100 Days of Mocks: Playmakers in Seven-Round Mock Drafts

With exactly three weeks until the NFL Draft, here are seven fresh NFL mock drafts – including a pair of seven-rounders.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – New quarterback, new weapons. That’s how it turned out in a seven-round mock draft by The Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer, who gave new Green Bay Packers starter Jordan Love some early support.

In the first round, Iyer went with Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer. While Mayer might not have the elite athleticism of some of the other tight end prospects, he is a “complete, classic in-line player.” He was the most productive tight end in the class in contested catches and deep opportunities.

In the second round, the choice was SMU receiver Rashee Rice, who caught 96 passes for 1,355 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior. Noting the Packers need a “chain-moving slot receiver,” Iyer picked a “savvy route-runner” who “knows how to get open.”

In the mock, Iyer did not trade Aaron Rodgers. So, based on how this simulation played out, Tennessee receiver Jalin Hyatt would have been available, as well, as would Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright and Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith.

The Packers got one more tight end, Wake Forest’s Blake Whiteheart, in the seventh round. He caught 24 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns in 2022. He’s a sure-handed receiver who wins as a blocker more with desire than physical size and strength.

Fox Sports’ nine-person panel went with undersized but havoc-creating defensive tackle Calijah Kancey of Pittsburgh. At 6-foot-1 and 281 pounds, he ran his 40 in 4.67 seconds. He posted 7.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for losses in 2022.

With Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba off the board, Fox’s Carmen Vitali considered the free-agent losses of Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed in picking Kancey over the likes of Alabama defensive back Brian Branch, Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones, USC receiver Jordan Addison and any of the tight ends.

The Cincinnati Bengals put together a beat writers mock draft. Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette took Iowa pass rusher Lukas Van Ness.

“One edge (Rashad Gary) is coming off an ACL tear. Another edge (Preston Smith) turns 31 during the season,” Dougherty wrote.

Pro Football Focus’ Steve Palazzolo was living on the edge, too. He took Georgia pass rusher Nolan Smith, who has unbelievable athleticism but doesn’t fit Green Bay’s usual standards at 238 pounds. Van Ness was on the board.

Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports selected Northwestern offensive tackle Peter Skoronski, the grandson of Packers legend Bob Skoronski. Skoronski, a standout left tackle for the Wildcats, is a “versatile type who fits the Green Bay mold.”

Will Brinson of CBS Sports took a receiver who’s likely too short to be on Green Bay’s draft board.

My, goodness, CBS does a lot of mock drafts. Garrett Podell cranked out a seven-round, Packers-only mock.

Noting “The Packers have the longest drought in the common draft era (since 1967) without selecting a running back, wide receiver or tight end in the first round,” Podell went with TCU receiver Quentin Johnston in the first round.

“I'm a 6-3, 6-4 receiver that is able to create real separation at the top of my routes in and out of my breaks and my yards after catch is top tier,” Johnston said at pro day earlier this week. “I've set records in the Big 12. So, I feel like that's really big. My elusiveness at the top of my route when I get the ball and you know, the deep ball is something I'm really good at, as well.”

Rounds 2 and 3 went to the defense, with an outside linebacker and safety. What about tight end? Clemson’s Davis Allen, who has some insanely superb hands, and Miami’s Will Mallory, who’s got some wheels, went in the fifth and seventh rounds, respectively.

Speaking of seven-round mocks, we did one, too.

Here is our sixth all-#Packers mock draft.

- I took your first-round advice
- Focused on Jordan Love in the second
- Added a QB, RB, two WRs and two TEs (including the son of a former Packers draft pick)https://t.co/VsqYRelAri

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) April 6, 2023

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 are the last 10 days of the series.

Packer Central’s sixth seven-round mock draft

22 days: Tackle before tight ends

23 days: On the offensive

24 days: A 10-mock Monday

25 days: The Wright tackle?

26 days: A “plug-and-play” tight end

27 days: NFL.com picks Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Packer Central’s fifth seven-round mock draft

28 days: An “Energizer bunny”

Breaking down ESPN.com’s seven-round mock

29 days: Tannenbaum takes a tackle

30 days: Three mocks, three different first-round tight ends

31 days: First-round receiver streak in Jeopardy