Look at how narratives change. Last year, the perception around the Green Bay Packers defense was that the unit had all it needed in place to play at a high level. Maybe safety was some sort of a question mark, but it was a solid group all around.

Fast forward to 2024. After most of the defense underperformed in the last year of Joe Barry's tenure, and now the defense probably needs one or two cornerbacks, two off-ball linebackers, a second starter and depth at safety, and more pieces to the interior of the defensive line.

With that in mind, the new defense under Jeff Hafley could certainly benefit from getting more young pieces. So we decided to make an all-defensive mock draft.

Before you get mad, it's obviously not going to happen and we know that. It's just a thought exercise to project which areas of the board will be stronger or weaker at each position. And yes, we intend to do a similar exercise with offensive players.

1st round, Pick 25: DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa

I wrote about DeJean last week because there are a lot of people that like and some people that dislike him. But DeJean is a versatile defensive piece who could immediately start at nickel corner or box safety for the Packers. He's recovered after suffering a broken fibula in November.

2nd round, Pick 41: LB Payton Wilson, North Carolina State

Edgerrin Cooper is widely seen as the best linebacker of the class, but Wilson is better for what the Packers need. With Quay Walker on the roster, Green Bay now needs to add a true middle linebacker, with read and react capabilities.

2nd round, Pick 58: DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan

The Packers don't need a starting interior defensive lineman, but adding a rotational piece would make sense. Jenkins is a solid run stuffer with some upside as a pass rusher, even though he doesn't have the power to bullrush as you would like.

3rd round, Picks 88 and 91: CBs Renardo Green and Jarrian Jones, Florida State

How crazy would that be? Getting two players from the same position and same school in the same round of the draft? Green and Jones are different players, though, as the former is more of a boundary corner with abilities to press, while the latter is projected to play inside in the NFL and would be better in zone-heavy schemes.

4th round, Pick 126, S Cole Bishop, Utah

Safety is a big need for the Packers, but there isn't a clear answer for that early in the draft — unless you consider DeJean as the solution. In the fourth round, Cole Bishop makes a lot of sense as he's projected to play as a box safety, which would nicely complement what Xavier McKinney does well.

Following picks:

• R5, 169: EDGE Braiden McGregor, Michigan
• R6, 202: LB Ty'Ron Hopper, Missouri
• R6, 219: S Trey Taylor, Air Force
• R7, 245: S Kenny Logan Jr, Kansas
• R7, 255: DT Jaden Crumedy, Mississippi State

Overall perception

After 11 defensive picks, as expected, the end was difficult and redundant. But off-ball linebacker is certainly the hardest position to fill, as the class is not strong. Even with this scenario, PFF graded this mock with an A-, and that class would allow the Packers to give Hafley a strong personnel to build his new defense.

Polarizing prospect has caused controversy among Packers fans

Defensive back is projected to be a first-round pick