In the last mock draft we ran, the Broncos made an interesting trade offer – two mid-3rd round picks for a late 2nd round pick. In Packers 2020 Draft Options For Trading Down, we highlighted a potential deal with the Seahawks to get two late 2nd round picks for the Packers late first round pick.
Sine the Packers are unlikely to get a true game-changer at 30, we took the “more swings” approach and stockpiled Day 2 picks.
We started by trading our 1st round pick (30 overall) to the Seahawks for their 2 late 2nd round picks (59 and 64 overall). Then, we traded the Broncos one of those picks (59 overall) for two mid-3rd round picks (77 and 83 overall) – an idea we got in Packers 2020 Mock Draft 4 – Sleepers.
So instead of one pick on Day 1 and one pick on Day 2, these moves took us out of the 1st round, but left us with five Day 2 picks, which should bolster the roster and make for an exciting Friday night.
Here’s the results:
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Round 1
No picks – see above.
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Round 2
Lloyd Cushenberry – Center
Profile: A smart player who moved from two-star recruit to potential round-two draft status, Cushenberry looks like the best center in the draft. He has the strength and leverage to hold back nose tackles, but also enough mobility to get out in the screen game. He has some work to do with technique and timing contact in space at the second level, but looks like a capable starter with all the brains to pickup a pro playbook immediately.
Analysis: Corey Linsley is a good center. He is also paid handsomely and is on the last year of his contract. The Packers could cut him this year and reduce his compensation from $10.5M of salary to a $2M hit of dead money. Even if they keep him, they may be looking to replace him next year. Cushenberry fits the Packers scheme from a mental and physical perspective and could be a valuable young piece of the line in the future.
D’Andre Swift – Running Back
Profile: Swift has a compact power build that deflects contact and finds ways to win in short yardage. His real strength is in space where he makes inside cuts and jukes that just aren’t fair. A great pass-catching back, he hits top speed in roughly no time. His vision, lack of hesitation, and elusiveness make him a great runner for a zone scheme.
Analysis: The 49ers showed what teams can do when they have a stable of running backs to create a multi-dimensional run game. Swift has all the ability to be as dangerous as Aaron Jones. He’s a great fit for the scheme and shows similar, if not better, cutting ability inside. He has no business falling to the bottom of the second round.
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Round 3
Troy Dye – Linebacker
Profile: Lots of speed, lots of hustle, a bit of a box safety hybrid. Dye can go sideline to sideline and chases with vengeance, frequently diving to make tackles. He has the ability to drop back in zone coverage or run with a tight end down the seam – he came up with 5 interceptions in his 4 years of college. He also led the team in tackles 3 years in a row, but may need to add a some muscle to a narrow build to avoid getting shoved around on the inside.
Analysis: Dye fits with the Packers need for a rangy inside linebacker, but he doesn’t fit the bill for a dominating physical presence. In the 3rd round, that’s about as good as it gets. The Packers can rely on a player like BJ Goodson to thump inside and use Dye for the outside chase and tight end coverage role, allowing Adrian Amos more freedom on the back end.
Hunter Bryant – Tight End
Profile: A polished route-runner with a lot of versatility, Bryant might be the fastest tight end in this class. He’s a bit on the short side, but is tenacious on contested catches. His blocking will need some work to develop, but he’s a dynamic receiver with the athleticism to work his leverage and improve his in-line abilities.
Analysis: Matt LaFleur loves two tight end sets and Bryant could pair with Sternberger to be a long-term staple in this offense. Given that Swift also provides another receiving threat, the Packers could look to backs and tight ends more than receivers in the passing game. Bryant is more of a slot tight end who brings another facet to the offense.
Lucas Niang – Offensive Tackle
Profile: An athletic tackle best-suited for zone blocking, Niang also packs a lot of power. Last season, he pass blocking technique seemed to regress with a lot of reach blocking and shuffle stepping. He played most of the year with a hip injury, which may have contributed to this. Still, he has a solid lower body build and blocks on the move very well.
Analysis: This pick grants the Packers immediate flexibility along the offensive line. With Bulaga’s age and contract situation coupled with Jared Veldheer’s age, getting a starting tackle option on Day 2 would be a huge win for the team. Niang’s skills would be a good fit
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Of Note
Isaiah Simmons fell to 18, the lowest I’ve ever seen him drop.
Patrick Queen went 24 and Kenneth Murray went 28, meaning I still have not seen one of the top three inside linebackers fall to 30 in any of the analyzed drafts I’ve run.
The Browns offered me 10 and 26 in the 3rd round for pick 30 in the 2nd round – that was tempting.
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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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