All-Packers NFL Mock Drafts Show You Can’t Have Everything

With the 2023 NFL Draft starting tonight, here are five projections that demonstrate the challenge ahead for general manager Brian Gutekunst.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – In my annual Green Bay Packers first-round projection, I selected Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

I considered Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid and think he could be the pick in a trade-back.

In a radio mock draft hosted by SiriusXM’s Mike Dempsey, I picked Iowa pass rusher Lukas Van Ness but didn’t think he’d be available at No. 13 in the real draft.

Whatever the position, the Packers have too many important holes to fill in one draft. With minimal cap space because three years of contract restructures meant a quiet free agency this offseason, quarterback Jordan Love will be inheriting a flawed roster.

Green Bay has massive, immediate needs at receiver (three have caught a pass), tight end (two have caught a pass), defensive line (three have played in a game), outside linebacker (Rashan Gary’s ACL exposed lack of depth), safety (Adrian Amos is unsigned and Darnell Savage is coming off a dismal season) and offensive tackle (2024 contract uncertainty with David Bakhtiari and Yosh Nijman).

Here are five three-round mock drafts ahead of the real thing to demonstrate the challenge of filling all those holes. As usual, I played the role of Brian Gutekunst. This time, Pro Football Focus’ simulator took care of the rest.

Mock 1 – Receiver First

No. 13: Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

No. 42: Kansas State edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah

No. 45: Oregon State TE Luke Musgrave

No. 78: South Carolina DT Zacch Pickens

Remaining needs and PFF’s best available in fourth round: OT – Old Dominion’s Nick Saldiveri, Utah’s Braeden Daniels, Pitt’s Carter Warren. S – Iowa State’s Anthony Johnson, Sacramento State’s Marte Mapu, Boise State’s JL Skinner.

The good and bad: I picked up four instant-impact players. Smith-Njigba isn’t just the best receiver in the draft; he’s the best receiver fit in the draft as a not-small slot with the ability to make plays short and deep. The problem is offensive tackle simply won’t be addressed with anything more than a developmental prospect.

Mock 2 – Outside Linebacker First

No. 13: Clemson edge Myles Murphy (Lukas Van Ness was off the board)

No. 42: Iowa TE Sam LaPorta

No. 45: Illinois S Quan Martin

No. 78: Stanford WR Michael Wilson

Remaining needs and PFF’s best available in fourth round: OT – Old Dominion’s Nick Saldiveri, Utah’s Braeden Daniels, Pitt’s Carter Warren. DT – Texas’ Moro Ojomo, LSU’s Jaquelin Roy, Texas’ Keondre Coburn.

The good and bad: LaPorta and Wilson are unsung players in this draft class. LaPorta’s a bit undersized and Wilson has an injury history, but both know how to get open and make something happen with the ball in their hands. However, this is not a great big-guys draft on either side of the ball. Offensive tackle is strong at the top. Defensive tackle isn’t strong at all.

Mock 3 – Offensive Tackle First

No. 13: Georgia OT Broderick Jones

No. 42: SMU WR Rashee Rice

No. 45: Florida DT Gervon Dexter

No. 78: Louisville edge YaYa Diaby

Remaining needs and PFF’s best available in fourth round: TE – Penn State’s Brenton Strange, Clemson’s Davis Allen, Old Dominion’s Zack Kuntz. S – Iowa State’s Anthony Johnson, Boise State’s JL Skinner, Georgia’s Christopher Smith.

The good and bad: With Jones, Green Bay has its future starting tackle on the roster. That’s huge. Rice is a big-time playmaker who can win in the slot, and Diaby somehow has been overlooked despite a nine-sack season and 4.51 speed at 263 pounds. However, is there a Day 1 starting/contributing tight end on the best-available list?

Mock 4 – Tight End First

No. 13: Utah TE Dalton Kincaid

No. 42: Georgia Tech edge Keion White

No. 45: Mississippi WR Jonathan Mingo

No. 78: BYU OT Blake Freeland

Remaining needs and PFF’s best available in fourth round: DT – LSU’s Jaquelin Roy, Texas’ Keondre Coburn, Western Kentucky’s Brodric Martin. S – Iowa State’s Anthony Johnson, Boise State’s JL Skinner, Penn State’s Ji-Ayir Brown.

The good and bad: An offense with Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Mingo and Kincaid has the potential to be powerful. However, lackluster draft classes on the defensive line and safety have really been picked over after two days.

Mock 5: The Solution?

I don't like mock trades. A mock draft is make-believe enough without adding make-believe trades. But, for the sake of this exercise, the simulator offered six trade scenarios. A deal with Pittsburgh meant the smallest trade-back option, and I felt good about getting my targeted tight end. So, the teams swapped picks, with Green Bay dropping to No. 17 and picking up No. 80 of the third round. By the Rich Hill trade value chart, that’s a small victory for Green Bay but not out of line.

No. 17: Utah TE Dalton Kincaid

No. 42: Kansas State edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah

No. 45: Syracuse OT Matthew Bergeron

No. 78: Alabama S Jordan Battle

No. 80: Alabama DT Byron Young

Remaining need and PFF’s best available in fourth round: WR – Penn State’s Parker Washington, Fresno State’s Jalen Moreno-Cropper, Purdue’s Charlie Jones.

The good and bad: This, obviously, would be an attractive outcome. Never mind whether you like the names I picked, the ability to knock off five of the six big needs within the first 80 selections could get this team poised for a quick rebound. So, while I predicted Smith-Njigba would be the pick, a trade seems like a viable option.

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