Packers mock draft roundup & takeaways from Week 8 of CFB Season
By Paul Bretl
Unfortunately, it looks like the Green Bay Packers could be selecting higher in the 2023 NFL Draft than we may have expected–although, we can cross that bridge when we get to it, as there is still a lot of football left.
There is also still some college football to be played as well, and based on some recent mock drafts, here are a handful of names to keep your eyes on this Saturday.
Packers mock draft roundup and takeaways from Week 8 of the College Football Season
Chris Trapasso – CBS Sports
Pick 25: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Thoughts: Tight end is going to be a major need for the Green Bay Packers. In fact, I was a bit surprised they didn’t take one in this year’s draft. Robert Tonyan and Tyler Davis are free agents after the 2022 season, and we don’t know what the future holds for Marcedes Lewis.
As a pass-catcher, the 6’7″ – 270 pound Washington has caught 33 of 48 targets at an impressive 18.3 yards per catch over his career with a touchdown. However, just as importantly, he has also graded out as one of the best run-blocking tight ends in football by PFF’s metrics ($$).
Joe Broback – Pro Football Network
Pick 25: Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
Thoughts: With Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, and Eric Stokes all under contract for multiple years, do the Packers really spend another first-round pick on a cornerback in 2023? Well, this team does like to plan ahead, I suppose.
At 5’10” – 183 pounds, Clark has some slot experience but has primarily played on the boundary. For his career, he has allowed a completion rate of 66% on 153 targets but has held pass catchers to 11.7 yards. He also has 11 pass breakups and eight interceptions.
Pick 29: JL Skinner, S, Boise State
Thoughts: Like tight end, this was another position I thought the Packers could have addressed in 2022. Darnell Savage and Tariq Carpenter are the only safeties under contract beyond this season, and we can’t say that either is a long-term solution at the position.
Skinner possesses impressive size at 6’4″ – 220 pounds. He’s spent most of his time playing as a box defender or at free safety, but he has slot experience as well. His tackling has improved each season, and he’s forced four interceptions and eight pass breakups in coverage, along with a completion rate of 56%.
Kyle Crabbs – The Draft Network
Pick 17: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Thoughts: Again, considering the current state of the Packers’ 2023 depth chart, tight end makes a ton of sense for this team. Mayer has been a big factor in the Notre Dame passing game over the last three seasons, which includes 210 targets, a catch rate of 72%, 11.3 yards per catch, and 14 touchdowns. He’s used fairly regularly as a blocker, but at least at this point in his career, he is more of a pass-catching threat–although the Packers need that too.
Cam Mellor – Pro Football Network
Pick 27: Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia
Thoughts: Rashan Gary, at some point, is going to get a long-term deal, but other than that, the Packers should look at bolstering their edge rusher position. For one, their depth isn’t all that great, and the team could realistically move on from Preston Smith as soon as 2024.
At 235 pounds, Smith is on the lighter side, possessing a different body type than Gary and Preston. He totaled a career-high 28 pressures and seven sacks in 2021 and currently has 18 pressure and two sacks in seven games this season. He has also graded out as one of the better run defenders at the position the past two years–an area the Packers could use some help with.
All stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus, and all mock drafts via the NFL Mock Draft Database