Tag: mock draft roundup

The week of the 2020 NFL Draft is here, and not all national mock draft creators are giving the Green Bay Packers a wide receiver in the first round.

Many still are, but a greater diversity of targets is starting to form. Some believe quarterback, linebacker, cornerback, defensive line and offensive tackle could all be first-round targets for GM Brian Gutekunst.

Projecting so late in the first round (the Packers pick at No. 30) is a difficult exercise. Receiver has been a safe pick due to the abundance of first-round talent at the position and the Packers’ perceived need, but there’s still a good chance the Packers will go in a different direction come Thursday night.

Here’s a roundup of the players going to the Packers in the first round of national mock drafts:

Mel Kiper, ESPN: WR Tee Higgins, Clemson

From Kiper: “If the Packers want to get over the hump in the final stage of Aaron Rodgers’ career, they’re going to have to give him better targets outside of Davante Adams. Adding Devin Funchess isn’t going to cut it. At 6-foot-3, Higgins is a big target who gobbled up touchdowns in college (his 27 tied for most in school history with Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins). He could take some of Jimmy Graham’s red zone targets.”

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com: QB Jordan Love, Utah State

From Jeremiah: “It’s tough to find the right spot for Love. He could go in the top 10 or fall to this neighborhood of the draft. The Packers would be a great fit for him to sit, learn and develop.”

Peter King, NBC Sports: WR Michael Pittman, USC

From King: “Professional receiver. Most have him in the second round. But the Packers don’t pick again till 62, and they see a solid but unspectacular disciplined route-runner and competitive 50-50-ball player.”

Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus: DL A.J. Epenesa, Iowa

From Palazzolo: “While Epenesa doesn’t have the bend and explosiveness of elite edge rushers, he’s similar to the Detroit Lions’ Trey Flowers in that he wins with power, length and excellent hand usage. He can handle duties on the inside as well, bringing a versatile piece to Green Bay’s defensive front. Epenesa finished with a strong 87.8 pass-rush grade last season after a 90.4 mark in 2018.”

Mark Schofield, Touchdown Wire: WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State

From Schofield: “The Green Bay Packers need to add another receiver across from Davante Adams, and Aiyuk is the kind of game-changer at the position they absolutely need.”

Chad Reuter, NFL.com: CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah (trade up to 23)

From Reuter: “Once again, the Packers trade up to grab a starter in the secondary, just as they did last year to secure safety Darnell Savage. The team’s cornerback group could use more depth, so Johnson — and his ability in press coverage — would be a welcome addition to this unit.”

Peter Schrager, NFL.com: LB Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech

From Schrager: “Lightning-fast linebacker who fought through a shoulder injury to run at the combine for scouts (posting a 4.54 40). Blake Martinez is no longer in Green Bay, so here’s his replacement. This class’ immense WR depth allows the Packers to address that need later on.”

Dan Kadar, SB Nation: WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State

From Kadar: “There could be options like Denzel Mims of Baylor and Tee Higgins of Clemson available for the Packers, but they already have big receivers like them (Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown). Aiyuk would give them a receiver who can vary his routes, work the underneath game, and get deep.”

Mike Tanier, Bleacher Report: WR Justin Jefferson, LSU

From Tanier: “Justin Jefferson would be a fine addition to the Packers receiving corps, though: big target, great hands, fine routes, runs like an angry tight end with the ball in his hands.”

Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: WR Denzel Mims, Baylor

From Wilson: “Mims had a strong season for Baylor, balled out at the Senior Bowl, and then set the combine on fire with his performance there. He’s still raw but he’s the type of playmaker that could quickly grow into an Aaron Rodgers-led offense.”

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: OT Josh Jones, Houston

From Iyer: “The Packers lost right tackle Bryan Bulaga in free agency and Rick Wagner is a shaky replacement, while David Bakhtiari will be a 29-year-old free agent in 2021. Jones has terrific athleticism for his size (6-5, 319 pounds) and can support with his toughness and relentless blocking. He is a bit raw, however, as his handwork and footwork both could use refinement to maximize his natural skills.”

Evan Silva, Establish the Run: LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma

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Receivers continue to be the overwhelming most common pick for the Green Bay Packers in national mock drafts coming out of the combine.

