Packers Get Aggressive in Latest 3 Round Mock Draft
By Matt LeVene
Packers Pick 28: Tyler Smith. OT. Tulsa
After getting the playmaker they so desperately needed, the Packers fill another need with the selection of Tyler Smith. Smith is an above average athlete for the offensive line, and offers the versatility the Packers look for in offensive line prospects.
Smith regularly imposed his will while playing at Tulsa, and his physical traits will likely carry him to success at the next level. He may be raw and undisciplined in some aspects of his game, but has the athletic ability and high motor to make up for it.
Aaron Rodgers is not getting any younger, the Packers will have to invest in the offensive line during the draft. Smith provides many of the things that are desired in early-draft offensive lineman, and could very likely be a Green Bay Packer by the end of Round 1.
Pick 53: Drake Jackson, Edge, USC
After already picking one player named Drake from USC, I figured we might as well grab another one if given the opportunity. Drake Jackson, like the other selections thus far into the mock, immediately fills a position of need.
After Za’Darius Smith’s departure, Green Bay is left looking for their next stud pass rusher to pair with Rashaan Gary and Preston Smith. Inserting the freakishly athletic Jackson to the fold seems like a pretty good replacement to me.
Jackson’s physical gifts have carried him this far into his career, but to find success at the next level, he will need to become a more technically skilled rusher. This is relatively common for pass-rushing prospects out of college, and should not deter the Packers from selecting him. Besides, he has the stuff you can’t teach—the physical tools to dominate. After completing official measurements at USC’s pro day, Jackson scored a 9.66 RAS (Relative Athletic Score), a common metric to evaluate prospects before the draft.