We’re getting a little deeper now, taking on the 3rd round in the draft.
We always want to take what the board gives us and, after the first few dozen simulations, it’s looking like this deep wide receiver class will last through Day 2. This makes me very patient in addressing a position that I’ve never wanted to invest 1st round picks in.
Here’s the results:
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Round 1
Raekwon Davis (DL) I’m not taking Raekwon because I’m a big Wu-Tang fan (even though I am), I’m taking him because he’s a beast. With a giant powerful frame, he’s capable of pushing guys around even though his technique isn’t refined. He’s a natural athlete with incredible size, so I think the technique work can come. What he brings to the table immediately is lateral agility and a ridiculous wingspan, making him a great guy to stop stretch zone runs. Just what the Packers need.
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Round 2
Malik Harrison (ILB) Harrison may not have the natural speed to be a true sideline-to-sideline ‘backer, but in the back of the 2nd round, he’s a solid value at a position of need. He’s not slow, he just isn’t quite in the sideline to sideline category (thought a good 40 at the combine could move him up the boards). He seemed to play quicker this year as his role expanded. He’s not a coverage guy, but a thumper who will fill holes and could nicely complement Raekwon Davis to upgrade the run defense.
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Round 3
Denzel Mims (WR) Once again showing the depth of the wide receiver class, I grabbed a potential starter in the 3rd round. I could have taken tiny speedster KJ Hamler, but I went with for size instead. Mims, at 6’3 205 is one of the biggest receivers in the draft and might have the biggest catch radius in the class. His routes are a little raw, but the former track and basketball star shows the athleticism to improve. He occasionally falls asleep catching the ball, but everything else is a positive. Speed, size, explosion, athleticism, plus he added strength for his senior year and is a legit red zone threat.
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Analysis
The Packers get a couple pieces to shore up the run defense and still add a receiving threat from a deep class. If they had these guys last year, they may have been in the Super Bowl.
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Of Note
Isaiah Simmons (easily the top inside linebacker in the draft) fell to 13, but Patrick Queen and Kenneth Murray (the two inside linebacker targets for the Packers at 30) went at 28 and 29. How these guys fall (or don’t) will go a long way in determining what this draft looks like for the Packers.
In the 2nd round, the Giants wanted to move up from their 3rd round pick (34), offering a couple 7th rounders this year, plus a 2nd round pick next year. Not sure who they were shooting for, but that’s the kind of trade I would make in real life without hesitation. The Giants will almost certainly pick higher than 30 next year and getting a 2nd and a 3rd for a 2nd is a huge win – a couple 7th round picks just make the UDFA process a little easier.
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Go deeper!
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Check out our PFTW 2020 Mock Draft Archive to see how other scenarios played out!
Check out Packers Draft Central 2020 for all our 2020 NFL Draft coverage!
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