Crafting a perfect 3-round 2023 NFL mock draft for Packers

The 2023 NFL Draft promises to be unpredictable for the Green Bay Packers. There are several directions they can go, including multiple positions and players they could target in each round.

As we continue to plan for the annual event, I mapped out a perfect three-round scenario for Green Bay. This plan does include two trades that net Green Bay a total of six selections in the first 90 picks. That should help them address the plethora of needs they currently have.

Without further ado, I present the Packers perfect three-round 2023 NFL mock draft.

If we envision a perfect 2023 NFL mock draft for the Green Bay Packers, this is exactly what it would look like.

In this scenario, Jaxon Smith-Njigba was selected at 12th overall by the Houston Texans, removing my favorite first-round target for the Packers. One could argue that Smith-Njigba falling to the Packers at 15 would ve a version of a perfect draft, and they wouldn’t be wrong.

However, in this scenario, Green Bay drops six picks while picking up an additional third and and sixth-rounder in the process. The trade idea came from our very own Paul Bretl who proposed five trade-down ideas for Green Bay.

I debated going with wide receiver Zay Flowers in the first round, but felt I could address the position on Day 2. Darnell Wright projects best as a right tackle and can start from Day 1. That should allow Zach Tom to move inside and challenge for the starting right guard spot. Either Tom or Wright would have a chance to become the long-term left tackle when the Packers move on from David Bakhtiari.

The Packers finally completed the Aaron Rodgers deal, receiving two second-round picks in return. That’s less than their reported asking price of a 2023 second and a 2024 first without conditions, but sometimes you have to compromise to get the deal done.

I’m a big advocate of the Packers NOT selecting a tight end in the first round. Even the second round seems early. Nonetheless, Darnell Washington is too much of an athlete to ignore at this point. At 6-foot-7 and 264 pounds, he projects to be a problem in coverage and blocking schemes. He could turn into a well-rounded tight end and the best in a pretty loaded class.

The Packers go back-to-back with pass-catchers to help out young quarterback Jordan Love. Jalin Hyatt has some noticeable warts to his game–his route-running and lack of muscle–but his strengths grab all the attention. He’s super fast and can outrun defenses in a hurry. He’d be great as a vertical and horizontal threat in Matt LaFleur’s offense.

This might be the biggest stretch of the draft, as Felix Anudike-Uzomah has the chance to be drafted much earlier in the second round. He just turned 21-years-old and has his best football ahead of him. He never stops working and relies on his quick first step to get after the quarterback. He’d immediately bolster Green Bay’s depth on the edge.

The Packers have plenty of safeties on their roster, but few, if any, quality options. Brian Branch was another first-round option I considered, but I thought I could find one in the middle rounds. Jordan Battle, Branch’s teammate, was available in the third so I scooped him up. He can start from Day 1 as a third-round pick.

The Packers are extremely thin at wide receiver, so I wanted to double down on the position in the third. Michael Wilson has good size at the position and understands the game at a deeper level. He’s a hard-worker who can help establish a positive culture in the Packers’ locker room. Injuries are a big red flag for him, however.

Perfect Recap:

21: Darnell Wright, OT

42: Darnell Washington, TE

43: Jalin Hyatt, WR

45: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Edge

78: Jordan Battle, S

85 Michael Wilson, WR