62 Days Until NFL Draft: Packers Take Kool-Aid McKinstry

With about nine weeks until the start of the 2024 NFL Draft, here is who the Green Bay Packers selected in several fresh mock drafts.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – In April 2021, the Green Bay Packers used their first-round pick on cornerback Eric Stokes. In May 2022, they made Jaire Alexander the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.

Will either be a reliable member of Jeff Hafley’s new defense?

With considerable turmoil in the secondary, cornerback was the focus in a few fresh NFL mock drafts.

College Sports Wire: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

McKinstry delivered three seasons of superb production for the Crimson Tide. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed a catch rate of 47.9 percent during this career. He had one interception and 15 passes defensed in 2022 and zero interceptions and seven passes defensed in 2023.

Said Ryan Roberts: “McKinstry is one of the highest floor cover men in the class. He has a lot of experience in press man and zone while at Alabama, coming off of a season where he hardly gave up anything in coverage.”

CBSSports.com: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

Josh Edwards correctly notes the Packers’ plan will become clearer following free agency. At cornerback, slot Keisean Nixon and veteran Corey Ballentine will be free agents. Plus, there are questions revolving around Stokes (injury) and Alexander (mental space).

“Are Jaire Alexander and the Packers on the same page? Do they have faith in Carrington Valentine entering his second season?” Edwards wondered.

Pro Football Network: Alabama CB Terrion Arnold

It’s back to Alabama but for a different cornerback. With McKinstry to Cincinnati at No. 18, the choice was Arnold over Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter.

Arnold picked off five passes in 2023. Combined the last two years, he had six picks and 20 passes defensed. PFF charged him with a 51.9 percent completion rate, including 3-of-8 in the playoff game vs. Michigan.

Wrote Josiah Caswell: “As opposed to teammate McKinstry’s lock-down ability with less production, Arnold bolsters significant production and is always making a play on the football. While also having top-tier athleticism, he had five interceptions and 12 pass deflections in 2023.”

If you’re excited about this pick, maybe cool it a bit. Arnold might be the best cornerback in the draft and seems like a top-10 draft pick.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Illinois DT Jer'Zhan Newton

Newton is a “disruptor,” writes Buccaneers.com’s Brianna Dix. Over his final two seasons, he tallied 13 tackles and 22.5 tackles for losses. He dominated against Penn State and Wisconsin this season but missed far too many tackles.

“Newton is physical at the point of attack with a nasty disposition and has an elite pass-rush motor. He has natural leverage and solid bend for an interior lineman.”

NFL.com: BYU OT Kingsley Suamataia

Gennaro Filice notes Suamataia has “a lot in common” with one of his cousins, Detroit Lions stud right tackle Penei Sewell.

“With longtime stalwart David Bakhtiari seemingly on his way out of Green Bay, Suamataia could initially serve as a swing tackle behind Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker before developing into a full-time starter,” Filice wrote.

NBC Sports: Washington OT Troy Fautanu

Eric Froton noted Fautanu’s excellence in pass protection but also his abundance of penalties in projecting him to be the new “sentinel” for quarterback Jordan Love.

MLive.com: Georgia OT Amarius Mims

Mims is a mountain of a man at right tackle. With just eight career starts, his college resume is thin; Mims is not.

“At 6-foot-7, 340 pounds? Amarius Mims is an imposing figure, and that’s before looking back at his vicious play at Georgia,” Lions beat writer Ben Raven wrote.

Said NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah in a conference call on Thursday: “Huge, mammoth tackle from Georgia. But you've got Tyler Guyton [of Oklahoma] and Mims as these two big freaks, like just big physical, athletic kind of rare guys. They're a little bit raw, but there's a huge up side there. If one of those guys were to fall to them, I think that would be a home run pick.”

A few picks later, the Lions took their own offensive lineman.

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