The majority of mock drafts following the first week of free agency have the Green Bay Packers selecting a wide receiver.
GM Brian Gutekunst added linebacker Christian Kirksey, right tackle Rick Wagner and receiver Devin Funchess to help offset the losses of Blake Martinez, Bryan Bulaga, Jimmy Graham and Kyler Fackrell. While the Packers now have veteran patches at several need positions, they still need to add an impact player in the passing game, and most mock drafts agree.
Here’s a roundup of the players going to the Packers in the first round of national mock drafts:
Mel Kiper, ESPN: WR Chase Claypool, Notre Dame
From Kiper: “Green Bay cut Jimmy Graham and hasn’t added any receiving help this offseason, so I’m sticking with a wide receiver for its pick, though it’s the third different wideout in my three mock drafts. Like Denzel Mims, Claypool had an electrifying combine, running a 4.42 40 and putting up a 40.5-inch vertical at 6-foot-4, 238 pounds. This might be a slight reach, but a team could fall in love with his traits, and he produced last season, catching 66 passes for 1,037 yards and 13 touchdowns. He could be a matchup nightmare for Aaron Rodgers.”
Lance Zierlen, NFL.com: WR Jalen Reagor, TCU
From Zierlein: “Reagor has explosive field speed and is a sudden target underneath. He could become an early favorite of Aaron Rodgers.”
Mike Renner, Pro Football Focus: WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
From Renner: “Green Bay hit tackle and linebacker in free agency, leaving the receiver position as the only real hole unaddressed heading into the draft. That was a calculated decision, as it looks like a massive upgrade will be waiting for them at pick No. 30. Mims has proven to be one of the most explosive route-runners in the pre-draft process after being a fade specialist at Baylor.”
Luke Easterling, Draft Wire: WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
From Easterling: “This pick simply has to be another weapon for Aaron Rodgers, and the Packers have some fantastic options in this scenario. TCU’s Jalen Reagor, Clemson’s Tee Higgins and TCU’s Jalen Reagor would all be solid picks, but after Jefferson’s combine performance, he may have just leapfrogged those names on some draft boards. He’s a polished, complete player who would pair extremely well with Davante Adams.”
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire: WR Laviska Shenault, Colorado
From Farrar: “Shenault may be raw in some respects, but he’s been a yards-after-catch monster during his entire time at Colorado (something Rodgers has always appreciated), and at 6-foot-1 and 227 pounds, he can put the sting on cornerbacks in tight situations, take the ball on gadget plays and burn defenders downfield. In Matt LaFleur’s offense, Shenault might be a decent player in his first season, with a chance to explode in future years as he tightens up the little things.”
Danny Kelly, The Ringer: OT Josh Jones, Houston
From Kelly: “Long offensive lineman with light feet, smooth athleticism, and the potential to develop into a stalwart at left tackle.”
Matt Miller, Bleacher Report: WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
From Miller: “Adding Rick Wagner and Christian Kirksey helps, but the Packers can go any direction here. Aiyuk could play in the slot and give AR12 a legit YAC threat he doesn’t have currently.”
Josh Norris, Rotoworld: WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
From Norris: “It was a clear mistake to not attempt to elevate the receiver talent around Davante Adams prior to last season. Mims’ draft process has been perfect thus far, recently capping it with an athletic profile in the 93rd percentile at 6-foot-3. That’s not to say he is perfect – Mims’ route tree was fairly limited (not as limited as previous Baylor wideouts), but already showed a natural feel to separate one on one during Senior Bowl practice tape I reviewed. If a quality offensive tackle is on the board it would not be surprising to see the Packers prioritize that over a receiver.”
Jordan Reid, The Draft Network: LB Zach Baun, Wisconsin
From Reid: “With Christian Kirksey already in-house, the Green Bay Packers still need to add more at the second level. Wide receiver is an obvious need, but the Packers haven’t selected one in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002. Brian Gutekunst is known to stick to his philosophies and he continues to address Green Bay’s biggest need, which is still linebacker. Zack Baun immediately makes the team better and also has positional flexibility in various sub-packages as well.”
Eric Edholm, Yahoo Sports: DL Marlon Davidson, Alabama
From Edholm: “A receiver is possible here, as is an offensive lineman, but the defensive line is also an area that figures to be addressed early in Green Bay. Davidson helped boost his stock at the Senior Bowl, even if some felt he put on too much weight — from the 280-pound range to 297 in Mobile and 303 at the combine. But as a 5-technique, he’d work well in this system.”
Charley Casserly, NFL.com: WR Tee Higgins, Clemson
From Casserly: “Given the immense talent at receiver in this draft class, Green Bay gets to pick from a bunch of enticing options.”
Dan Kadar, SB Nation: OT Josh Jones, Houston
From Kadar: “After losing Bryan Bulaga in free agency, as expected, the Packers signed free agent Rick Wagner. Unfortunately, he never lived up to a big contract in Detroit and shouldn’t just be the assumed starter on the right side. If Jones slides, the Packers shouldn’t hesitate taking him. He’s an athletic blocker with enough power to push for a starting job as a rookie.”
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
From Trapasso: “The Packers round out their receiving room with the explosive Aiyuk, who has a giant catch radius and flies after the catch.”
Will Brinson, CBS Sports: WR Tee Higgins, Clemson
From Brinson: “The Packers need to add another piece at receiver for Aaron Rodgers and this is a good draft to do it.”
Kevin Hanson, SI: WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
From Hanson: “Outside of Davante Adams, Green Bay has struggled to find consistent production from its wide receiver corps. Few players, if any, have helped their draft stock more than Mims during the pre-draft process. After an outstanding week at the Senior Bowl, Mims ran a sub-4.4 in the 40 with a position-best 6.66 in the three-cone drill at the combine. Per PFF stats, the 207-pound wideout led the nation with 20 contested catches.”
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