Dane Brugler, the draft analyst for The Athletic who recently released his massive annual draft guide, now has a seven-round mock draft to accompany his prospect profiles.
Brugler released the mock draft on Monday, just 10 days from the start of the NFL draft.
Here’s a breakdown of the picks Brugler made for the Packers in the mock draft:
1.30: WR Justin Jefferson, LSU: This must have been an easy pick. Jefferson falling to 30 looks like a dream scenario for Green Bay. He immediately fills the Packers’ need at slot receiver while giving Aaron Rodgers a security blanket in the middle of the field and a playmaker in the red zone.
2.62: OT Ben Bartch, St. Johns (MN): The Packers’ need at offensive tackle is clear, and a developmental prospect like Bartch – who could sit behind Ricky Wagner for a year – makes sense. However, this might be a reach, at least according to Brugler. Bartch is his 12th ranked offensive tackle and a projected third- or fourth-round pick. In fact, Bartch didn’t even make his top 100 players.
3.94: TE Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri: This one could be really fun. Okwuegbunam is 6-5 and ran 4.49 at 258 pounds. Brugler sees him as a versatile tight end who could win with athleticism in the passing game. There’s some projection here, and the Packers just used a third-round pick on a tight end in 2019, but the upside is appealing. He is Brugler’s 99th ranked player overall.
4.136: LB Justin Strnad, Wake Forest: The middle rounds could be the sweet spot for the Packers snagging a linebacker. Strnad is Brugler’s 10th best inside linebacker. He only started 20 games in college and looks more like a long-term backup than a future starter.
5.175: CB A.J. Green, Oklahoma State: Expect the Packers to take a cornerback. Will Green be considered? He ran a slow time and finished well over 7.0 seconds in the three-cone. He is Brugler’s No. 23 ranked cornerback in the class. Don’t love the fit here.
6.192: RB Lamichel Perine, Florida: Running back is another position where the Packers could use one of these Day 3 picks to add competition and future stability. Perine isn’t explosive, but he’d be a capable and reliable replacement should Jamaal Williams depart in free agency after 2020.
6.208: DL Robert Windsor, Penn State: The Packers need help at five-technique along the defensive line, and Windsor looks like a good fit late in the draft. He’s Brugler’s 19th rated defensive lineman in the class.
6.209: S Daniel Thomas, Auburn: He’s smart and he can run. Thomas could provide a nice depth piece at safety and a contributor on special teams.
7.236: WR Quartney Davis, Texas A&M: I really like the idea of dipping back into the receiver pool at some point, possibly even much earlier on Day 3. Davis has some attractive traits and inside-outside versatility.
7.242: OL Calvin Throckmorton, Oregon: He’s experienced and versatile, as Brugler – who likes him at guard – notes. A lack of athleticism makes him a long shot to be a contributor.
Overall: Brugler hit on most of the Packers’ specific needs in a creative way. I wouldn’t say all the picks are ideal fits, but he added immediate help at receiver and intriguing developmental players at other need spots. It’s easy to envision the Packers following Brugler’s lead and picking some combination of receiver and offensive tackle in the first two rounds. It’s a strong class at both positions. Three straight picks on offense to open the draft also makes sense, considering the need to add an influx of young talent in the passing game. The Packers would need early projections to pan out, especially Bartch and Okwuegbunam, for this class to realize its full potential.