is very athletic. He played tackle in college and was quick to pick up stunts and switches. Plus, he stays engaged when he locks up. He has the look of a great zone blocking guard.
Analysis: Runyan fits everything the Packers look for in guards, including ahtleticism and a college career at tackle. I really like the way he clamps down on rushers and think he could easily be the starting right guard for Green Bay by 2021.
Evan Weaver – Linebacker
Profile: At 6’2 237, Weaver has the build to tack the hits inside. A smart player and quick processor, he reads gaps and plays fast, giving him a wide tackle range, even if he’s lacking athleticism. Tough and technical, he would make a good early down base defender.
Analysis: The Packers already had a linebacker in this draft. Still, the positions identified as “needs” were picked through and that left Weaver as the clear best player.
Madre Harper – Corberback
Profile: At 6’2 196 with 4.41 speed and a phenomenal combine score, Harper has all the tools teams look for. But after getting kicked off the team at Oklahoma, he has some red flags for attitude. Still, at Southern Illinois, he was the best DB in FCS, showing impressive instincts and reactions, even hustling on special teams. If he screws his head on straight, he could be a good starter at the next level.
Analysis: The Packers already took a corner in this draft, but they have needs beyond just finding a nickel back to start the season – Kevin King will looking for a contract after the season.
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Round 7
Bravvion Boy – Defensive Line
Profile: At 6’1 330, Bravvion Roy is a powerful big boy that stuffs the run. He holds two blockers up with ease and shows surprising movement skills. He’s not a 1×1 pass rusher, but he slips through with his quickness on occasion.
Analysis: The Packers needs help stopping the run and Roy is the kind of guy that can do it. He’s a situational player, but the Packers are sorely lacking for those situations.
Zach Shackleford – Center
Profile: A mobile, athletic 6’4 305 prospect, Shackleford lacks strength but, uses his hands well in strike placement. His arms are shorter than you’d like, but he has a great work ethic and all the intangibles.
Analysis: Corey Linsley is coming up on contract and Shackleford has all the traits the Packers like at center. This could be a great value pick for the future.
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Analysis
This draft is historically deep at wide receiver and offensive tackle. The Packers need both positions. In this draft, I came away with neither.
Still, taking the best player available at each spot gave the team a ton of talent. Gibson could still fill the needs at receiver and Moss would help there as well. Runyan has a chance to help at tackle, but looks like a better guard prospect.
Since the Packers plugged their biggest holes with at least serviceable starters in free agency, they can afford to draft without reaching and it could really pay off.
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Of Note
Right at the start of the draft, I got a trade offer from the Chargers. They offered the 5th pick in the 2nd round and the 7th pick in the 3rd round for the 30th overall. I would have taken this in a heartbeat were it not for my “no trades” rule in the final mock.
3 QBs went in the top 6.
3 WRs went at 9, 10, and 11 and 8 WRs went by 30 (including Aiyuk at 19, the highest I’ve ever seen him go)
6 OTs went by 30
I was tempted in the 2nd when the Lions offered a 3rd, 4th, and a 5th for the pick at 62 – the simulation really wanted to tease me since they knew I wasn’t trading!
In the 3rd, both the Chargers and Lions offered me their 4th and 5th rounders – there is no doubt in my mind I would have probably taken all of these trades in real life, especially when I saw how hard the board was getting hit.
Reggie Robinson went in the 3rd, which was the highest I’ve seen him go
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