We normally are college sports exclusively, but these are desperate times and it calls for desperate measures. We did 5, that’s right, 5 Packers mock drafts playing out various scenarios the Green Bay Packers and GM Brian Gutekunst could utilize to build their team in the 2020 NFL Draft. As with every NFL team, the Packers have their needs to fill but will take best player available when they get a chance. The best franchises can build through the draft. Green Bay’s organizational ability to spot and develop talent has been one of the best in the league and kept them consistent winners for the last 20+ years.
Scenario 1
Fits the threshold, fills the hole
Round 1, Pick 30: Jeremy Chinn, S/LB – Southern Illinois
Round 2, Pick 62: Ezra Cleveland, OT – Boise State
Round 3, Pick 94: Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR – Michigan
Round 4, Pick 136: Quartney Davis, WR – Texas A&M
Round 5, Pick 175: Josiah Deguara, TE – Cincinnati
Round 6, Pick 192: Robert Windsor, IDL – Penn State
Round 6, Pick 208: Jon Runyan, OT/OG – Michigan
Round 6, Pick 209: Dante Olsen, ILB – Montana
Round 7, Pick 236: Casey Toohill, LB – Stanford
Round 7, Pick 242: Madre Harper, CB – Southern Illinois
Every one of these players meets all or most of the positional thresholds the Packers have, plus fills a current roster hole in 2020. Jeremy Chinn is getting a lot of buzz as a riser and upgrades the key position of dime linebacker in Mike Pettine’s sub-package defense. He could add weight and play fulltime on the weak side.
At wide receiver, Peoples-Jones is an athletic high upside player who along with Quartney Davis will upgrade the competition and depth at the position. In fifth round pick Josiah Deguara, the Packers get a reliable blocker and more of an H-back. Deguara replaces Vitale at fullback, providing good blocking and better pass catching while simultaneously providing tight end depth.
With 3 sixth round picks, the Packers get Robert Windsor and Jon Runyan who are both solid depth pieces that have higher floors while Dante Olsen is a high ceiling developmental piece at middle linebacker. In the seventh round Casey Toohill is an intriguing linebacker/edge prospect, but it’s Madre Harper, Chinn’s teammate who really offers a nice blend of size and speed that could allow him to steal a roster spot.
Scenario 2
Best Player Available, Offense First
Round 1, Pick 30: Jalen Reagor, WR – TCU
Round 2, Pick 62: Ezra Cleveland, OT – Boise State
Round 3, Pick 94: James Lynch, IDL – Baylor
Round 4, Pick 136: Logan Wilson, ILB – Wyoming
Round 5, Pick 175: Josiah Deguara, TE – Cincinnati
Round 6, Pick 192: Kendrick Rogers, WR – Texas A&M
Round 6, Pick 208: Dante Olsen, ILB – Montana
Round 6, Pick 209: Jon Runyan, OT/OG – Michigan
Round 7, Pick 236: Josh Metellus, S – Michigan
Round 7, Pick 242: Darius Anderson, RB – TCU
Aaron Rodgers recently spoke about playing to at least age 40 and getting him a young dynamic weapon like Jalen Reagor will help him stay at the top of his game. Reagor is electric with the ball in his hands and will likely be a better pro than college player with a quarterback like Rodgers throwing him the ball. Ezra Cleveland is a common pick among Packers analysts and for good reason - he blows the measureables they look for in offensive linemen out of the water and is a natural fit in Matt LaFleur’s offense.
With right tackle and wide receiver secured, the third and fourth round picks can be used to address the defense. James Lynch is an underrated disrupter on the d-line and Logan Wilson is an athletic run and chase linebacker to play next to Christian Kirksey in base defense. Kendrick Rogers is the new addition in the sixth round and is another big bodied wide receiver to create competition in the receiver room. In the seventh round, Josh Metellus adds depth to the safety position and maybe can slide into the dime linebacker position. Darius Anderson may seem like an odd selection, but the TCU running back has special teams upside and will push second year running back Dexter Williams for the third running back spot.
Scenario 3
Best Player Available, Defense First
Round 1, Pick 30: Justin Madubuike, IDL – Texas A&M
Round 2, Pick 62: Michael Pittman, WR - USC
Round 3, Pick 94: Evan Weaver, ILB – Cal
Round 4, Pick 136: Tanner Muse, S/LB – Clemson
Round 5, Pick 175: AJ Green, CB – Oklahoma State
Round 6, Pick 192: Darryl Williams, IOL – Mississippi State
Round 6, Pick 208: Dalton Keene, TE – Virginia Tech
Round 6, Pick 209: Brian Cole, S – Mississippi State
Round 7, Pick 236: James Smith-Williams, Edge – NC State
Round 7, Pick 242: Joe Gaziano, DL – Northwestern
Cliches about defense ring true time and again, so why not invest in the strength of the 2019 team? Justin Madubuike is the running mate Kenny Clark needs and would solidify an already formidable pass rush. Wide receiver is still a big need and Michael Pittman Jr. is the next USC Trojan to join Green Bay. His physical presence and contested catch capabilities could win him early playing time.
