Green Bay Packers Mock Draft Battle 4.0

Mike: Pick 94 – Donovan Peoples-Jones WR, Michigan

No, this isn’t because of his combine numbers, though it definitely doesn’t hurt him. Being a Big Ten fan living in the heart of Wisconsin, I’ve had the chance to watch a lot of Michigan games over the years, and perhaps no offensive player has suffered from poor game planning and poor quarterbacking the past five years more than Peoples-Jones. Time and time again I would see him shake the corner and get wide open like Davante Adams against Detroit, only to see the ball being thrown nowhere near where it should be and it cost Michigan a ton of points.

There’s a reason why people were so high on Peoples-Jones when he committed to Michigan. He’s got great agility, good speed, an incredible ability to high point the football, and the blocking to succeed in this offense. He could easily be a Randall Cobb type of player with Jordy Nelson size.

Kenny: Pick 94 – Jacob Phillips ILB, LSU

There’s a lot of draft hype surrounding the inside linebacker prospect from LSU, Patrick Queen. While Jacob Phillips isn’t quite as highly evaluated as Queen, they have a lot of similarities in their play styles. They are both speedy middle linebackers that can run sideline to sideline and both are competent in coverage.

Queen is faster and more explosive, but that’s why he’s a probable first-round pick and Phillips is a mid-rounder. Phillips has played beside two top prospects in Devin White and Patrick Queen in each of the past two years. This could work against him if the Green Bay Packers wanted him to be their single middle linebacker for the future. However, this season he would be playing next to Christian Kirksey. He is not a physically imposing presence, but he can do the job and he is a very solid tackler, capable of holding down the middle of the field.

Kenny: Pick 99 – Rashard Lawrence IDL, LSU

Another LSU product, Lawrence would help shore up the trenches in a big way. Lawrence would do a lot for this team in terms of holding guys at the line. He is a big body inside and is a determined player on the line of scrimmage. He will fight to hold his ground or get into the backfield on every play.

Watching him, I was really impressed that he very rarely got pushed back by blocks, and did a great job fighting around them. He didn’t always make the tackle, and his tackle production was nothing to write home about, but battling in the trenches goes a lot deeper than tackles. He consistently makes life difficult for opposing running backs, making them change their running course and redirecting right into the arms of a different defender. Getting Lawrence as a third-round pick is a quick stop-gap for the run issue at least and at best is a huge run-stopping partner for Kenny Clark for years to come.

Paul: Pick 90 – Jack Driscoll OT, Auburn

A must for the Green Bay Packers in this draft is finding their right tackle of the future and although Jack Driscoll hasn’t received a ton of attention, I believe he can be that player. Driscoll already has very good technique and his athleticism shows up consistently on his tape. A year of learning behind David Bakhtiari and Rick Wagner while focusing on getting stronger will do him wonders.