After having their starting cornerback and backup tackle get abused in the NFC Championship Game, many people still think the Packers should take a wide receiver in the 1st round.
I’m generally against that, but I still wanted to see what would happen if the Packers took that approach.
I did my best to help the Packers, but the board really didn’t fall into place for the Packers, as top linemen and cornerbacks were snatched up after the Packers started with a skill player.
Here are the results:
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Round 1
Rondale Moore – Wide Receiver
Profile: Undersized at 5’9 175, Moore makes up for his lack of height with blazing 4.29 speed. A slot assassin, he thrives with quick hit plays and deep routes. No matter where he gets the ball, he can all go the distance. Explosive in creating space underneath and dangerous in the open field, Moore is a big play waiting to happen.
Analysis: Matt LaFleur seems to favor bigger receivers, but he was interested in bringing Tavon Austin in last year. LaFleur is a brilliant offensive mind who is capable of using all sorts of skillsets and Moore would bring an exciting one like no one else he’s had in Green Bay. If you want to get Aaron Rodgers weapons, Moore would be a great start.
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Round 2
Ifeatu Melifonwu – Cornerback
Profile: In 3 years as a staring cornerback, Melifonwu never had a PFF coverage grade lower than 74.1. At 6’3 213, he bullies receivers off the line and harasses them at the catch point. A fluid athlete, Melifonwu reads routes quickly and moves to cuts them off. Solid in run support and a great wrap up tackler, he’s one of the more complete corners in the class.
Analysis: The Packers need help at cornerback. Kevin King’s injuries aren’t going to magically subside and Melifonwu i’s everything the Packers wanted in Kevin King, but without the injury issues.
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Round 3
Deonte Brown – Offensive Guard
Profile: At 6’3 360, you would expect Brown to be a dominant run blocker… and he is. Great in tight space, he finishes does not get pushed around by bull rushers. An average pass blocker with limited mobility, Brown can’t handle the edge, but is quite an obstacle on the inside.
Analysis: The Packers have more need at center and tackle, but if they get a good guard, Elgton Jenkins could move to either of those positions. Brown is not what he Packers typically look for, but if they’re serious about becoming a running team that uses a power back like AJ Dillon, Brown is an intriguing option.
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Round 4
Olaijah Griffin – Cornerback
Profile: A good man cover corner, the 6’0 175 Griffin has a knack for knocking ball away at last second. Competitive with strong run defense, he lacks top end speed and agility, but is a solid boundary corner. As a bonus, he has kick return experience.
Analysis: The Melifonwu pick is a nice start to strengthening the secondary, but the fact that the Packers re-signed Kevin King after another injury-plagued season culminated in an absolutely abysmal Super Bowl-losing performance
Milton Williams – Defensive Lineman
Profile: A twitchy interior rusher, the 6’4 285 Williams wins with an array of polished hand moves and is agile and flexible through the interior. He also does a good job setting the edge and defending the run, though he can’t handle double teams.
Analysis: The Packers sorely need help on the defensive line. They seem to favor pass rushers, so a guy like Williams, who is a good penetrater with decent run defense, could be a fit.
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Round 5
Dan Moore, Jr – Offensive Tackle
Profile: A mobile blocker, the 6’6 310 Moore is a good fit for zone blocking with smart angle blocking and chips. He can lose the edge to quick jump edge rushers and needs more lower body size to absorb bull rushers, but has a lot of traits that fit the mold of a developmental zone tackle.
Analysis: The Packers have an opening for a starting tackle, but also need backups. Moore would be a good fit to develop on the bench for a team that needs help if anyone gets hurt at tackle.
Landon Young – Offensive Tackle
Profile: A power blocker, the 6’7 310 Young is long and mobile and played in a run first offense. He has less experience pass blocking, but shows good athleticism and movement for zone blocking.
Analysis: Without landing a top tackle prospect, the Packers could be looking at developmental guys in the late rounds. Young has the tools to be a better pass blocker and the Packers have a coaching staff that is great at developing offensive linemen. His strength as a run blocker is something the Packers could use as they continue to increase their commitment to the run game.
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Round 6
Osa Odighizuwa – Defensive Lineman
Profile: Odighizuwa absolutely flies off the ball. Flexible through the line with good hand usage, he has a unique frame at 6’2 280. He could stand to add some more power, but is never lacking for effort.
Analysis: Pundits are divided on Odighiwuza, primarily because of his size. We aren’t sure what body types new DC Joe Barry will want on his defense, but we can be sure that he wants disruptive guys with this kind of hustle.
Garrett Wallow – Inside Linebacker
Profile: A former safety, the 6’2 230 Wallow is a good blitzer and strong finisher. He moves like a defensive back when the flies to ball, but still hits like a linebacker. He struggles to disengage blocks, but is a good zone cover option out of the box.
Analysis: The Packers have a nice pair of safeties in Krys Barnes and Kamal Martin, but neither of them are anything special in coverage. Wallow brings that dimension to the linebacker unit.
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Round 7
Larry Rountree – Running Back
Profile: Larry Rountree is a consistent runner. he’s not some dynamic threat who can house ever carry. He’s a patient, shifty back with good vision who moves forward. He didn’t get a lot of catches in college, but solid catching at the Senior Bowl. A solid blocker, Rountree is a consistent back who can step in for breather carriers as a part of a committee.
Analysis: Even with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, the Packers need another back. Jones has some injuries in his past and Dillon seeks out contact, so a third option that can consistently gain yards would be a welcome addition.
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Analysis
I’m not a fan of taking receivers in the 1st round, and this draft shows why. Despite getting an exciting skill position player in Rondale Moore, the Packers missed out on all the top tackles and were forced into grabbing some developmental guys and hoping one pans out. Melifonwu is a nice find int he 2nd round, but he might be the only other player ready to make an immediate contribution.
Starting Brown would mean moving Jenkins or Turner away from their best position. Osa Odighizuwa could be a pleasant surprise in the 6th, but for the most part, this class was hamstrung by going with a receiver early.
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Of Note
For this mock, I drafted against the board from Drafttek.
Christian Barmore went to the Bears in this mock… that one hurt.
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