24 Days Until NFL Draft: Trading Up for Cooper DeJean

The latest mock drafts follow a familiar theme, with either Iowa’s Cooper DeJean or a quality offensive lineman landing with the Green Bay Packers in the first round.

Iowa's Cooper DeJean vs. Wisconsin / Bryon Houlgrave/The Register, Des Moines

 

 

GREEN BAY, Wis. – It’s April Fools’ Day, but you’re no fool. Everyone loves a mock draft, and here are the latest and greatest involving the Green Bay Packers.

With 24 days until the real NFL Draft, the latest mock drafts follow a familiar theme: Iowa’s Cooper DeJean remains the most popular player for the Packers, followed by a bevy of quality offensive linemen.

The Athletic: Iowa DB Cooper DeJean

In his latest seven-round mock, Packers beat writer Matt Schneidman traded from No. 25 to No. 19 to get DeJean. Is he a cornerback? A safety? Whatever, the Packers will have an instant impact defender. He has elite athleticism, tremendous coverage skills and a thirst for the action in the run game.

The other big needs were handled with a few of the upcoming picks: Washington State safety Jaden Hicks and Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie in the second round and Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg in the fourth round.

Click here for the full mock.

Bleacher Report: Iowa DB Cooper DeJean

The Packers were able to stick at No. 25 to get DeJean in this simulation.

Wrote Cory Giddings as part of a much longer summary: “As a defender, DeJean has shown the twitch and ball skills necessary to play cornerback at the next level. With him being a Midwest guy, he'll fit right into the Packers culture, while the team lands a long-term solution at defensive back.”

Sharp Football: Iowa DB Cooper DeJean

Ryan McCrystal looked at the Packers’ big needs and considered cornerbacks Ennis Rakestraw and Kamari Lassiter and offensive linemen Troy Fautanu and Duke’s Graham Barton before grabbing DeJean. As part of the statistical analysis, the Packers ranked 29th with 8.2 yards allowed per passing attempt when there was no pressure on the quarterback.

Pro Football Focus: Duke OL Graham Barton

This mock uses the betting markets as a guide. At FanDuel Sportsbook, offensive line is the heavy favorite to be the first position for the Packers. Thus, the pick was Barton over Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton and Alabama’s JC Latham.

Barton was a three-year starting left tackle at Duke after playing center as a freshman. His lack of length suggests a move back to the interior. He could challenge Sean Rhyan at right guard in 2024 and replace free-agent-to-be Josh Myers at center in 2025.

Iowa’s Cooper DeJean went 26th.

CBS Sports: Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton

In their “With the First Pick” podcast, former NFL GM Rick Spielman and CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson mocked the first round. Guyton would “cushion the blow” of releasing David Bakhtiari.

Detroit Lions: Georgia OT Tyler Guyton

Lions.com writer Tim Twentyman also went with Guyton, who could compete to replace David Bakhtiari at left tackle or even Jon Runyan at right guard.

The Draft Network: Georgia OT Amarius Mims

Keith Sanchez addressed the big need at offensive tackle. Even if Rasheed Walker is the long-term answer at left tackle following the release of David Bakhtiari, there is no depth following the free-agent defection of Yosh Nijman.

“Amarius Mims is big, athletic, and one of the better pass protectors in the draft—exactly what the Packers need,” Sanchez wrote.

Barstool Sports: Georgia OT Amarius Mims

In this third mock, Steven Cheah went with the mammoth Mims, who at 340 pounds ran his 40 in 5.07 seconds. The aforementioned Cooper DeJean went at No. 26 and Tyler Guyton went at No. 27.

Fox Sports: Penn State OT Olu Fashanu

In a strong group of offensive linemen, Fashanu is one of the few no-doubt-about-it left tackles. He allowed exactly zero sacks in two seasons as the blind-side starter and has big-time athleticism.

Wrote Rob Rang: “Fashanu has the size and grace to warrant a selection much earlier than this, but he isn’t as powerful as some of his classmates and could slip slightly as a result. At this point in the draft, however, he could prove a steal.”

Athlon Sports (7 Rounds): Texas A&M Edgerrin Cooper

Packer Central’s Bill Huber did a seven-round mock for Athlon. In it, the Packers traded back and wound up with six selections in the first 100 picks.

Related Story: An Egg-cellent Mock

Edgerrin Cooper / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Here is Bill Huber's latest projection for SI.com's Packer Central.