Green Bay Packers: 3 Simulated 2021 NFL Mock Drafts from 3 Different Sites

Ask most Green Bay Packers fans which positions that the team needs to address in this year’s draft, and my guess is that you’ll get a lot of the same answers, with cornerback, offensive tackle, and interior defensive lineman being among the most popular.

However, as we all know, in the actual draft, it’s not as simple as saying, “I need a corner, I’m going to draft one in the first round”–although I wish it was. There are dozens of factors that come into play, some of which include, who is available? Where does each player fall on the team’s big board? Along with positional value at that point in the draft, and what order are positional needs prioritized?

Each of us, including the draft analysts, ask ourselves these same questions when putting together our own mock drafts as we try to solve all of the Green Bay Packers’ needs in a matter of minutes. The same goes for the sites that produce these mock draft simulations.

While we may only pick for the Packers, every other team makes a selection based on positional needs and how that particular site feels about a certain player, among other things. This can lead to a variety of outcomes when letting the computer run the simulation–especially when comparing one site to another.

So at this stage of the game, as we all try to piece together where certain players might go, what positions to address and where, and who some hidden gems might be, I thought it would be a fun exercise to compare three computer-simulated mock drafts from three different sites, just to see how things could play out for Green Bay when there are different variables involved.

For this simulation, I will be doing a three-round mock draft, and the three sites that I used are The Draft Network, Pro Football Network, and the NFL Mock Draft Database. I’ll also be providing my thoughts and takeaways on each of the drafts and over on my Twitter account — @Paul_Bretl — you can vote for your favorite. And again, these are all computer-simulated.

Which mock draft ends up being your favorite for the Green Bay Packers?

The Draft Network

Round 1: Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri

Round 2: Jay Tufele, IDL, USC

Round 3: Spencer Brown, OT, UNI

Takeaways:

– In the mock drafts we’ve seen up to this point, many draft analysts are doing everything they can to get the Green Bay Packers a linebacker–and I guess the computers are as well. But do Brian Gutekunst and the Green Bay Packers feel that way? That’s where I have my doubts. Now, that doesn’t mean they won’t address linebacker in the draft, but will it be in Round 1? Recent history says otherwise.

–The big variable in all of this is Joe Berry and the Vic Fangio-style of defense that he’s bringing in. Does that change how the Green Bay Packers will value the linebacker position? Again, my guess is no; it’s not like the Rams had a dominant LB group; they were very good up-front and in the secondary.

–With all of that said, this isn’t a knock on Bolton, rather wondering if the Green Bay Packers will change their ways under Barry or if addressing the LB position remains of little value to them. In 2020, Bolton finished with 15 pressures, 32 run-stops, good for 12th most in college football among LBs, and in coverage, he allowed just 7.8 yards per catch. He’s an immediate three-down LB who can be effective as a blitzer, against the run, and in coverage.

–This isn’t a deep IDL class at all, but depending on how free agency goes, the Green Bay Packers have to find a way to address it–they’re dangerously thin at this position at the moment. Currently, the interior defensive line is comprised of Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Kingsley Keke, Anthony Rush, and Willington Previlon.

–Tufele opted-out of the 2020 season but saw ample playing time in 2018 and 2019. More recently, in 2019, he totaled 26 pressures, including five sacks, along with 26 total stops–or plays that end in a failure for the offense.

– Addressing the offensive tackle position is near the top of the to-do list this offseason as the Green Bay Packers need more depth and a swing tackle for 2021–and perhaps a Week 1 starter with David Bakhtiari out. But they also need their RT of the future, with Billy Turner’s status beyond this season unknown. And the good news is that unlike IDL, this is a very deep tackle class.

– There was no 2020 season for the Missouri Valley Conference, but in 2019, Brown’s first full season as a starting right tackle, he allowed two sacks, 19 total pressures, and was flagged six times.