In light of the Packers draft-rocking trade of Aaron Rodgers, we’ll be doing a series of three round mock drafts to see how the new pick positions might impact the Packers at the top of the draft.
As a reminder, our mock drafts aren’t a prediction or even who we’d like to see picked – they are a chance to look at different simulations to see which prospects might be available when the Packers are up to pick.
Sometimes, everything just falls into place exactly the way you want it.
That’s what happened here.
Here are the results:
.
Round 1
Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Wide Receiver
Profile: A big slot with great routes for separation. At 6’1, 195, he;s not a speed burner, but he tracks the ball amazingly well and has great hands. He’s the surest thing in this receiver class.
Analysis: The Packers need a slot receiver and they prefer them taller. After decades of not taking a wide receiver in the first round, this would be an opportune time to give their new starting quarterback a weapon.
.
Round 2
Darnell Washington – Tight End
Profile: A dominant powerful blocker with an imposing 6’7, 265 frame, Washington can block on the line or in space – he just plain gets after guys. He was not featured a lot as a receiver, but appears to have all the tools and athleticism necessary. He’s the highest-potential player in this tight end class.
Analysis: The Packers have a need for a blocking tight end, even if Washington doesn’t develop more as a receiver. He would just be a bigger, younger, Packers-era Marcedes Lewis.
Keion White – Edge
Profile: Big and athletic, the 6’5, 285 White is versatile enough to rush from a 3-point stance or stand up out wide. He can win with power or a swift arc around the tackle and he can hold the contain the edge in the run game. He’s still a little raw, but his potential is among the highest in this class.
Analysis: The Packers need immediate help with Rashan Gary recovering from an ACL injury and long-term help with Preston Smith getting older. White would be a great fit for a Packers defense that likes bigger edge rushers who can hold contain.
.
Round 3 Jordan Battle – Safety
Profile: At 6’1, 205, Battle can play free safety, crash the in the box, or cover in nickel. Physical and aggressive, he comes up quick to make plays in the screen game and has really good range and solid cover skills.
Analysis: The Packers need a lot of help at safety and they value versatility. Battle in the 3rd is becoming one of my favorite draft options.
.
Analysis
This is the winner. This is a class that started with the best case scenario at every draft slot both in terms of value and meeting need.
The offense picks up two key components for their revamped passing attack and the defense gets immediate starters at their weakest positions.
All I can do it hope and pray that the real draft works out this amazingly.
.
Of Note
Three quarterbacks went in the top 10, which seems to now be the expectation.
For this mock, I drafted against the board from Jake Rigdon at Fanspeak.
.
Want to learn more!? 
Don’t just watch the draft – understand it and learn why GMs make the moves they do. Get more insight into how winning teams build through the draft (and how losing teams fail)!
Start with a introduction to how the draft works then get deep into understanding draft strategy with our draft book (rated a #1 New Release): A Fan’s Guide To Understanding The NFL Draft: Strategies, Tactics, And Case Studies For Building A Professional Football Team
Then jump into free agency with another #1 New Release: A Fan’s Guide To NFL Free Agency Hits and Misses to better understand this critical part of the NFL offseason and see where teams have found (or missed) success in this critical component of team-building.
Finally, get to the game behind the game with our latest must-have book: A Fan’s Guide To Understanding The NFL Salary Cap – which lays out detailed, easy-to-follow scenarios to explain exactly how contract structures and salary cap rules impact teams. This book explains why teams do what they do in the offseason!
All these great books are available in ebook and paperback – and free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers! If you don’t have Kindle Unlimited, you can get a free trial of Kindle Unlimited here!
.
Check out our PFTW 2023 Mock Draft Archive to see how other scenarios played out!
Check out Packers Draft Central for all our latest NFL Draft coverage!
.