2021 Packers Mock Draft

PACKERS 2021 MOCK DRAFT

By: “JERSEY AL” BRACCO

For the third year in a row, the Packers enter the 2021 NFL draft with a total of 10 picks. As has been his pattern, “Trader Brian” moved up in the first round last year to select Jordan Love, an uber-controversial selection, by surrendering his first- and fourth-round picks. The Packers have three extra picks this year, one each in Rounds 4, 5, and 6. Regardless of trade possibilities, the approach taken with this mock is that Round 1 picks are a straight prediction of what the Packers will do. Everything after that is a combination of what, in these eyes, they should do and what they will do. Let’s get started:

Greg Newsome II (CB)

Northwestern Jay Tufele (DL)

USC

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’0” | Weight: 192 lbs. MEASURABLES: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 315 lbs.

Predicting what position group the Packers may be targeting with the first pick is a near-impossible task this year. There is currently a huge hole at right tackle, Kenny Clark has little help on the defensive line, every active wide receiver is on the last year of his contract and, despite Kevin King being re-signed, there is no long-term answer at CB2. The logical choice here would be for an offensive tackle, and it’s likely to be the position with the best options at pick 29. But would the Packers consider it a good value to use a first-round pick for a right tackle, especially with their success in the middle rounds with O-line picks? In the end, this pick is about the top player on their board, regardless of position. Newsome has become the darling of Packers Twitter, and while I hate going along with the crowd, it just makes too much sense. Newsome is exactly what the Packers look for in a cornerback: athleticism, football IQ, ball skills, and not to mention a perfect fit for the zone-heavy scheme coming to Green Bay. My gut feeling is that he is the one player the Packers would be willing to trade up a few spots for. If Newsome is out of reach, then expect the unexpected—another Gutey trait. Heck, he might even draft a first-round wide receiver now that most fans have given up on that dream.

Alternate Choices: OT Jalen Mayfield, WR Kadarius Toney, DT Christian Barmore Poor Kenny Clark. The Packers have never given him a linemate who could relieve some of the pressure on him. Tyler Lancaster and Dean Lowry are serviceable players who know their roles but certainly don’t create any concerns among opposing defensive coordinators. Kingsley Keke has shown a few flashes but primarily as a pass-rusher, as he hasn’t proven to be stout enough yet to hold up in the run game. Enter a player like Jay Tufele, who may be the most versatile defensive lineman among the top 10 players in that position group. He can play multiple positions along the line, whether as a nose tackle, 4-3 DT, or 3-4 DE. He has the requisite size and strength to command double teams and hold his ground at the line of scrimmage. At the same time, he explodes off the snap, disrupting and getting into the offensive backfield when drawing a single blocker. On top of all of that, he can provide consistent pressure from the inside, something quarterbacks just hate—especially Tom Brady, whom the Packers will likely be meeting again. He fits.

Alternate Choices: DT Tyler Shelvin, DT Osa Odighizuwa

Brady Christensen (OT)

BYU Anthony Schwartz (WR) AUBURN

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 302 lbs. MEASURABLES: Height: 6’0” | Weight: 180 lbs.

Psst…come over here…shh, let’s keep this quiet. Did you know that Brady Christensen was an AP first-team All-American in 2020? Yeah, I know you didn’t, because not many pundits are talking about this guy. Christensen was toiling in near anonymity as far as the Draft Industrial Complex is concerned, that is, until his pro day. It seems that Christensen set a record with the longest broad jump (10’ 4”) ever recorded by an offensive lineman. On the negative side, his arms came in rather short at 32 2/8” and Christensen is also an older prospect at 23, having spent two years on a BYU mission in New Zealand. Upon returning, Christensen became a threeyear starter for the Cougars and showed enough athletic ability to declare him a fit in the Packers’ scheme. Here’s hoping he lasts somewhere into the third round, although it will likely require a trade up for the Packers to nab him.

Alternate Choices: OT Dillon Radunz, OT Alaric Jackson Back in my Packers mock draft for 2018, I suggested the Packers should roll the dice on a raw but speedy wide receiver with a potentially big upside. The Packers agreed, taking Marques Valdez-Scantling in the fifth round of that draft. While I pretty much started the MVS bandwagon, with MVS in the last year of his contract and still a bit up-and-down with big plays and big drops, I have to be realistic. If he disappoints this year, here is his potential replacement—a better MVS, if you will. Schwartz has the same explosive speed (possibly even more) but has shown better ability to track the ball in the air and bring it down than MVS has. He has also been used out of the backfield and on jet sweeps. His route running is as raw as MVS’ was, and blocking is just not his thing, but the big play potential is worth the same “roll of the dice” the Packers took four years ago.

