With the NFL Draft coming up fast, I decided to look further than just the players' names; I wanted to look at the testing, film analysis, and "Packer" type players that you could see very well in Green and Gold shortly. Here is my Packers' Mock Draft!
Round 1, Pick 25: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
When you look at the current Packers' roster, the corner room is highlighted by star CB Jaire Alexander, a rookie breakout player in Carrington Valentine, and a dual-purpose player in slot corner, Keisean Nixon. While they have great pieces in Eric Stokes and Corey Ballentine, they push their secondary over the top with the additions of Xavier McKinney through free agency, and now with a top corner in this year's draft in Kool-Aid McKinstry, who has also taken a Top-30 Visit to Green Bay already.
When you look at McKinstry on film the first thing that sticks out is his knack and ability to make plays on the football. With his above-average length that the Packers typically go for, McKinstry is a press-man machine. Not only can Kool-Aid step up and get in the receiver's face, but he can also cover zone coverage very well. Add all that in with his punt return ability, which could serve as a dual-purpose, which the Packers also look to get out of their players; this could be someone who is in Green and Gold very shortly.
Round 2, Pick 41: Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
While Cooper could be taken in the first round, he fell to 41 in this mock and wouldn't slide any further. This would be a dream pickup to pair alongside Quay Walker in the front seven, as Cooper would be an excellent replacement for former Packer De'Vondre Campbell. With the Jeff Hafley movement in full effect, so is the 4-3 defense returning to Green Bay. Hafley's defense needed a stud safety, which they got by bringing in star safety Xavier McKinney through free agency, but his defense will also need three linebackers. Cooper slides in perfectly alongside Quay Walker in this scheme, and along with a nice NFL Combine, Cooper could very well be in Green and Gold in a week.
Cooper, on film, shows his ability to stuff the run but not only can he stuff the run, but he can also cover and rush. With a 1.54 10-yard split, Cooper is an athletic freak that can translate as a spy, but it allows him to run with any tight end or running back. If that doesn't sell you enough, throw in the 10 sacks Cooper recorded his senior year, and you have a player who can do multiple things from the linebacker position incredibly well. With an intense day at the NFL Combine and an 8.46 RAS score, Cooper could find himself in Green Bay for a week.
Round 2, Pick 58: Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
Melton, the younger brother of current Packers wide receiver Bo Melton, is known for his ball-hawk ability and coverage, regardless of whether it is in man or zone. On top of that, speed must run in the Melton family because just like his brother Bo, who ran a 4.34 40, Max would go to the NFL Combine this year and run a 4.39 40-yard dash as well. Combine all those things, and Melton could slide right into the corner room in Green Bay.
On film, Melton shows off that speed in the way he plays. Wherever the ball is, you can expect Melton to be in the area of it. His coverage, which is slightly better in press man, fits into Green Bay's new system perfectly, as the 4-3 defense is expected to play more man coverage. One thing Melton will have to clean up is the footwork when he is transitioning into a different running angle. One thing that has been noted about Melton is his high work ethic, which showed this past season as his play improved substantially.
Round 3, Pick 88: Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State
Hicks is an exciting prospect. As a safety, Hicks is a very lengthy-type player. While his best attribute on film seems to be in press-man coverage, he is just as good in zone and isn't afraid to come up and fill the run. Hicks has also been noted to have a "high football IQ, especially when recognizing plays.", which will be huge to have on the backend next to newly acquired Packers' Safety Xavier McKinney.
On film, Hicks, who ran a 4.50 flat in the 40-yard dash, shows that he can cover ground, whether it's getting over to the deep route, or filling the run quickly, the speed shows up on film. One thing that really can separate Hicks from a lot of this Safety class is his high-football IQ. There are many times when you can see Hicks recognize not only the offensive play but the tendencies of the player he is going against, which is huge to have on your last line of defense. Put the IQ, with the way he tested, and this is looking like he could very well be a Packers' Safety.
Round 3, Pick 91: Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington
For the people that will say, "The Packers need to go tackle right away, especially with David Bakhtiari gone.", that could still very well be an option that Gute goes. In this case, they wait until the third round to strike, but they strike a very athletic tackle out of Washington, in Roger Rosengarten. The Packers love to develop linemen, which also means they take them later in the draft. A few examples are David Bakhtiari himself, who was picked in the 2013 Draft at Pick 109 in the 4th round, or Rasheed Walker, the current starting tackle who had a breakout season last year and was picked in the 2022 Draft at Pick 249 in the seventh round. The Packers have shown that they can find hidden gems in the later rounds on the offensive line, and they do it again here in the third round.
