The latest mock draft from Mel Kiper Jr. has the ESPN draft analyst following in the footsteps of a colleague.
Just as Todd McShay projected earlier this month, Kiper’s second mock draft of the season has the Green Bay Packers taking LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson at No. 30 overall of the 2020 draft.
Kiper’s first mock draft, which was posted in January, sent Penn State receiver KJ Hamler to the Packers at the end of the first round. Now, it’s the prolific slot receiver from the national champions ending up in Green Bay.
From Kiper: “Aaron Rodgers isn’t getting any younger; it’s time for the Packers to use a first-round pick on a receiver. Davante Adams was the only Green Bay pass-catcher to have more than 53 targets last season, and he had 127. This team needs a competent No. 2 wideout. Jefferson broke out in a big way last season, catching 111 passes for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns. You might remember him from his four-touchdown performance against Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff semifinal. He led the FBS in total catches and first-down receptions (66). If Green Bay cuts Jimmy Graham, it would become a candidate to take the first tight end off the board in this class.”
Receiver and inside linebacker continue to be the favorite positions for the Packers to address in national mock drafts, a sensible thought for a team that needs so much help at both positions. The 2020 draft class is deep at receiver, so it’s only reasonable to expect the Packers to grab one – or even two – pass-catching prospects.
Jefferson, the favorite target of Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, could give Aaron Rodgers a reliable weapon in the slot and a potentially dangerous threat in the middle of the field and in the red zone. At the very least, Jefferson would serve as a massive upgrade on Geronimo Allison, who struggled mightily over almost 700 snaps in Matt LaFleur’s offense in 2019.
Lance Zierlein’s draft profile of Jefferson labeled him as a “quarterback’s best friend” who is “slippery in space” and “naturally instinctive” as a pass-catcher.
Jefferson was the fifth receiver off the board in Kiper’s mock. CeeDee Lamb (No. 11), Jerry Jeudy (No. 12), Tee Higgins (No. 21) and Henry Ruggs (No. 22) went before him. Linebacker Kenneth Murray, another popular Packers pick, came off the board at No. 19. Linebacker Patrick Queen was slotted in at No. 28.
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