3 Packers 3-Round Mock Draft Simulations & Big Takeaways

I imagine many of us have done at least a few of our own mock drafts for the Green Bay Packers during this draft cycle.

However, even after a few, it’s easy to lean towards selecting the same several players–and understandably so, we like them and their fit with the Packers, which is why we pick them. Even with mock drafts created by draft analysts, we tend to see the same few names being selected by Green Bay a majority of the time.

So in an effort to break away from this a bit, I’ve decided to let the computer over at The Draft Network do the selecting for the Green Bay Packers.

This will remove the human element that comes with making these picks, and instead, will largely rely on team needs and taking the best player available, which is determined by The Draft Network’s big board. I’ll, of course, be providing my thoughts on each three-round mock draft as well.

Mock Draft Simulation No. 1 for Packers

Pick 22: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue

Pick 28: Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan

Pick 53: Sean Rhyan, IOL, UCLA

Pick 59: David Bell, WR, Purdue

PIck 92: Cade Otton, TE, Washington

Takeaway: I do really like the first pick and Karlaftis feels like a very Packers-type of selection. He fills a need at a premier position — there was a real lack of impact plays in 2021 from edge rushers not named Gary and Smith — Karlaftis tested very well athletically, and he has the versatility to line up inside and out. For what it’s worth, landing Karlaftis at pick 22 also feels like a very good value as well.

However, while Karlaftis feels like a very Packers selection, the next three do not. Raimann could step in and compete for the right tackle spot right away, but as I’m sure you know, he will be 25 very early on in the season–and we know that Green Bay covets young players, at least in the first round. There is the possibility that Raimann isn’t on the Packers’ Round 1 board.

While Rhyan played left tackle at UCLA, The Draft Network projects him as an interior player, plus if you select Raimann in Round 1, along with already having Bakhtiari, Nijman, and Jenkins, the Packers would likely see Rhyan as an interior player too. Although teams should always be looking to build their offensive line depth, I just don’t see Green Bay doing that early on along the interior this year with the other needs they have to address. We’ve seen the Packers have quite a bit of success finding Day 3 tackles and moving them inside, with Runyan and Newman being the most recent examples.

When it comes to Bell, he did not test well at all, posting a RAS of 4.01, and I just can’t see Green Bay spending a pick on him. With that said, I do like the Cade Otton selection. Although not overly dynamic, he is a reliable pass-catcher and a sound blocker.

Overall, this draft seems unrealistic and not something the Packers would do. Also, if Green Bay leaves with only one receiver taken in the first five picks, I sure hope they made a trade.