Packers attack needs in NFC North roundtable mock draft
The NFL Draft is two weeks away, so four NFC North beat writers reunited to put together a joint mock draft. Check out who represented each team: Green Bay Packers – Wendell Ferreira, A to Z SportsDetroit Lions – Mike Payton, A to Z SportsMinnesota Vikings – Arif Hasan, Wide Left and Zone CoverageChicago Bears […]
The NFL Draft is two weeks away, so four NFC North beat writers reunited to put together a joint mock draft.
Check out who represented each team:
- Green Bay Packers – Wendell Ferreira, A to Z Sports
- Detroit Lions – Mike Payton, A to Z Sports
- Minnesota Vikings – Arif Hasan, Wide Left and Zone Coverage
- Chicago Bears – Lester Wiltfong Jr., Windy City Gridiron
Packers process and results
1st round, Pick 25 – OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
The first round wasn't exactly how I wanted it to go. Defensive back Cooper DeJean was taken one pick earlier, by the Dallas Cowboys, so my plan was to move back. However, the only viable offer was from the Cleveland Browns, which means the Packers would have to go down to pick 54.
It was too steep of a move back, so I stayed put and selected offensive tackle Tyler Guyton, an inexperienced and developmental player with a high ceiling.
2nd round, Pick 46 – LB Payton Wilson, NC State
If I couldn't trade back in round 1, it was easier to pull it off in the second round. Going back just five spots and giving up a fourth-rounder allowed me to get the Indianapolis Colts' second-round pick in 2025. As I explained during the live, it would make sense for the Packers to add 2025 capital, because they are projected to have only eight picks.
With the 46th pick, the board was not great. The best options were linebackers Edgerrin Cooper and Payton Wilson. Wilson is the better fit for what the Packers need, since Cooper is too similar to Quay Walker, so that was the tie-breaker.
3rd round, Pick 76 – EDGE Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
The board wasn't great once again at the end of the second round, so I moved back from 58 to 76, adding a third-round pick from the Denver Broncos in 2025. With the 76th pick, I selected an athletic edge defender.
The Packers might not have Kingsley Enagbare before November because he tore his ACL in January, so adding a rotational edge rusher is a realistic process.
3rd round, Pick 88 – WR Devontez Walker, North Carolina
The Packers have good depth at wide receiver, but Christian Watson's injury history allows thhis type of move. Walker is a deep threat, and his contract would go two years beyond Watson and Romeo Doubs' deal, which makes the pick more impactful in the long run.
3rd round, Pick 93 – S Malik Mustapha, Wake Forest
Mustapha is slightly undersized for the Packers usual parameters, but he is one of the best safeties in a weak class. Despite adding Xavier McKinney in free agency, Green Bay still has a huge need at the position, since Anthony Johnson Jr., last year's seventh-round pick, is projected to start.
5th round, Pick 154 – G Zak Zinter, Michigan
The Packers lost Jon Runyan in free agency and, at this moment, Sean Rhyan is projected to start at right guard and the only backup is Royce Newman. Green Bay badly needs depth, and Zinter has been a top 30 visit.
5th round, Pick 169 – CB Elijah Jones, Boston College
I wasn't able to grab a cornerback earlier, but Elijah Jones fits exactly what the Packers need. He's a good man corner with excellent ball skills, which aligns with the scheme Jeff Hafley will run.
He might not start right away, but the Packers are fine with Jaire Alexander and Carrington Valentine. Either way, it's important to add depth.
6th round, Pick 203 – QB Joe Milton III, Tennessee
This was probably the boldest move of the night. I had pick 219, so I swept sixth- and seventh-round picks in 2025 to move up and take quarterback Joe Milton. He has a rocket for an arm, without a doubt the strongest of the class. The Packers have time to develop him behind Jordan Love and Sean Clifford, so that's an ideal situation.
And if Milton doesn't pan out as a quarterback, there will still be the option to move him to tight end.
7th round, Pick 245 – DT Jaden Crumedy, Mississippi State
The Packers added Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks last year, but with Kenny Clark in the last year of his deal, it makes sense to add there. Jaden Crumedy is a powerful interior rusher, and it's a decent value in the seventh round.
7th round, Pick 255 – C Kingsley Eguakun, Florida
Josh Myers is in the last year of his deal and the Packers don't have a backup center. He's undersized and doesn't have a developed technique, but has good awareness and is good at pulling and moving to the second level. Those are enough tools to try to build around.
At the end, the beginning of the draft didn't fall the way I intended, but it was still possible to get good value. I added solid developmental pieces with a high ceiling and left the draft with two extra day 2 picks in 2025.
Five quarterback options for the Packers in the draft
Gutekunst said he wants to evaluate passers in this class
