Kiper – Syndication Server

Pick your Packers mock draft: Lance Zierlein vs. Mel Kiper Jr.

Lance Zierlein and Mel Kiper went similar ways for the Packers in their recent mock drafts. One highly athletic WR, and one big guy. Pick your favorite!

Lance Zierlein and Mel Kiper Jr., two titans of the draft industry, recently released updated mock drafts. Zierlein, at NFL.com, went just one round. Kiper, at ESPN.com, went two rounds. For the purpose of this exercise, we’re only looking at the projected first-round picks for the Green Bay Packers.

Zierlein’s first-round picks for Packers:

1.22: DL Jordan Davis, Georgia
1.28: WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State

Analysis: Davis is maybe the most athletic 340-pound football player ever. He scored a 10.0 out of 10 in Relative Athletic Score after dominating the combine. He could be a dominant run defender the second he enters the NFL, and his ability to play on the nose full-time could free up Kenny Clark to do even more attacking for the Packers front. Watson, one of the most athletic receivers to enter the draft, could give the Packers an instant replacement for Marquez Valdes-Scantling and a future No. 1 target in the passing game. He’s boom or bust with big upside.

Kiper’s first-round picks for Packers:

1.22: WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State
1.28: OL Zion Johnson, Boston College

Interestingly enough, Kiper also picked Watson for the Packers, just six selections earlier. His athletic profile is certainly worthy of the first round, and the Packers’ need at receiver is well-documented. It could be a match, especially when considering his fit in the Matt LaFleur offense. Instead of helping the defensive line, Kiper gave the Packers a big assist for the offensive line in Johnson, who can play all three interior spots and is probably a plug-and-play starter at guard. A future offensive line of Bakhtiari-Runyan-Myers-Johnson-Jenkins could the best in football. However, the Packers probably need more immediate help at offensive tackle, and Johnson is likely interior only.

Which mock draft do you like better for the Packers? Vote below, and tell us why in the comments.

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Kiper, McShay Top-10 2021 mock: Debate Cowboys QB, LB, CB, edge needs

The Dallas Cowboys’ 34-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday night dropped their record to 3-9. Depending on which method of strength of schedule one uses, that puts them at either the No. 4 or No. 5 pick in the 2021 NFL draft based on …

Neither order matters here, as ESPN plugs their product and uses their Power Football Index to determine the pecking order for their draft gurus to churn out the first mock draft of the season for their outlet. Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay spent time debating the needs of each team and who is available for them when they are on the not-quite-accurate clock. For the Dallas Cowboys, the debate at pick No. 5 came down to four positions: quarterback, linebacker, corner and edge rusher.

Packers take TE Cole Kmet in final Mel Kiper mock draft

Mel Kiper’s final mock draft predicted the Packers will take Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet.

A review and breakdown of predictions for the Green Bay Packers in final mock drafts from a few of the most prominent draft analysts in the business:

The mock draft: Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN

The pick: TE Cole Kmet, Notre Dame

The reasoning: “Kmet is the only tight end with a chance to go in Round 1, and the Packers could get Aaron Rodgers some help in a pass-catcher and blocker. Did you know that Rodgers was the most recent skill position player Green Bay picked in the first round? And that was 2005. If Tee Higgins is still on the board, he could be another option.”

Our breakdown: Kmet is widely viewed as the draft’s top tight end, and he’s athletic and versatile enough to be considered, but it’s really difficult to envision the Packers using a first-round pick on a borderline first-round tight end prospect in a draft class loaded with potential difference-makers at receiver. Between Ted Thompson and Brian Gutekunst, the Packers haven’t drafted a tight end higher than No. 75 overall (Jace Sternberger, 2019) since 2005. This isn’t a priority position in Green Bay, and Gutekunst just spent a third-rounder on Sternberger, who will take on a much bigger role in 2020. Inline tight end is a long-term need, but taking Kmet – a solid player who doesn’t look like a future game-changer – at No. 30 would be one of the more underwhelming picks the Packers could make in the first round.

Our draft profile: Cole Kmet

From Draft Wire’s interview: “I think my ability to split out wide as a receiver or come in-line as a blocker sets me apart. I offer a lot of versatility in that regard. I think that’s what separates me from the rest of the pack,” Kmet said.

Highlights:

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Kiper sends WR Chase Claypool to Packers in new mock draft

The Packers got Notre Dame’s big, athletic pass-catcher at No. 30 overall in Mel Kiper’s new mock draft at ESPN.

Mel Kiper’s third mock draft of the 2020 draft season has the Green Bay Packers taking another receiver.

Previously, Kiper sent Penn State’s K.J. Hamler and LSU’s Justin Jefferson to the Packers at No. 30 overall in the first round. This time? Kiper has a much different idea.

His latest mock draft has the Packers getting Notre Dame’s Chase Claypool, a rarely seen player in first-round mocks.

From Kiper: “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.”

There’s no doubting Claypool’s combination of size, length and speed, and there’s no doubting the Packers’ preference for big, fast pass-catchers. He is as big and athletic a receiving option as the Packers will find in this draft class. Claypool has a chance to be a dynamic pro, possibly even as a big slot or as a receiver-tight end hybrid, but as Kiper readily admits, taking him at No. 30 might be a stretch. Even after his impressive work at the combine, few mock drafts have him sniffing the first round – but teams, including the Packers, might view him differently.

In our breakdown at Packers Wire, we compared Claypool to former Packers tight end Jared Cook. Smart teams could use them in similar ways. With a big frame, terrific athleticism and physicality as a pass-catcher, Claypool also gives off major Vincent Jackson vibes.

In Kiper’s mock, six receivers – Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, CeeDee Lamb, Tee Higgins, Denzel Mims and Justin Jefferson – came off the board before the Packers’ pick. Inside linebackers Kenneth Murray and Patrick Queen and offensive tackle Josh Jones were also gone.

Last year, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst took a big chance on Rashan Gary, who checked off all the boxes in terms of athleticism and traits, even if the production wasn’t always there. Claypool represents another dip into that same pool. His measurables suggest a game-changer. Can he be one? Kiper believes the Packers could one of the teams willing to take that chance next month.

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