Evan Weaver is a bit of a reach in round 3, but he’s a tackling machine who will be a force in run support when the Packers are in their base defense. In round 4, they get Clemson safety Tanner Muse who is built like a modern day linebacker and will likely be an upgrade at the dime linebacker spot while also providing safety depth. Muse is a great option after players like Jeremy Chinn and Kyle Duggar are off the board.
AJ Green in round 5 gives them more outside corner depth and a player who can play on special teams. In the sixth round they secure a pair of Mississippi State Bulldogs in Darryl Williams and Brian Cole to add depth and Dalton Keene to play the fullback/H-back position. In round 7, they get an athletic edge rusher in James Williams and finally another Northwestern grad Joe Gaziano to provide further depth along the defensive line.
Scenario 4
The Trade Down
Round 2, Pick 42 (From JAX): Denzel Mims, WR – Baylor
Round 2, Pick 62: Willie Gay, ILB – Mississippi State
Round 3, Pick 94: Davon Hamilton, IDL – Ohio State
Round 4, Pick 116 (From JAX): Saahidiq Charles, OT – LSU
Round 4, Pick 136: Terrell Burgess, CB/S – Utah
Round 5, Pick 175: Trevon Hill, Edge – Miami
Round 6, Pick 192: JaMycal Hasty, RB – Baylor
Round 6, Pick 208: Devin Asiasi, TE – UCLA
Round 7, Pick 236: Freddie Swain, WR – Florida
Round 7, Pick 242: Chris Orr, ILB – Wisconsin
Trade: Green Bay trades picks 30 and 209 to Jacksonville for picks 42 and 116.
Ted Thompson executed the trade down several times most notably moving back and selecting Jordy Nelson. In this scenario Gutekunst does the same and gets Denzel Mims, who blew away the combine with his physical testing and compliments Davante Adams as a deep and intermediate threat.
In the second round, the Mississippi State to Green Bay pipeline continues with the selection of Willie Gay to play next to the newly acquired Christian Kirksey. Davon Hamilton in the third round provides a running mate on the defensive line for Kenny Clark and some much-needed depth as well. Saahidiq Charles had a meeting with Packers brass at the combine and could be a swing tackle year 1 before stepping into the right tackle role year 2.
Tramon Williams is still a free agent and even if he is resigned he’s 38 and nearing the end of his career. Terrell Burgess played a similar role to Williams at Utah and is a nice choice to step into the nickel corner/safety hybrid Pettine often utilizes. Trevon Hill, JaMycal Hasty and Devin Asiasi are developmental upside guys who fill out the roster and add depth at positions where current veterans are on expiring contracts. In round 7, Freddie Swain and Chris Orr provide depth and could be core special team members who have higher floors than most seventh rounders.
Scenario 5
The Trade Up
Round 1, Pick 14 (TB): Henry Ruggs III, WR – Alabama
Round 2, Pick 62: Matt Hennessy, IOL – Temple
Round 4, Pick 136: Rashard Lawrence, IDL – LSU
Round 4, Pick 139 (TB): Tanner Muse, S/LB – Clemson
Round 5, Pick 175: Colby Parkinson, TE – Stanford
Round 5, Pick 177 (KC): Joshua Kelley, RB – UCLA
Round 6, Pick 209: Cole McDonald, QB – Hawaii
Round 7, Pick 236: Mykel Walker, LB – Fresno State
Round 7, Pick 242: Stephen Sullivan, TE – LSU
Trade 1: Green Bay trades picks 30, 94, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and a 2021 first round pick to Tampa Bay for picks 14, 139 and a 2021 second round pick.
Trade 2: Green Bay trades picks 192 and 208 for pick 177.
This is a bold move, but the Packers are in win-now mode and it is important to note that Gutekunst traded up in both of his drafts. Tampa Bay could be a willing trade partner here if there are no tackles left on board, not to mention an extra first round pick next year in Tom Brady’s last season would be a nice luxury for the Bucs to have.
Meanwhile, the Packers get the speed and deep threat they have been missing for their offense with Henry Ruggs. Matt Hennessy in the second might seem odd, but they get a replacement for Corey Linsley who is on the last year of his deal. This could lead to him being cut or traded saving $8.5 million on the salary cap. In the fourth round, Rashard Lawrence is an upgrade in the run defense and brings a much-needed energy to the defensive line next to Kenny Clark.
Colby Parkinson and Joshua Kelley provide depth on the offense and competition to the tight end and running back rooms. In the sixth round, the Packers get Cole McDonald the gunslinger out of Hawaii who needs refinement with his mechanics but has the arm strength and athletic profile to develop behind Rodgers. Mykel Walker and Stephen Sullivan provide depth and developmental upside in round seven.
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