Packers Get Three Studs in Field Yates’ ESPN.com Mock Draft

ESPN.com’s two-round mock draft started with Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton and continued with two athletic playmakers on defense.

Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton / NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Field Yates’ two-round mock draft for ESPN.com focused on some of our favorite prospects for the Green Bay Packers.

With the first-round choice, the selection was Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton. Guyton “fits right in” with Green Bay’s young and talented offensive core.

“At 6-foot-8 and 322 pounds, his frame alone makes him an intriguing player, but toss in his solid footwork, and the potential is immense,” concluded Yates. “I view Guyton as an NFL left tackle who would immediately compete with Rasheed Walker for the starting job and soon become a fixture there.”

Guyton’s 14 starts at Oklahoma all came at right tackle. He played that position because the Sooners’ quarterback was left-handed. With a tremendous combination of size and athleticism, he did not allow any sacks in nine starts in 2023.

Of note given Green Bay’s needs, the final four picks of the first round sent Iowa’s versatile defensive back Cooper DeJean to the Lions at No. 29, BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia to the Ravens at No. 30, Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan to the Cowboys at No. 31 and Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw to the Chiefs at No. 32.

With the first of Green Bay’s selections in the second round, the selection was Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. In this simulation, general manager Brian Gutekunst would have had the pick of the linebacker class. Cooper had big-time production with the Aggies – 84 tackles, eight sacks, 17 tackles for losses and two forced fumbles in 2023 – and posted big-time testing numbers at the Scouting Combine with his 9.11 Relative Athletic Score.

“His versatility is outstanding, as he can run and hit on the inside or get pressure off the edge,” Yates wrote.

The second of the second-round picks was used to select Washington State’s Jaden Hicks, the second safety off the board.  

Hicks might not be the best safety in this draft but he might be the best fit as the Packers search for a safety to line up alongside Xavier McKinney.

With the New York Giants last season, McKinney played 464 snaps at free safety, 388 in the box and 167 in the slot. Last season at Washington State, Hicks played 200 snaps at free safety, 456 in the box and 103 in the slot. While there would be some interchangeability, McKinney could focus more on playmaking while Hicks could play the underneath role and lend his size in run support.

Hicks’ RAS was 8.94.

“Hicks would bring range, versatility and playmaking traits to the table for new coordinator Jeff Hafley,” Yates wrote.

Like Yates, we took Guyton at No. 25 and Cooper at No. 41 in this mock draft, and we landed Cooper and Hicks in our most recent mock.

Click here for the full draft, including more extensive thoughts from Yates.

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