The Packers have a lot of holes to fill and trading down is a great way to get extra picks.
For our 24th mock draft, I tried one of the trade down options listed in Packers Options For Trading Down In 2021.
One of the best parts about trading down is having other picks in case guys fall that you didn’t expect to fall. If necessary, you have the resources to trade back up later. That’s exactly how this draft worked out.
Here are the results:
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Round 1
*Trade* – Titans
Packers traded Round 1 Pick 29 (#29) for Round 2 Pick 21 (#53), Round 3 Pick 21 (#85), and Round 3 Pick 36 (#100)
Note: The Titans took Guard Alijah Vera-Tucker
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Round 2
Eric Stokes – Cornerback
Profile: If you like fast cornerbacks, you’ll love Eric Stokes. Maybe the fastest corner in the class, Stokes also has 6’1 size that he uses to get great press leverage. A very quick processor in zone coverage, Stokes isn’t a good slot cover man due to limited change of direction speed, but is a very good perimeter corner.
Analysis: Stokes in the the second group of cornerbacks for the Packers at the top of the draft. HE’s a borderline 1st rounder, but a very good option for the Packers if they take a different position in the 1st or trade down. He should immediately step into the starting role opposite Jaire Alexander and give the Packers the fastest cornerback tandem int he NFL.
Levi Unwuzurike – Position
Profile: A long, athletic lineman with a great first step, Unwuzurike has great leg power and a beastly anchor. He has a natural feel for finding the ball and wrapping up the ball carrier. After sitting out the season due to the pandemic, he showed up to the Senior Bowl, put in one day of practice, looked good, and stepped out.
Analysis: In a weak class of defensive linemen, Unwuzurike is one of the top 2. Taking a year off may have dropped his stock, but he proved that he’s not too rusty in a quick appearance at the Senior Bowl. If he does fall to the end of the 2nd round, the Packers could find a day 1 starter and immediate upgrade on their defensive line.
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Round 3
Jamin Davis – Inside Linebacker
Profile: An imposing 6’4, 225 athlete, Davis only started for one year, but he had a huge impact with over 100 tackles to go with 3 interceptions (including 1 he returned for a touchdown). He has great range in coverage and run defense and shows no hesitation crashing into traffic.
Analysis: The Packers have a good young tandem of thumper linebackers, but they don’t have a guy with range or coverage ability like Davis. He would give their defense another option for expanding their sub package coverages.
Ihmir Amith-Marsette – Wide Receiver
Profile: A tall lanky receiver, the 6’2 185 Amith-Marsette shakes defenders off the line and runs deceptive routes to get free. Can get deep with 4.43 speed and can get up with his tall frame. He doesn’t have a lot of strength, but he moves well with the ball in his hands and has experience as a returner.
Analysis: This draft is crazy deep at receiver. There were 3 that I had my eye on 6 picks ago when I went with Jamin Davis. All 3 of them went in those 6 picks and I still found a guy I liked. LaFleur likes tall receivers and Rodgers likes guys who run good routes. Despite waiting until the end of the 4th, the Packers still find a 2022 starter that checks both boxes and brings good speed, to boot.
D’Ante Smith – Offensive Tackle
Profile: Tall and lean at 6’5 295, Smith has a decent anchor but is not a power blocker. He does, however, have very good mobility. He has good natural hand usage, but needs to clean up his balance and overall technique. The tools are all there to become a very good zone blocking right tackle.
Analysis: The offensive tackle class is also deep this year. In this simulation, they went very fast. There are usually more talented tackles than this available at the end of the 3rd, but Smith is no slouch. He’s not a guy who can walk into a starting position, but he is a guy with all the tools the Packers need. With a solid training camp, he could challenge for a starting position early.
*Trade* – Titans
Packers traded Round 4 Pick 37 (#142) and Round 5 Pick 34 (#178) for Round 3 Pick 37 (#101)
Najee Harris – Running Back
Profile: A dominant runner, the 6’2, 230 Harris has power and balance between the tackles and the speed to hit the outside. He has good footwork and vision and jolts through defenders when he finds his crease. As a receiver, he’s had success in limited opportunities. A complete back and potentially the best in the class.
Analysis: Ok, this is silly. Najee Harris had a minor ankle injury and missed some offseason workouts, but he has no business lasting this long. Things like this happen every year, though, where no one feels like they need that position and a top prospect slips. I wouldn’t count on that happening, but if it did, I would love for the Packers to move up and grab him, especially after trading down for extra picks. This is the definition of hitting the jackpot.
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Round 4
Josh Myers – Center
Profile: A big, powerful center, the 6’5 315 Myers has a powerful anchor and excels at getting after linebackers. His mobility is sufficient, though not great, and he shows high IQ in his blocking calls and accuracy on his snaps.
Analysis: Myers isn’t a prototypical zone center, but he’s limited to a power gap scheme either. His strength and intelligence are his selling points and his mobility is a bonus, good enough for zone blocking and a potential starter for the Packers in Corey Linsley’s wake.
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Round 5
Josh Imatorbhebhe – Wide Receiver
Profile: A big-bodied receiver with strong hands, Imatorbhebhe only ran a limited number of routes in college, but looked capable of doing more. He fights through press coverage and is a monster to bring down after the catch.
Analysis: With his combination of size and hands, Imatorbhebhe is a great fit in the Packers offense. He doesn’t have blazing speed, but brings an element of physicality that the Packers currently lack. If the draft unfolded this way, I wouldn’t bet against him being the second starter opposite 3rd round pick Amit-Marsette in 2022.
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Round 6
Daelin Hayes – Edge
Profile: A long, fluid athlete, the 6’4 260 Hayes is a speed rusher with a quick first step. He missed time with injuries the last couple of years, but racked up 28 pressures in 2018 with his quick get-off. He doesn’t have a lot of counter moves, but is a valuable speed rusher for sub packages.
Analysis: With a new defensive coordinator, the Packers may be looking for new body types. Hayes is a pure rusher from the edge and would bring a quickness to the group that the team currently lacks.
Tamorrian Terry – Wide Receiver
Profile: A bit of a volatile player, the 6’4, 200 Terry comes with some attitude concerns, but has a wingspan that creates a huge natural catch radius and, despite some drop issues, is a big play machine when he catches the ball.
Analysis: Tall, fast, big plays, and drops. He’s an MVS replacement for 2020.
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Round 7
Zech McPhearson – Cornerback
Profile: An undersized zone corner, McPhearson shows good quickness and ball skills. With a 5’11, 195 build, he struggles in run support and with bigger receivers, but excels in nickel and dime coverage where he can react and attack the ball.
Analysis: The Packers need another depth corner and McPhearson has the athleticism of a special teams contributor.
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Analysis
I love trading down.
Set aside the absolute gift of Najee Harris, who will give the Packers one of the best 3-man running back platoons in recent history, the Packers shore up the defense early with Stokes, Unwuzurike, and Davis adding talent at every level and still get a couple potential new starters for the offensive line plus a tandem of talented receivers.
This is why teams trade down.
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Of Note
Patrick Surtain made it all the way to 23, the lowest I’ve seen yet.
After trading my 1st for a 2nd and two 3rd’s, the Ravens offered me two 3rds and two 4ths for one of my 2nds – it was tempting.
For this mock, I drafted against the board from Ross Uglem at Packer Report.
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