The Packers once again didn’t sign a big-name on the open market. While many avid Packer fans are upset, some have come accustomed to Green Bay’s draft and develop or try and develop strategy. Instead, the Packers retained some of their players, starting with Aaron Jones on a four-year contract that is a two-year contract with an easy out. Along with Jones, Green Bay re-signed Kevin King and Marcedes Lewis to one-year deals. Green Bay allowed Corey Linsley to walk and watched him sign with the Chargers to join fellow former Packer Bryan Bulaga.
Following free agency, Green Bay’s teams remain unchanged. Unfortunately, the draft board has vastly changed, and some player’s stocks have soared, while others have fallen.
To help with this mock draft, I used The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator.
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL Team Mock Drafts.
Round 1, Pick 29: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
Green Bay’s first-round pick remains the same as the pre-free agency mock draft. Collins is one of the most underrated prospects in the class and should be taken earlier than this. The Packers linebacker core is abysmal, and Green Bay needs to add talent to a group that only has Kamal Martin and Krys Barnes as low-level starters. Picking Collins would allow Green Bay to have young stars at each level of the defense, and if he is available, Collins should be the pick. The Packers have already interviewed with him as well.
For more on Collins, read our scouting report on him here.
Round 2, Pick 62: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
Melifonwu could go in the first round so when he was on the board with the 62nd pick, he was the easy choice. Nabbing the Syracuse cornerback in the second round would afford the Packers to delegate King to a backup role of sorts as the third outside cornerback. Green Bay will likely be running a mix of man and zone coverage, and getting Melifonwu with this pick is a steal.
For more on Melifonwu, read our scouting report on him here.
Round 3, Pick 92: Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa
The Packers cut Ricky Wagner before free agency opened, which now leaves a gaping hole at the right tackle spot. Brown is from a small school and would take some time to develop, but the Packers could align Billy Turner at the right tackle spot until Brown develops some in time for him to potentially start midway through the 2021 season.
Round 4, Pick 135: Darius Stills, DL, West Virginia
Green Bay’s run defense has been abysmal the last few years. The Packers took Collins in the first round to help already and adding Stills in the fourth round after seeing a run on interior defensive linemen go. Stills would align nicely with what the Packers already have with Kenny Clark and Kinglsey Keke in the middle of the defensive line. Green Bay continues to build up the defense.
Round 4, Pick 142: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR, Iowa
After not taking a receiver in the whole draft last year, the Packers get one in the fourth round. That may seem late, but Smith-Marsette could go much higher than this. He is a versatile prospect that can be used in many ways and could be a replacement for what the Packers had with Tyler Ervin last year. In a class that has Rondale Moore, Kadarius Toney, and Amari Rodgers going in the second and early third rounds, Green Bay could wait and get similar production from Smith-Marsette. Reports have said that the Packers are one of the few teams that have a third-round grade on the Iowa receiver.
For more on Smith-Marsette, read our scouting report on him here.
Round 5, Pick 173: Thomas Graham Jr. CB, Oregon
TDN has Graham comped to Casey Hayward. He is a willing tackler that is good in both man and zone coverages. He will struggle because of his athleticism, which is why he is still here in the fifth round. Green Bay’s cornerback room isn’t filled out, and Brian Gutekunst decides to add another player to the room, whom the Packers have had a visit with already.
Round 5, Pick 178: Tariq Thompson, S, San Diego State
Chandon Sullivan had an excellent 2019 campaign and early part of the 2020 season. Unfortunately, he had some struggles later on last season, and his contract expires after this next season. Many on Draft Twitter have fallen in love with Thompson as a potential nickel cornerback for their respective teams. He isn’t a phenomenal athlete and relies on his coverage abilities and high IQ to get the job done. Green Bay has added three players to the secondary in this draft.
Round 6, Pick 214: Jimmy Morrissey, IOL, Pittsburgh
With Linsley going to the Chargers, it allows for the Packers to reshuffle their offensive line. While Elgton Jenkins could make the move inside to the center position, he could start the season as the left tackle with David Bakhtiari dealing with his torn ACL. Jake Hansen was a day three selection last year that could eventually start in Week 1, but adding competition is much needed. Morrissey is a prospect that the NFL will love more than many expect, and getting a potential starting center in the sixth round is something the Packers will always take.
Round 6, Pick 220: Tarron Jackson, EDGE, Coastal Carolina
You can never have too many pass-rushers. Green Bay has used late-round picks on pass-rushers in each of the last two years and get another here with Jackson. He is a bit of a tweener that will be thrust onto the field in pass-rush situations and produce with any of both Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, and Rashan Gary opposite of him.
Round 7, Pick 256: Trevon Grimes, WR, Florida
The Packers round out the draft by adding another receiver. Grimes is a big-bodied guy that will be a contested-catch and redzone nightmare for opposing defenses. Along with that, Grimes is one of the best-blocking receivers in the draft, and Matt LaFleur loves his blocking receivers. He would likely be the last receiver on the depth chart on the opening day roster.
For more on Grimes, you can read our scouting report on him here.
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