Packers Final 7 Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Finding Immediate Help
By Paul Bretl
With the 2021 NFL Draft beginning tomorrow, everyone is putting together their final mock drafts for the Green Bay Packers. So, of course, I had to get in on the fun as well.
I used The Draft Network’s mock draft machine, and prior to starting, I wrote down several items that I wanted to try and check off as the draft unfolded. They are as follows:
Be aggressive: I believe Brian Gutekunst is going to be aggressive early on to get his guy, and I wanted to do the same.
Two cornerbacks: With the Green Bay Packers needing help both now and in the future, I won’t be surprised at all if they leave this year’s draft with two cornerbacks.
Two wide receivers: This is a similar situation; it’s a deep receiver class, and the Packers have no one under contract beyond 2021 at the moment.
Safety depth: In Joe Barry’s defense, the safeties play an important yet taxing role; adding a versatile player to the mix was on my to-do list.
Offensive Tackle: Ideally, I want to find a starter but, at a minimum, a reliable backup/swing tackle for 2021 and hopefully someone who can become a full-time starter in 2022.
Running back: The running back room is set, but I’m open to spending a late Day 3 pick on the position with the RB3 being up in the air at the moment.
Linebacker: I wasn’t planning on spending a first-round pick on the position like many have, but I did want to try to at least bolster the linebacker depth.
Edge rusher: The edge rusher position is just fine for 2021, but if we want to start planning ahead, there are some uncertainties heading into 2022.
Now, not all of these boxes were able to be checked, and the same will be true this weekend for the Green Bay Packers. There just isn’t enough quality players or picks to go around–this is especially true when you make a few trades and go from 10 draft picks to seven.
For those trades, I used the trade value chart as my guide, making sure that what was being offered and what was received was fair. If you’re unfamiliar with the trade chart and would like to learn more, click here.
So with all of that out of the way, you have an idea of what my thought process was. Now, let’s dive into my final mock draft and see who I took for the Green Bay Packers.
(TRADE) Pick 24: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
Packers gave up: Picks 29, 135, and 178
Steelers gave up: Pick 24
This just felt like a very Brian Gutekunst type of move. He has moved up in the first round of his previous three drafts, and with there being less information on players this year — especially those in the middle to late rounds — due to opt-outs and COVID restrictions, I believe that GMs are going to be more willing to part with those picks to get their guy early on.
From the moment he steps foot in Green Bay, Newsome is CB2. He has good size and athleticism, plus ball skills, and is scheme versatile–able to line up in press-man, off-man, and zone. The addition of Newsome provides immediate help at a position of need, but as I mentioned above, cornerback is also a big need for 2022 as well.