Green Bay Packers 2022 Mock Draft Roundup & Takeaways 4.0

Prior to the NFL Combine taking place, which can alter draft boards depending on the performances, we will take a look at who the draft analysts have the Green Bay Packers selecting in edition 4.0 of Mock Draft Roundup & Takeaways.

Free agency will obviously play a huge role in determining what Green Bay’s positions of needs are entering the draft, but at the moment, some of the more pressing needs include receiver, linebacker, edge rusher, and interior defensive lineman. It’s also never a bad idea to draft offensive tackles or cornerbacks early on.

Here is a look at who several draft analysts have the Green Bay Packers taking in Round 1, along with my thoughts on each pick.

Daniel Jeremiah – NFL.com

Pick 28: Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota

"“The Packers love raw, explosive edge rushers. Rashan Gary has steadily improved in his three NFL seasons. Mafe is a similar player.”"

Takeaway: Edge is a big need for the Green Bay Packers, and as I’ve said before, it’s the position that I’d guess they select in Round 1. Za’Darius Smith is likely gone, and we don’t know what the future holds for Preston Smith, but even if he’s back, edge depth is something you can never have too much of.

As Jeremiah says, Mafe is a bit raw, with only 978 college snaps and 435 of them came in 2021. But he is loaded with upside. Mafe was the National Player of the Game at the Senior Bowl, and he recorded 40 pressures, along with six sacks, and 10 tackles for loss during the 2021 season with Minnesota, according to PFF ($$).

Zach Buckley – Bleacher Report

Pick 28: DeMarvin Leal, IDL, Texas A&M

Takeaway: I love this pick. Typically, the Green Bay Packers have not invested premium free agency dollars or draft picks into the interior defensive line position, but with only four players under contract at the moment, and two of them being TJ Slaton and Jack Heflin — a second-year fifth-round pick and UDFA — they should strongly consider it.

Leal is a very versatile and athletic interior defender, who has experience moving around the defensive front during his time at Texas A&M. Over his career, Leal recorded 79 pressures, including 13 sacks, and 25 tackles for loss.

Ryan Wilson – CBS Sports

Pick 28: Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson

"“Andrew Booth had a strong ’21 season for Clemson and he’s only going to get better with experience. In Green Bay, Jaire Alexander is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and while Eric Stokes had a strong rookie campaign, you can never have enough good, young cornerbacks.”"

Takeaway: With Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes, cornerback may not seem like a huge need, but it’s up there. The only other corners on the depth chart currently are Shemar Jean-Charles, Kabion Ento, and Kiondre Thomas. Cornerback is also a premium position that we know the Green Bay Packers covet.

Booth saw a majority of his career snaps during the 2021 season, where he allowed a catch rate of 63% on 46 targets and only 10.8 yards per catch. Booth also had three interceptions, three pass breakups, and a 70.2 passer rating per PFF. He stands 6’0″ – weighs 195 pounds, and was primarily a boundary cornerback.

Zach Patraw – Sports Illustrated

Pick 28: Drake London, WR, USC

Takeaway: If there’s a year that the Green Bay Packers draft a receiver in Round 1, I have to think this might be it–depending on what happens with Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, of course. The current receiver depth chart is quite depleted.

Standing 6’5″ and weighing 210 pounds, London fits that big-bodied receiver mold that we know the Packers desire. In only eight games last season before suffering an ankle injury, London was having a monster season with 88 receptions on 119 targets, totaling 1,084 yards, and seven touchdowns.

Damian Parson – The Draft Network

Pick 28: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

"“Chris Olave is a nuanced route-runner that stems his routes with good pacing. He creates natural separation with experience in the slot, bunch sets, and to the field. Olave will bring more big-play potential to this offense.”"

Takeaway: Olave feels like he would be a terrific fit in this Matt LaFleur offense for all the reasons Parson’s just mentioned–he’s a terrific route runner, a big-play threat, and he can lineup across the formation. Olave posted 65 receptions on 101 targets during the 2021 season while averaging 14.4 yards per catch along with 13 touchdowns.

Eric Edholm – Yahoo Sports

Pick 28: Logan Hall, IDL, Houston

"“The Packers always seem to go just a bit off-radar with their first-round selections. Yet taking Hall here wouldn’t necessarily be a reach, as he’s steadily raised his stock over the past year and could be a perfect post for their odd front.”"

Takeaway: As mentioned above, the Green Bay Packers IDL room is thin, not to mention that while Kenny Clark did receive some additional help last season, in terms of rush DVOA and yards per rush allowed, the Packers run defense was actually worse in 2021 than 2020.

This past season was easily Hall’s most productive as he recorded 29 pressures, six sacks, and 25 stops. He primarily lined up in the B-gap but also has plenty of experience lined up over the tackle as well.

Luke Easterling – Draft Wire

Pick 28: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

"“If Davante Adams heads elsewhere in free agency, the Packers will need a new No. 1 target, regardless of who is throwing the passes. Williams would be long gone if not for a torn ACL in the national title game, but once he’s back to full strength, he should prove to be a huge steal this late.”"

Takeaway: With that ACL injury, Williams may not be ready for Week 1, but the wait will be worth it, Packers fans–talk about dynamic. Williams was targeted 93 times in 2021 and caught nearly 66% of those passes at a whopping 20.6 yards per catch, along with 13 touchdowns. He lined up on the boundary a majority of his snaps but did spend about a quarter of them in the slot as well. Williams’ average depth of target last season was 33.1 yards downfield.