Green Bay Packers Mock Draft Roundup & Takeaways: One Last Look
By Paul Bretl
Well, we’ve just about made it. The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft takes place this evening, and the Green Bay Packers have two selections at Nos. 22 and 28 overall.
But before the draft officially begins, let’s take one last look at who several draft analysts have the Green Bay Packers selecting in their final mock drafts.
Eric Edhold- Yahoo! Sports
Pick 22: Devonte Wyatt, IDL, Georgia
Pick 28: George Pickens, WR, Georgia
Takeaways: A pair of Bulldogs for the Green Bay Packers. Wyatt will provide a needed presence against the run, and he brings pass-rush ability as well–however, it’s worth noting that he is 24-years-old. Since 2009, the Packers haven’t selected a player in the first round who was older than 22.
With Pickens, it’s difficult to gauge whether or not he will be available when the Packers are picking in the second round, but if he is believed to be the guy, then don’t even risk it–take him at pick 28. Pickens will provide that go-to option on the boundary, and he’s also someone who will show up in the run game as well as a blocker.
Josh Edwards – CBS Sports
Pick 22: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Pick 28: Devonte Wyatt, IDL, Georgia
Takeaways: Burks testing at the combine wasn’t all that great, so his RAS score is below the typical 8.0 mark that we see the Green Bay Packers covet. However, his athleticism shows up on tape, and he checks several other boxes, including his size and his versatility to be moved around the formation. Matt LaFleur would have a lot of fun inventing ways to get Burks the ball in space, and from there, his YAC ability will take over.
Pro Football Network
Pick 22: Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College
Pick 28: George Pickens, WR, Georgia
Takeaways: There’s no sure thing in the NFL Draft, but Zion Johnson appears to be pretty close to that. However, while Green Bay certainly needs to add to the IOL in this draft, do they do so in Round 1? Their draft history says they won’t–not to mention that through the years they’ve had quite a bit of success finding Day 3 offensive tackles and moving them inside. Johnson will in all likelihood, be a very good player, but unless the Packers see him as a tackle, this is a move that would be very against the grain for them.
Pete Prisco – CBS Sports
Pick 22: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
Pick 28: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Takeaways: Well, this is a new one. Kyle Hamilton falls all the way to 22 for the Green Bay Packers; in which case, they’d have to take him, right? Hamilton is considered the best safety in this class and one of the top players overall; however, positional value and a so-so 40-time may have played a role in his fall down the draft board in this mock.
Hamilton would be a terrific value pick for Green Bay at 22, and safety is also a fairly big need as the Packers need a third option for 2022 and depth for 2023 and beyond, where Vernon Scott is the only player under contract at the moment.
Charles Davis – NFL.com
Pick 22: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
Pick 28: George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue
Takeaways: As I’ve mentioned in just about every previous Mock Draft Roundup, Dotson’s tape is very good, but from a size and athletic testing standpoint, he doesn’t check those boxes for the Green Bay Packers. Meanwhile, Karlaftis would immediately give Green Bay a boost at the third edge rusher position — which is needed — as he would likely be utilized early on in obvious passing situations while also providing the ability to play inside as well.
Natalie Miller – Draft Wire
(TRADE) Pick 19: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Pick 28: David Ojabo, Edge, Michigan
Takeaways: I agree with Natalie–my prediction tonight is that the Green Bay Packers move up from pick 22 to get a receiver, with Chris Olave or Jameson Williams being the preferred targets. To put it simply, the Packers need a high-volume target, and Olave can provide that from the boundary, the slot, both sides of the formation, and he can win at all three levels.
We don’t know when Ojabo will return from his Achilles injury, but Green Bay not being overly concerned with the short-term impact and looking towards the future would be the Packers-thing to do. If healthy, Ojabo may have been long gone before pick 28, he tested very well at the combine; he’s 21 years old, and plays a premier position. The trio of Gary, Smith, and Ojabo could be an absolute force.
Albert Breer – SI
Pick 22: Quay Walker, LB, Georgia
Pick 28: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Takeaways: The linebacker position is one that the Green Bay Packers just have not invested heavily in throughout the years–well, that is until this offseason, where they just paid De’Vondre Campbell. So on top of that, they are also going to spend a first-round pick on the position? I have my doubts–and this has nothing to do with Walker; I just don’t see Green Bay investing more premium capital into the position.
Bucky Brooks – NFL.com
Pick 22: Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
Pick 28: Quay Walker, LB, Georgia
Takeaways: Again, this has nothing to do with the play of Raimann or Walker, but from a threshold and positional value perspective, these are two picks that the Green Bay Packers just do not typically make in the first round. Raimann will be 25 during his rookie season, while, as we just discussed, I have a hard time envisioning Green Bay investing more into the LB position.
Pick 22: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Pick 28: George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue
Takeaways: While the previous mock does not feel like a Packers-type of draft, outside of Burks’ RAS score, both he and Karlaftis do feel like two players that Green Bay would covet in the first round.