4 three-round mock drafts for Packers without duplicate picks

This has become one of my favorite pre-draft exercises. Utilizing PFF’s mock draft simulator, I ran four three-round mock drafts for the Green Bay Packers, and the caveat was that I could not make a duplicate selection.

I enjoy this because it forces me to think a bit differently as I go through each mock draft. In each mock, I’m still trying to address the Packers’ biggest needs, but I have to do so either at different points or with different players since I can’t make the same selection. As always, there is also the balance of taking the best player available and planning ahead for the future as well.

As I’ve done in each of my previous mock drafts, in return for trading Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, I acquired the 42nd pick, giving me four within the first three rounds.

To vote for your favorite mock draft, head over to my Twitter page to pick your favorite.

Mock Draft No. 1

Pick 15: Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State

Adding Paris Johnson to the mix will give the Packers added completion at right tackle with Yosh Nijman and allow Zach Tom to move inside to compete at center with Josh Myers. The 2022 season was very up and down for Myers, and for what it’s worth, this offseason, Brian Gutekunst mentioned that the team evaluated center as Tom’s best position prior to the 2022 draft.

Pick 42: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

Immediately, Darnell Washington should come in and impact the run game as a blocker and be a red zone threat. He averaged over 16 yards per catch last season and has experience in the slot as well at Georgia. That, coupled with his athleticism, should hopefully mean that there is untapped potential as a pass catcher, although it may take some time to fully unlock that part of his game.

Pick 45: Keeanu Benton, IDL, Wisconsin

The interior defensive line is a sneaky need for the Packers. They have just five players on the roster, and only three have any experience, with Devonte Wyatt and TJ Slaton entering their second and third NFL seasons. With this position being so heavily rotated, Benton will see playing time right away.

Pick 78: AT Perry, WR, Wake Forest

AT Perry can give the Packers another downfield target to help open things up underneath for others, but to truly maximize the value he can add, he can take on larger route-running responsibilities. That ability, along with having Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, both of whom will be asked to do more in Year 2, will help Matt LaFleur achieve the illusion of complexity because it is going to be difficult for defenses to decipher which receiver is doing what. Initially, however, as Perry adjusts to the NFL, I wouldn’t be surprised if his role starts out smaller as a downfield threat.

Mock Draft No. 2

Pick 15: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Mayer is the best well-rounded tight end in what is a very deep draft class. He can impact the passing game as well as the run game. This will give the Packers’ offense some needed unpredictability at tight end, an element that was missing in 2022. As I wrote recently, in terms of value, I’m not sure taking a tight end at 15 makes sense, given that almost all do not contribute significantly as rookies, but with the need that the Packers have and Mayer’s abilities, I do think it’s in play.

Pick 42: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State

Dawand Jones falling to pick 42 felt like a must-draft for me. As mentioned above, his presence will give the Packers more flexibility along the offensive line as he will be able to compete for that starting right tackle position with Yosh Nijman. Looking ahead to 2024, with potentially both David Bakhtiari and Yosh Nijman playing elsewhere next season, this pick also allowed the Packers to do some planning ahead at a very important position.

Pick 45: Rashee Rice, WR, SMU

Rashee Rice is one of my favorite receivers in this draft. From a height, weight, and athleticism standpoint, he meets what the Packers typically look for at the position, and he also brings big-time YAC abilities, can be moved around the formation, and is a willing run blocker.

Pick 78: Isaiah McGuire, Edge, Missouri

Speaking of what the Packers typically look for, McGuire checks a lot of boxes at edge rusher. He has a bigger frame, weighing 268 pounds, and tested very well, including an elite vertical jump, which has been a common theme among other edge rusher picks by Gutekunst. Without Rashan Gary, the Packers were unable to generate consistent pressure. McGuire should earn some snaps right away in that rotation.

Mock Draft No. 3

Pick 15: Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa

Van Ness falling to pick 15 hasn’t been common in these mock drafts, so I couldn’t pass on taking him here. He helps fill that aforementioned need at edge rusher, but with his versatility, he also can provide snaps lined up inside, where the Packers also need to bolster their depth and find more consistency.

Pick 42: Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa

In an Iowa offense that struggled to score, LaPorta was one of the constants in the passing game and lined up in the slot nearly one-third of the time. He has 880 run-blocking snaps, although that is an area he will have to continue to improve upon. You can see the potential for LaPorta to impact multiple aspects of the game, but refinement is needed.

Pick 45: Gervon Dexter, IDL, Florida

This is another high upside-pick. Dexter is an excellent athlete and has the potential to be a real force in the middle, but that may take some time to cultivate. Right away, he will be a member of the Packers’ defensive front rotation, but I would guess that similarly to Devonte Wyatt for much of the 2022 season, his role will start out as somewhat small.

Pick 78: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss

Do you want to see what a Packers’ wide receiver looks like? Well, look no further. Mingo measures in at 6’2″ – 220 pounds and posted an elite Relative Athletic Score of 9.86. He was a big play threat, both as a downfield target and with the ball in his hands picking up YAC, and he can play both inside and out. For what it’s worth, Mingo also graded out fairly well as a run-blocker by PFF’s metrics.

Mock Draft No. 4

Pick 15: Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn State

Do the Packers need a cornerback? No, they don’t. But this is a loaded position group in this year’s draft class, and I do think that Gutekunst will be tempted at some point early on. Adding Porter to the mix will also give the Packers the flexibility to move Rasul Douglas to safety, where Green Bay needs upgrades but is short on options in this draft class. Porter is a sound tackler and allowed a completion rate of under 60% over the last three seasons.

Pick 42: Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State

Musgrave appeared to be on his way to a big 2022 season, averaging over 15 yards per catch in two games before suffering a season-ending injury. He tested very well at the combine and should bring some needed playmaking to the passing game at tight end. He also has over 500 total run-blocking snaps as an outside zone blocker.

Pick 45: Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee

I believe Tillman would be a terrific compliment for Watson and Doubs. Throughout his career at Tennessee, he was someone who could win at all levels of the field and do so in a variety of ways. Again, as Doubs and Watson take on larger roles within the offense, a trio of pass-catchers who can line up all over the field and run a number of routes will make things a lot more difficult on the defense.

Pick 78: Blake Freeland, OT, BYU

I could have gone back to wide receiver or added a safety, interior defensive lineman, or edge rusher here, but truthfully, there wasn’t anyone at those positions that I was in love with. So, I chose to plan for the future at one of football’s most important positions. Not that Freeland couldn’t compete at right tackle right away, but I made this pick looking ahead as well. As I already alluded to, Nijman will be a free agent in 2024, and Bakhtairi could be released to save cap space. Freeland will have a season to develop and potentially start next year.