100 Days of Mocks: Big Dog 2.0?

On the eve of the Scouting Combine, here’s a fresh three-round mock draft that went safety, tight end, receiver.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers have major questions at tight end, with Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis heading to free agency.

It’s easy to focus on the glitz and glamour of catching the football. But running the football is the starting point of coach Matt LaFleur’s offense, which makes run blocking a key trait at tight end.

To that end, Charlie Campbell of Walter Football went with Georgia’s Darnell Washington in the second round of a new three-round mock draft.

“In 2022, Washington caught 28 passes for 454 yards and two touchdowns, but those numbers would reasonably have been doubled at another school where (Brock) Bowers would not have been able to suck up the lion's share of the target,” read part of the synopsis. “Washington has the potential to be an excellent starting Y tight end in the NFL who is a force as a blocker and a solid receiver.”

The Scouting Combine, which starts this week in Indianapolis, and his pro day workout will be key in showing scouts his pass-catching ability.

Listed at 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds, Washington threw a block party every Saturday.

“The combination of the athleticism and displacement, there are probably none” to compare Washington to among tight ends, Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “We had some guys when I was at Alabama, (such as) Michael Williams, that were big, more blocking guys, offensive tackle type guys. He has a receiving skill-set that is unique, combined with that size.”

In the third round, the pick was Virginia receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who Campbell called “a threat to produce a long reception on any catch.”

Wicks had a monster 2021 season with 57 receptions for 1,203 yards (21.1 average) and nine touchdowns. The yardage mark broke Herman Moore’s school record. He had 27 receptions of 20-plus yards.

Hopes were high for an encore.

“It’s like an artist and you’re perfecting a masterpiece,” position coach Marques Hagans said before the season. “So, your craft is receiver, and so everything that we’re doing is to work to perfect his craft. Whether it’s route running, top of the route, releases, catch point, or blocking and finish, and special teams is another department we really want to take a step in this year. So, it’s all of the little things that make him one of the best players for our team and hopefully in the country.”

However, in eight games in 2022, he was limited to 30 receptions for 430 yards (14.3 average) and two scores. Picked for the Senior Bowl, he elevated his stock by being named the American team’s Wide Receiver Practice Player of the Week, as voted on by the defensive backs who had to guard him all week.

He was questioned by scouts about the drop in production. His response?

“What I tell them is that I feel like I learned a lot from last year,” Wicks told The Daily Progress, “and that I’m using it as a motivation to show that you can always be at your lowest but it’s about how you react and respond. I also tell them that 2021 was the real me and 2022 was a year of thinking, learning a new scheme and new systems.”

The first-round pick was a safety – and a popular player in the mocks. To get the full mock, click here.

More Green Bay Packers Offseason News

In Part 7 of our #Packers Stay or Go series on the upcoming free agents, the spotlight turns to Allen Lazard, who is going to get a lot of money.https://t.co/j0VywEazkn

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) February 26, 2023

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100 Days of Mocks

Starting Jan. 17, when there were 100 days until the start of the NFL Draft, we started our mock-worthy goal of 100 mock drafts in 100 days. Here’s the 100-day-countdown series.

The 2023 NFL Draft is exactly 60 days away. In the latest installment of our 100 Days of Mocks series, here are a pair of three-rounders.https://t.co/JXzIO2VlMJ

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) February 26, 2023

60 days: Two three-round mocks

61 days: Playing the slots

62 days: Three mocks, three receivers

63 days: A massive haul for Rodgers

64 days: Three team-issued mock drafts

Packers take tight end in Daniel Jeremiah’s second mock

65 days: Pass-rushing defensive lineman in two-rounder

66 days: A slot/safety?

67 days: Three-rounder starts with receiver

68 days: Grandson of Glory Years legend

69 days: Mayer to Packers in SI mock

70 days: Football Outsiders picks pass rusher

71 days: 33rd Team trades Rodgers in two-rounder

71 days (bonus): Todd McShay 2.0

72 days: Packers take receiver to start NFL.com three-rounder

73 days: Packers fill big need with big man

74 days: Rodgers traded, take two pass-catchers in first round

75 days: Two NFL.com mocks, two different tight ends

76 days: Tight end and pass rusher in two-rounder by NFL Draft Bible

77 days: Rodgers traded to Raiders for No. 7 pick

78 days: A seven-round mock includes Big Ten playmakers

79 days: Rodgers traded in two-round mock

80 days: Packers take safety in ESPN mock

81 days: Aaron Rodgers traded in three-round mock

82 days: Seven mocks, including NFL.com

83 days: Two pass-catchers in first-round mocks

84 days: Aaron Rodgers traded for extra first-round pick

85 days: PFF picks a pass rusher

86 days: Tight end in NFL Draft Bible Mock

87 days: Packers trade back, get extra second-rounder

88 days: Sorry, vacation day.

89 days: A “Eureka!” moment in two-round mock

90 days: Playmaking cornerback at PFF

91 days: Three defensive backs in seven-round mock

92 days: Kiper takes a tight end

93 days: Safety first for Bucky Brooks in NFL.com mock

94 days: College Football News mocks Mayer

95 days: Two firsts if Rodgers is traded

96 days: NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah goes back to Georgia

97 days: This pick would break a long drought

98 days: Stud tight end

99 days: Trading for outside linebacker

100 days: First-round quarterback?