Rosengarten can move for a 308 lb lineman. Running a 4.92 40-yard dash is especially known to excel in run blocking. Noted to work to the second level in the run game continually, Rosengarten has the quickness and power to do just that. His one thing to work on, which you can see on film, is his ability to anchor against power rushers. That will be an essential part of his game to figure out, but from all of the scouting reports on him, many believe it can be fixed by adjusting his stance.
Round 4, Pick 126: Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee
Wright is a perfect scat back that can bring a different type of speed to the Running Back room in Green Bay. If Green Bay wants to add a player to their Running Back room, Wright will bring the ability to get the job done on the ground and through the air in the receiving game. As someone who was clocked at a high speed of 23.6 miles per hour last season in the game, his game would fit right in with the speedy skill position players that the Packers have, and it would help lighten the pass game reps for Josh Jacobs, and AJ Dillon. Another trait noted in Wright's game would include his pass blocking, which the Packers love to look for in their Running Backs, and it could prove to be something that separates Wright from some of the other top Running Backs in this year's draft.
On film, the first thing about Wright that sticks out is the speed he can incorporate into his game while effectively picking up the "tough yards." Going into his last college season, one thing that added to his game was how he can affect the receiving game. You could see Tennessee use him way more in that way this past season and be comfortable doing so. While he only had twenty-two receptions, Wright would still be a 1,000-yard rusher this past season and could find himself higher than the fourth round in Green and Gold, or both!
Round 5, Pick 169: Mason McCormick, IOL, South Dakota State
McCormick is an athletic freak with a 6'4, 309-pound frame. The Packers are always looking to find those players in later rounds that they can develop into key players, especially with linemen. David Bakhtiari, Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Jon Runyan Jr, and more were all players that Green Bay drafted later on in the draft and struck diamonds in, and they'll look to do so here.
McCormick's film stands out, especially his pass-blocking. While his run-blocking ability is an excellent part of his game, his pass-blocking ability could very well help out the Packers, with Sean Rhyan sliding into one of the two starting Guard spots fully now. McCormick could be a very durable option, as he played in 57 consecutive games for the Jackrabbits and could be in Green and Gold by the weekend.
Round 6, Pick 202: Jaylan Ford, LB, Texas
The Packers will need at least three Linebackers in this new 4-3 defense under Jeff Hafley. With Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper, whom I picked earlier in this mock, slated to start, there would still be one hole. Ford is a De'Vondre Campbell-type player, as he fills the run and can play the pass, but ideally, you want him going downhill toward the line of scrimmage if you can help it. Whether he earns the starting job or is a rotational type player, Ford can contribute somewhere, especially with the new kickoff rule.
Looking at Ford's film, it is clear what type of player you're getting. Not only does Ford show a high motor every game, but he also shows that he can fill the run as well as anyone. His struggles come in the coverage part of his game when it comes to the routes out in the flat, but play recognition could help him further succeed in that part of his game.
Round 6, Pick 219: Logan Lee, DL, Iowa
Lee, a former teammate of the Packers' first-round draft pick last year, Lukas Van Ness, finds himself right back on the same field as the Packers bolster their defensive line just a bit more. Lee will not only help plug the middle as a rotation guy, but he is also athletic enough to contribute on special teams.
In the film, Lee is shown as an inside lineman who can fill the run and a pass rusher who can use his speed to get in the backfield. In this new 4-3 defense, Lee's style would fit perfectly into the Packers' defense.
Round 7, Pick 245: Sam Hartman, QB, Notre Dame
Gute has stated a few times that they will look to add to the quarterback room, as the Packers have done in the past, drafting lower-quality quarterbacks to develop and trade for value. I could see them picking up either their quarterback or bringing in some competition to keep Sean Clifford honest.
Hartman has shown his ability to showcase the deep ball. One thing to note is that he can reset his footwork and fire a strike mid-play, which would not need to be developed. One more strength in Hartman's play is that he can place the ball anywhere on the field.
Round 7, Pick 255: Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, WR, Georgia
When you look at Rosemy-Jacksaint, he might not have completed his quest for a good RAS score, but Gute has shown that it won't apply to specific players. Not only is he an outstanding blocker, which the Packers like to see, but the particular team's contributions box has also been checked. Those two things make this a steal of a pick for Gute.
On film, the production in the passing game shows that he can make many difficult catches and re-adjust his body in the air to do so. Another thing that has been noted multiple times is the catch radius, as it is a big target.
Overall, this would be a fantastic draft for the Packers and Gute. If they can come away with even some of these players, the Packer's already young roster will be in even better shape going into the upcoming season.
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