It's time to study prospects, but it's also time to understand what fans really want. So, for this version of the Green Bay Packers seven-round Mock Draft, we used social media to gauge what cheeseheads expect general manager Brian Gutekunst to do.

And fans (or at least those who follow me on X) have really been affected by how the Packers operate. They truly want defensive players and offensive linemen, while wide receivers are not a priority whatsoever.

Our process was executing a seven-round mock on the PFF draft simulator. I created one-hour polls until the fourth round, and then 20-minute polls, offering four options among the available players who made more sense. So, my followers made the sequence of decisions.

Pick 25 (1st round) – CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri

After trading Rasul Douglas and not knowing how Eric Stokes will return from his multiple injuries, it makes sense to get a cornerback. Rakestraw has good man coverage skills and is tall, just like the Packers like, in spite of not having above average ball skills and zone coverage ability. He is certainly better for Jeff Hafley's scheme than he would be for Joe Barry's.

Pick 41 (2nd round) – LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M

With the transition to 4-3 and De'Vondre Cambpell potentially as a cap casualty, off-ball linebacker is once again a need for the Packers. Cooper needs to get his technique and stance a little better, but he is a lengthy and intelligent player, and athletically built like the Packers tend to like.

Pick 57 (2nd round) – S Jaden Hicks, Washington State

Hicks would probably be a day 1 starter for the Packers at safety with his versatility, intelligence and ball skills. Green Bay certainly needs reinforcements at the position, and Hicks can play in the slot, in the box or as the center-fielder Hafley's scheme demands.

Pick 88 (3rd round) – RB Bucky Irving, Oregon

The Packers need running back options with AJ Dillon slated to hit the market, and because Aaron Jones is getting older and entering the last season of his deal. Irving is a good fit for the Packers outside zone scheme, with speed and agility to hit holes. He could be a primary backup while Jones is still in Green Bay, and he has the potential to take over after that.

Pick 91 (3rd round) – G Mason McCormick, South Dakota State

McCormick could take over as a starting right guard right away, replacing pending free agent Jon Runyan — he would have to compete with Sean Rhyan. He’s strong and a good puller, and his weaknesses aren’t so pronounced because he’s a guard.

Pick 126 (fourth round) – CB Kalen King, Penn State

He’s a quick player, able to play inside and outside. King played worse in 2023 than he did in 2022, but Brian Gutekunst has shown several indications that he is good with that — every pass-catcher the Packers drafted in 2023 had more receiving yards in 2021 than in 2022.

Pick 168 (fifth round) – LB Cedric Gray, North Carolina

As previously mentioned, off-ball linebacker is a huge need. Gray has the potential to be a good player in coverage, which is particularly important in today’s NFL — and what Packers fans saw from De’Vondre Campbell in 2023.

Pick 203 (sixth round) – C Tanor Bortolini, Wisconsin

Yes, I got it. Packers fans love Wisconsin players. But Bortolini in the sixth round would really be a good value. He has solid technique in pass protection and quick feet to move to the second level in run block. The Packers should be eager to replace Josh Myers, and Bortolini would be an intriguing competition.

Pick 216 (sixth round) – EDGE Solomon Byrd, USC

Byrd is 250lbs, which is probably lighter than what the Packers would prefer. But this late in the draft, it’s hard to find a productive edge defender, and he had six sacks in 2023. The Packers have three good edge rushers in Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, and Lukas Van Ness, but the fourth spot in the rotation is up for grabs since Kingsley Enagbare tore his ACL in January.

Pick 243 (seventh round) – S Kenny Logan Jr., Kansas

Another day, another safety for the Packers group. And, well, they need it. Logan is a physical player with good instincts. He is not a great tackler, though, so he would probably be limited to the free safety position in Jeff Hafley’s scheme.

Pick 251 (seventh round) – LB Trevin Wallace, Kentucky

Packers fans are really concerned with the linebacker position. So after drafting Cooper and Gray, they still had the desire to pick another one in Trevin Wallace. He has a track record as leader and fast, athletic player, even though he struggles to recognize run fits.

Packers seven-round mock draft 1.0, post-Super Bowl edition

Green Bay is slated to have 11 picks in this year’s draft