Alternate Choices: WR Austin Watkins, WR Jaelon Darden

Seth WIlliams (WR)

AUBURN Bobby Brown III (DL) TEXAS A&M

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 225 lbs. MEASURABLES: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 325 lbs.

I’m calling this the “double-dip” draft for the Packers, and here they not only take another receiver in the fourth round, but it’s another Auburn Tiger. Williams is more the big-bodied type receiver than Schwartz is. He isn’t a top-level athlete with much short-burst athleticism, but a 4.49 40-yard time is still respectable. His best attributes are his physicality, catch radius (81” wingspan), and strong hands. A former basketball player, he understands using his body to shield defenders and will use his 37” vertical and long arms to make catches even when well covered. He’s a legitimate red zone target, and he has a bit of a James Jones vibe to him.

Alternate Choices: WR Frank Darby, WR Dez Fitzpatrick The double-dip theme continues as we come back to the interior defensive line. Whereas Jay Tufele is more of a quick get-off penetrator, Brown is closer to the traditional nose tackle type; he’s powerful and holds up stoutly against double teams. As Tyler Lancaster has been asked to do occasionally, Brown could give Kenny Clark a rest or allow him to slide over to DT where he can get more chances to be disruptive facing one-on-one reps. Brown would compete with Anthony Rush for that role.

Alternate Choices: DL Khyiris Tonga, DL Tedarrell Slaton

Antonio Phillips (CB)

BALL STATE Charles Snowden (EDGE) VIRGINIA

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’0” | Weight: 186 lbs. MEASURABLES: Height: 6’6” | Weight: 232 lbs.

Like it or not Packers fans, if Joe Barry is going to bring over the same scheme from the Los Angeles Rams, you’ll be seeing plenty of zone coverage, albeit not the uber-soft zone Mike Pettine often employed. Phillips was a three-year starter for the Cardinals, where he showed very good ball skills. He’s aggressive and plays with some swagger and physicality when the ball arrives. He’s not afraid to come up and tackle in the run game and does a good job of wrapping up and not just throwing shoulders (cough…Kevin King...cough). Phillips has plenty of technique details to iron out, but he will help on special teams and hopefully develop into a useful backup.

Alternate Choices: CB Tre Brown, DB Bryce Thompson The Packers are in fine shape at EDGE with the Smith Bros. and Rashan Gary. But they’re going to need a fourth at that position, and it’s hard to say Randy Ramsey or Jonathan Garvin are definitely it. Snowden brings a Leonard Floyd-like body type to the position and uses his length to his advantage. He’s elusive as a pass-rusher and does well dropping into coverage. He’ll need to get a bit stronger to be able to properly set the edge in the run game, but he’s not a major liability there and shows excellent back side pursuit. Snowden was built for the Joe Barry scheme, which coincidentally, employed Leonard Floyd last year on the Rams. Sleeper Alert!

Alternate Choices: DE Daelin Hayes, EDGE Malcolm Koonce

Tony Fields II (ILB)

WEST VIRGINA CJ Verdell (RB)

OREGON

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 222 lbs. MEASURABLES: Height: 5’9” | Weight: 210 lbs.

The Packers’ Krys Barnes and Kamal Martin both showed promise as rookies last season, but neither are what you would call true run stoppers between the tackles. Fields is undersized, but it didn’t prevent him from being very productive in the MIKE role for the Mountaineers. He’s not the lateral movers Barnes and Martin are, but he’s likely a better tackler than both and more adept at getting off blocks and through the wash. He can help this defense in certain packages and will be a core special teams contributor.

Alternate Choices: LB Garret Wallow, LB Paddy Fisher The Packers are set at starting RB with the newly minted tag team of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Regardless, a viable third option is an absolute necessity at the running back position. There are three other RBs on the roster, but none have distinguished themselves. Verdell is a physical north-south runner that looks for a seam and attacks it full bore. He shows a burst after clearing the line of scrimmage and runs through tackles. Verdell is also a reliable receiver out of the backfield and found the end zone a total of 23 times in 32 games.

Alternate Choices: RB Caleb Huntley, RB Elijah Mitchell