It’s increasingly easy to understand why. The Packers have a huge need for a pass-catcher, the team met with most of the top receivers at the combine, and the draft class at receiver is insanely deep, with several potential difference-makers capable of lasting to No. 30 overall. It’s a perfect mix of need and value and talent for a team picking at the end of the first round.

Here’s a roundup of the players going to the Packers in the first round of national mock drafts:

Dane Brugler, The Athletic: LB Zach Baun, Wisconsin

From Brugler: “A defensive playmaker, Baun emerged as one of the best pass rushers in college football last season. He will move to more of an off-ball role in the NFL where the Packers could unleash his athleticism in coverage and as a blitzer.”

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com: WR Denzel Mims, Baylor

From Jeremiah: “Mims has helped himself as much as any player in the draft during the spring, between his awesome Senior Bowl and outstanding combine.”

Mike Renner, Pro Football Focus: WR Denzel Mims, Baylor

From Renner: “It’s difficult to see Mims escaping the first round after putting up the most complete Combine of any receiver in attendance. His 4.38 40, 38.5-inch vertical, 10-foot-11 broad and, especially, 6.66 three-cone were all scintillating numbers for a 6-foot-3, 207-pound wideout. That explosion and catch radius is something the Packers are sorely lacking.”

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.”

Mark Schofield, Touchdown Wire: WR Tee Higgins, Clemson

From Schofield: “Assuming he falls to the Packers, he would be an ideal fit in their offense. He can slide into an X receiver role and allow Matt LaFleur to use Adams as more of a slot receiver, which is something the Packers did as the 2019 season wore on. Higgins has good vertical skills, some explosiveness as a route runner and a solid catch radius, all solid traits to implement as an X in the NFL.

Trevor Sikkema, The Draft Network: WR Denzel Mims, Baylor

From Sikkema: “Denzel Mims’ week reminded me a lot of Chris Godwin’s. Godwin was already seen as a good prospect coming into the combine, but he put up athletic numbers that raised his ceiling even higher than even his biggest fans originally thought. That’s what happened with Mims. His 4.38-second 40-yard dash, 10-foot 11-inch broad jump and 6.66-second 3-cone drill were all above the 90th percentile for his position.”

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’s perfect – Mim’s 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.”

Nate Davis, USA TODAY: QB Jordan Love, Utah State

From Davis: “Aaron Rodgers, 36, is actually older now than Brett Favre was when the Pack drafted Rodgers in 2005. Food for thought … especially given what a tantalizing prospect Love is, though perhaps one who could use multiple redshirt years.”

Todd McShay, ESPN: WR KJ Hamler, Penn State

From McShay: “Green Bay can’t kick this problem down the road anymore. It needs someone opposite Davante Adams. And while Hamler didn’t work out at the combine, he has some serious wheels. A burner like him in an offense with Rodgers, Adams and Aaron Jones would be a lot of fun to watch.”

Matt Miller, Bleacher Report: WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State

From Miller: “Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk is fantastic with the football in his hands. With the ability to line up outside or inside the formation, Aiyuk brings versatility and big-play potential at wideout. The Packers have talent in Davante Adams and Allen Lazard but nothing like the juice Aiyuk brings after the catch.”

Eric Edholm, Yahoo Sports: WR Denzel Mims, Baylor

From Edholm: “I wavered here between Mims and Clemson’s Tee Higgins but settled on Mims for his downfield, high-point ability. Mims has helped himself as much as any prospect in the entire draft class over the past few months, even though his route running will need to sharpen in order to please — and earn the trust of — Aaron Rodgers.”

Dan Kadar, SB Nation: WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State

From Kadar: “This would be a great spot for either Jefferson or Reagor, but both were gone in this scenario. This is actually a tough draw all around for the Packers. The best offensive linemen and linebackers are all gone, and there isn’t a tight end worth a first-round pick this year. Aiyuk is a fringe first-round player with his ability to get deep and make a play after the catch.”

Kevin Hanson, SI: LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma (trade up to No. 27)

From Hanson: “Blake Martinez is set to become a free agent and Murray would more than fill the void. A tackling machine for the Sooners, Murray plays with sideline-to-sideline range and a non-stop motor to make him an impact linebacker in the middle of the Packers defense.”