Packers mock draft roundup & takeaways post NFL Combine edition

The 2023 NFL Combine is now complete, and although the tape is still King, big boards have shifted to some degree because of the athletic testing results and measurements that took place in Indianapolis over this last week. That, of course, then impacts who could be available when the Packers are on the clock, along with who they might now select.

During Brian Gutekunst’s tenure as General Manager, the Packers have preferred to select the top athletes at each position, with 30 of his 42 draft picks posting a RAS of at least 8.0. On top of that, there are other thresholds that the Packers have typically adhered to, including height and weight at receiver, a certain arm length for offensive tackles, and others.

Now equipped with that specific information that, again, can shift how a team views a prospect, let’s dissect some recent post-NFL combine mock drafts.

Doug Farrar – Touchdown Wire

Round 1: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma

Round 2: Siaki Ika, IDL, Baylor

Round 3: AT Perry, WR, Wake Forest

Takeaways: Offensive tackle is a sneaky need, although it’s not as pressing in 2023, but the draft is about planning ahead. In 2024, David Bakhtiari could be cut, Yosh Nijman could be playing elsewhere as a free agent, who knows if Caleb Jones or Rasheed Walker are capable starters, and the Packers should keep Elgton Jenkins at left guard. Harrison, who does meet the Packers size and athleticism thresholds at tackle, allowed just one sack and nine pressures in 2022 as the left tackle for Oklahoma.

The Packers’ interior defensive line needs another member added to their rotation and overall more consistency. This defense was at its best when the interior defensive line was playing its best–which isn’t a coincidence. At 6’3″ – 335, Ika is a run-stuffer and space eater who didn’t test all that well at the Combine. The Packers already have that in TJ Slaton.

AT Perry very much fits what the Packers typically look for at receiver. He’s  6’3″ and just shy of 200 pounds, and for what it’s worth, he’s graded out well as a blocker, according to PFF, throughout his career. Last season, Perry caught 70 passes at 14.1 yards per catch with 11 touchdowns, playing mostly on the boundary.

Jamie Eisner – The Draft Network

Round 1: Lukas Van Ness, Edge Iowa

Takeaways: Van Ness screams Green Bay Packer. He has terrific size at 6’5″ – 272 pounds, tested very well at the combine, posting a RAS of 9.62, and can be moved around, playing half of his career snaps from the B-gap. He does have fewer than 1,000 career snaps, but in 2022, he recorded 43 pressures and eight sacks.

Ryan Wilson – CBS Sports

Round 1: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

Takeaway: The Packers could use some more playmaking at wide receiver, and Flowers can provide that. For his career, he averaged 15.4 yards per catch and ranked ninth in total YAC this past season. However, at 5’10” – 172 pounds, he is well below the usual height and weight thresholds the Packers have at receiver.

Luke Easterling – Draft Wire

Round 1: Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa

Round 2: Jordan Battle, S, Alabama

Round 3: Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State

Takeaway: We have and are going to continue to see Van Ness mocked to the Packers quite a bit. Edge rusher is a need, it’s a premier position, and Van Ness checks a lot of the boxes for Green Bay.

Safety and tight end are in a similar spot for the Packers, with them needing both more playmaking and depth at each. The good news is that the tight end class is loaded; however, the safety position is not. Battle would give Green Bay a true-deep safety, which they very much need, while Kraft tested very well at the combine. Spending most of his time in line, Kraft averaged 12.9 yards per catch on 27 receptions in 2022 and has graded out as an above-average run-blocker by PFF.

Dalton Miller – Pro Football Network

Round 1: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

Round 2: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

Round 3: Jaylon Jones, CB, Texas A&M

Takeaways: Addison is another impressive wideout, but he too is well below the 6’0″ – 200 mark that the Packers typically covet at receiver, so I’m not sure he’s even an option for Green Bay at this point in the draft. Kincaid, meanwhile, is regarded by many as the best pass-catching tight end in this class, and the Packers definitely need a more dynamic element at the position. Kincaid led all tight ends in 2022 in YAC and yards per route run.

Cornerback doesn’t seem like a big need, but that changes a bit if the Packers do intend to play Rasul Douglas at safety, something Brian Gutekunst discussed at the combine. Jones has good size at 6’2″ – 200 pounds and posted a RAS of 8.5. He was targeted just 19 times last season and allowed 10 receptions at only 9.4 yards per catch. Jones also had a pass breakup as well.