Packers Mid-Fall Mock Draft Roundup & Takeaways: WRs Galore

The Green Bay Packers 2021 season is in full swing as they sit at 7-1 and atop of the NFC, but it’s also never a bad idea to highlight some potential draft prospects worth watching as the college football season unfolds.

Over the course of an NFL season, positional needs can change with the emergence of players or as the uncertainty surrounding a unit grows. Not to mention that the draft stock of many college players will ebb and flow based on how they’re performing week-to-week.

So I thought this was as good of a time as any for another edition of Mock Draft Roundup and Takeaways. Here is who several draft analysts have the Green Bay Packers selecting in some recent 2022 mock drafts.

Cam Mellor – Pro Football Network

Pick 30: David Bell, WR, Purdue

"“An explosive playmaker, David Bell is even better than his former teammate and current Arizona Cardinals WR Rondale Moore. He has some of the best yards-after-the-catch ability in the class and even better body control. Bell should be yet another tool for Aaron Rodgers (or Jordan Love) to use in the Green Bay offense.”"

Takeaway: If there is a year that the Green Bay Packers take a wide receiver in the first round, one would think that 2022 is it. Currently, Randall Cobb and Amari Rodgers are the only receivers under contract beyond 2021, and it seems unlikely at this time that Cobb will be back.

David Bell has 280 career targets, and in 2021 specifically, he has caught 69.3 percent of his 75 targets at 15.0 yards per catch along with four touchdowns. He has primarily lined up on the boundary during his career, and at 6’2″ – 205 pounds, he has that size that the Packers covet at the receiver position.

Eric Edholm – Yahoo! Sports

Pick 30: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

"“Cross could go higher than this. Although he’s young and still getting better, one look at his tape vs. Texas A&M DL DeMarvin Leal — a heavyweight battle — to know Cross has special potential. David Bakhtiari has battled injuries this season, and the Packers might end up wanting to keep Elgton Jenkins inside long term. Cross could be a perfect developmental tackle for the next generation of Packers football.”"

Takeaway: You’re never going to see me upset at a first-round offensive tackle selection. For the Green Bay Packers, David Bakhtiari is locked up for the foreseeable future, and Billy Turner is under contract in 2022 as well; however, the Packers can save $3.19 million in precious cap space by moving on from him.

If that’s the case, is the right tackle of the future already on the roster? Perhaps in either Elgton Jenkins or Yosh Nijman, but if Green Bay wants to add another player to the mix, then they could look to the draft. Charles Cross has been dominant this season, allowing just one sack and 10 pressures in 497 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF ($$).

Josh Edwards – CBS Sports

Pick 27: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State

"“The odds of Green Bay drafting a wide receiving in the first round are slim, but it makes sense for them with or without Aaron Rodgers. Jahan Dotson is a smaller wide receiver capable of contributing at all three levels of the field.”"

Takeaway: Again, a receiver selection does make sense, although at 5’11” – 184 pounds, Dotson is a bit smaller than the prototypical big-bodied receiver that Green Bay prefers. Dotson is a very experienced receiver with 243 career targets over four seasons while averaging 14.9 yards per reception, a catch rate of 62.6 percent, and 19 receiving touchdowns. He has primarily been a boundary receiver with the Nittany Lions.

Chris Trapasso – CBS Sports

Pick 27: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

"“How insane would it be if Aaron Rodgers leaves Green Bay, then the Packers pick a first-round receiver? Williams is silky smooth and has serious hops to make catches well outside his frame.”"

Takeaway: There is nothing more that the collective draft community wants than for the Green Bay Packers to take a first-round wide receiver. Listed at 6’2″ – 189 pounds, 2021 is Williams’ first real action as he’s a downfield threat who has seen 55 targets, catching 63.6 percent of those passes at 20.2 yards per catch along with six touchdowns.

Luke Easterling – Draft Wire

Pick 30: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

“Who knows what the future holds for the Packers offense beyond 2021, but if one thing’s for certain, it’s that Jordan Love will need all the help he can get. Wilson may not have the size normally attributed to a No. 1 receiver, but he’s a polished route-runner with reliable hands and the ability to stretch the defense, both deep and after the catch.”

Takeaway: Would you look at that? Another wide receiver selection. Wilson has 166 targets during his career at Ohio State and has caught nearly 70 percent of them at almost 16 yards per reception. At 6’0″ – 192, he has played roughly 67 percent of his snaps on the boundary and 33 percent from the slot per PFF.

Trevor Sikkema – PFF

Pick 30: John Metchie III, WR, Alabama

"“It’s hard for me to have one of my favorite prospects in the country this low in a mock draft. I think Metchie is the total package. He brings good athleticism to the position, both for route running and yards after the catch. He is tough as nails to bring down on first contact, has good hands in traffic and blocks his ass off. He reminds me a lot of Chris Godwin. I could see him going higher than this, but he is a first-rounder regardless.”"

Takeaway: Metchie, who stands 6’0″ and weighs 195 pounds, nearly had a 1,000-yard season in 2020 behind 55 receptions on 16.7 yards per catch, and he found the end zone six times.

This season, he has 52 receptions on 66 targets already and is averaging 11.6 yards per catch but has five touchdowns. He has experience both out wide and in the slot but has primarily been a boundary receiver.

Joe Marino – The Draft Network

Pick 25: Drake London, WR, USC

Note: Mock draft was made prior to London’s injury

"“Truth be told, even if Adams is back the Packers could use help at receiver and Drake London is a great fit. He is dynamic at the catch point and brings more speed and post-catch ability to the table than expected for his angular frame. London has arguably been the best receiver in college football and has emerged as a potential first-round prospect. He would be an ideal target for Green Bay.”"

Takeaway: London suffered a fractured ankle in Saturday’s game and will miss the remainder of the season. We will have to wait and see what effect — if any — this has on his draft stock.

London was having a monster 2021 season, already with 1,083 receiving yards and 119 targets. He was averaging 12.3 yards per catch and had seven touchdowns as well.

Ryan Wilson – CBS Sports

Pick 26: Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson

"“Ross missed the 2020 season because of a neck injury but he was on track to be a first-round pick. He’s showed glimpses this season of what makes him special — consistently winning at the top of the route, reliable hands, and his ability to high-point throws over defenders helpless to do much about it. And hey, maybe it’s not too late to finally get Aaron Rodgers a first-round wideout.”"

Takeaway: Prior to his injury, Ross had 178 targets between the 2018 and 2019 seasons, including 105 in 2019. he posted 1,864 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns during that span. This season, he has 39 receptions on 63 targets for 426 yards — or 10.9 yards per catch — and three touchdowns.