Way Too Early 2023 Packers Mock Draft Roundup & Takeaways

Is it way too early to be looking at 2023 mock drafts for the Green Bay Packers? Absolutely.

Are we going to do it anyway? Absolutely.

Now, of course, the purpose of this exercise isn’t about accuracy–that’s an impossible task. It’s hard enough already to predict what a team is going to do the day before the draft takes place, especially with Brian Gutekunst at the helm.

However, what these mock drafts can provide us with are some names to watch as the college football season unfolds–which is now less than two months away.

Way Too Early 2023 Packers Mock Draft Roundup & Takeaways

Zach Patraw – SI

Pick 29: Brandon Joseph, S, Northwestern

"“Versatile Safety whose instincts and processing make up for average athleticism and allow Joseph to excel in matchup dependent Zone+Man coverages. Ball magnet who seems to predict where the offense wants to go and has sticky hands to secure turnovers.”"

Takeaway: Safety is going to be a big need for the Green Bay Packers in 2023. Darnell Savage will be playing on his fifth-year option, but Adrian Amos is scheduled to be a free agent. The only other players under contract will be a pair of former seventh-round picks, Vernon Scott and Tariq Carpenter.

According to PFF ($$), Joseph stands 6’1″ and weighs 192 pounds. He’s played 1,301 snaps, spending plenty of time in the box, as the free safety, and lined up in the slot. In coverage, Joseph has allowed a completion rate of 64% on 53 targets but only 7.8 yards per catch with eight interceptions and two pass breakups. Missed tackles have been an issue, however.

Luke Easterling – Draft Wire

Pick 28: Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma

"“Yes, the Packers traded up in the second round of this year’s draft for Christian Watson, but that shouldn’t stop them from giving Aaron Rodgers another explosive receiver early in next year’s draft. Mims is undersized, but makes up for it with his big-play ability.”"

Takeaway: It’s not a mock draft roundup without that first-round wide receiver selection, is it? With not knowing Allen Lazard’s future and depending on how Christian Watson, Amari Rodgers, and Romeo Doubs develop, receiver once again could be a big need for the Packers.

Mims measures in at only 5’11” – 177 pounds, which already leads me to believe he may not be someone the Packers target. Over his career, he’s caught 75% of his 79 targets at 19.2 yards per catch with 11 touchdowns. It’s quite impressive how efficient he has been given that his average depth of target is 16.1 yards downfield. Mims has also played a fair amount of snaps from the slot as well as out wide.

Mark Schofield – Touchdown Wire

Pick 28: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina

"“Josh Downs is a shifty receiver who can track the ball well in the vertical passing game, but he is also an effective and willing run blocker, an ideal fit for Green Bay’s offense.”"

Takeaway: As I just mentioned, wide receiver very well could be a major need once again for the Packers. Downs, like Mims, is a bit undersized for the Packers’ liking, standing 5’11” – 180 pounds. This past season with the Tar Heels, he was targeted a whopping 139 times, catching 71% of those passes at 13.0 yards per catch with eight touchdowns playing primarily from the slot. Downs also finished second among all receivers in total YAC.

Josh Edwards – CBS Sports

Pick 29: Jordan Battle, S, Alabama

Takeaway: It’s nice to already see a few mock drafts with the Packers addressing the safety position because it is going to likely be a big need–that is unless Amos receives a new deal. I even thought that safety could have been a top-100 pick in this past draft for Green Bay.

The 6’1″ – 210 pound Battle already has almost 1,800 career snaps with a full season yet to play. He’s been a sound tackler and has allowed 8.7 yards per catch over his career with a completion rate of 62% on 72 targets. Battle also has four interceptions and six pass breakups. He has spent 743 snaps as a free safety, 529 in the box, and 480 in the slot.

Joe Marino – The Draft Network

Pick 29: Emil Ekiyor, IOL, Alabama

"“The Packers’ offensive line is coming together with the addition of Sean Rhyan but can still be upgraded on the interior if Elgton Jenkins is going to play tackle. Ekiyor is a mauler in the run game and a wall in pass protection.”"

Takeaways: Typically, I would say that the Packers don’t draft interior offensive linemen in the first round, but then again, they did just draft a linebacker at pick 22. With that said, Green Bay has invested heavily along the interior offensive line in recent years with the selections of Jon Runyan, Royce Newman, Josh Myers, Jake Hanson, Cole Van Lanen, Sean Rhyan, and Zach Tom.

Ekiyor, who stands 6’3″ – 324, has over 1,629 career snaps, most of which have come at right guard and over the last two seasons. During that two-year span, he has allowed just one sack and 23 pressures.

Mike Renner – PFF

Pick 29: Jaheim Bell, TE, South Carolina

"“Bell is more jumbo running back than true tight end at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds. The Gamecocks even utilized him as such, with seven carries for 40 yards last season. He’s very dynamic post-catch for a man that size. He shed 13 tackles on 30 receptions in 2021.”"

Takeaway: There are going to be a lot of unknowns surrounding this Packers tight end room next offseason. Marcedes Lewis very well could retire, Robert Tonyan is on a one-year deal, while Josiah Deguara and Dominique Dafney are more H-back than tight end, and we don’t know what kind of player Tyler Davis is going to become.

Bell lined up everywhere for the South Carolina offense last season, including 21 snaps in the backfield, 164 in-line, 80 from the slot, and 30 out wide. As a pass-catcher, he was efficient and averaged 13.2 yards per catch — including an impressive 10.3 YAC per catch — with three touchdowns. On the ground, he averaged nearly five yards per carry on four attempts, while as a blocker, he graded out okay by PFF’s metrics.

Mock drafts courtesy of the NFL Mock Draft Database