Green Bay Packers Address 2 Major Needs in ESPN Mock Draft

It’s rarely easy to predict what a team is going to do in the NFL Draft, especially when that team is the Green Bay Packers, who seemingly throw everyone for a loop on a regular basis. This is even more true this time of the year when the draft is still over two months away, and free agency is yet to take place.

But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worthwhile to take a look at who the experts have the Packers selecting in their mock drafts. If anything, it gives us some names to keep our eyes on as the pre-draft process unfolds.

The most recent mock draft that we will be diving into belongs to Jordan Reid of ESPN ($$) as he has the Green Bay Packers addressing their two biggest needs at the moment.

Pick 28: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue

"“In a deep edge class, Karlaftis, who had 7.5 sacks in 2021, is in the mix after Kayvon Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson. He has a chance to land in the top 20, but in this scenario he’d fall right in the Packers’ lap. Green Bay must get some depth along the defensive line, and Karlaftis’ combination of power and heavy hands could help him thrive in the NFC North.”"

If I was making a bet today on what position the Green Bay Packers will select in Round 1, my guess would be edge rusher, and if that player is George Karlaftis, well, then that’s an absolute steal.

This past season, the Packers had two of the most productive edge rushers in football with Rashan Gary and Preston Smith, but the depth with Za’Darius Smith sidelined was always a concern. Now we enter an offseason where it looks like Za’Darius Smith has played his final snaps in Green Bay, and we don’t know what the future holds for Preston Smith.

If P. Smith is gone as well, then edge is a massive need. But even if he is back, edge is still one of the bigger needs in my book, given its importance and that it’s a premier position where you can never have too much depth–the name of the game, after all, is getting after the quarterback.

Karlaftis stands 6’4″ and weighs 275 pounds. He has three years of playing experience at Purdue, although he saw just 148 total snaps in 2020 due to injuries. In 2019, however, he would record 55 pressures, including eight sacks, along with 39 tackles, 10 of which were for a loss.

This most recent season, he would post similar numbers with 54 pressures, according to PFF ($$), five sacks, and 54 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss. And for what it’s worth, Karlaftis was also PFF’s 10th highest-graded edge rusher this past season as well.

"“For a 275-pound guy, Karlaftis is quite effective on the edge and I’d like him plenty as either a standup rusher or as a hand in the dirt option,” said Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network in his pre-draft report. “Shows great variance in his rush attacks to play with speed or power.”"

Pick 59: George Pickens, WR, Georgia

"“Whether it’s Davante Adams, Greg Jennings or Jordy Nelson, the Packers have a legacy of picking star receivers in the second round, and Pickens could become the latest. He tore an ACL last March and returned late in the season, showing his big-play potential with five catches for 107 yards. Prior to his injury, Pickens was viewed as a WR1 candidate, so this is a pick that could pay off down the road.”"

Many will be quick to point out that wide receiver is a major need for the Green Bay Packers every year, but this offseason that rings especially true. Do you know who the Packers currently have under contract for the 2022 season? Randall Cobb — a likely cut candidate — Amari Rodgers, and Chris Blair.

Obviously, the status of this room can change very quickly depending on what happens with Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but right now, it’s a major need that has to be filled.

As Reid mentioned, Pickens did tear his ACL last spring, but he did return for one game late in the year against Georgia Tech, where he recorded one catch for five yards. During the previous two seasons, Pickens was targeted heavily in the Georgia offense, recording a catch rate of 66 percent on 95 targets while averaging 14.0 yards per catch with 11touchdowns.

Pickens does have some, albeit not a ton, of snaps from the slot, but he was primarily used as a boundary receiver. Listed at 6’3″ and weighing 200 pounds, he does meet the typical size thresholds that the Green Bay Packers have at the receiver position.

"“He (Pickens) is a good route-runner,” said Drae Harris of The Draft Network. “He understands how to attack leverage against man coverage. He also has the skill set to run the entire route tree.“He has the ability to make big plays in an offense, particularly on downfield throws. He also shows the vertical deep speed to take the top off the defense.”"