Perfect Picks 2023: Green Bay Packers
With the NFL Draft approaching we will be looking at each team and evaluating where they need to improve. In this particular series we will run a seven round mock using the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator and find the ‘Perfect Picks’ for each franchise.
We will highlight four players that could help each team. This will feature picks 1 and 2, a mid round gem and a late round sleeper.
Round 1 - Lukas Van Ness (Edge Rusher, Iowa)
Rashan Gary appears to be realising his potential as a Green Bay Packer. He recorded a PFF grade of 82.9 and 6 sacks in 2022. It was good timing for him but posed a question for the Packers. Set to be a free agent after this season, Gary is due a bumper deal or a ticket out of town. On the opposite side Preston Smith is productive but on the wrong side of 30. There is a potential out on his deal in 2024 so pass rushers are very much on the table early in the draft.
Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness will need development, but it seems like an ideal fit for him to come in as a rotational piece to this defensive front. He has good size and his athletic testing was strong. Although his pass-rushing plan can be one-dimensional, his bull rush is difficult to stop. The way he put Paris Johnson Jr on skates when the Hawkeyes faced Ohio State is well-documented. Van Ness can step in and contribute early and perhaps provide a long-term alternative to either Gary or Smith.
Round 2 - Cedric Tillman (Wide Receiver, Tennessee)
The Packers drafting wide receivers is a story every offseason. Green Bay appear to be permanently trying to fill out its receiving room. However, this year it is even more critical with the inexperienced Jordan Love assuming the quarterback role. Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs had flashes to convince fans of their potential, but further reinforcements are expected.
Cedric Tillman is one of my favourite receivers in the class. Had injury not derailed his final season in Tennessee, I would have expected him to be a first-round pick. The Packers would benefit from his drop in stock and could be best advised to wait, avoiding the undersized speedsters expected to go on Day 1. In Tillman, they get a true X receiver to match with Watson’s deep threat speed. A big body to make life easier for Love.
Mid Round Gem - Zack Kuntz (Tight End, Old Dominion)
While we are on the subject of pass catchers, why not add another by nabbing a mid-round tight end. This class is ideal for TE-needy teams. There is talent throughout all three days. The Packers current group is fairly non-descript so getting a big chain-mover to help Jordan Love bed in would be useful.
Zack Kuntz more than fits the bill. At 6’5 and 255lbs there is a lot of him to aim at. Add to that a ridiculous perfect 10 Relative Athletic Score and you have a really high upside player. The drawbacks, well Kuntz is going to be 24 and his last year at Old Dominion was curtailed by injury. His first three years in college were at Penn State where he failed to make an impression, meaning he doesn’t have a whole lot of experience. It’s a gamble but the ceiling is sky high.
Late Round Sleeper - Darrell Luter Jr (Cornerback, South Alabama)
Green Bay have made a concerted effort to improve their secondary. Taking Eric Stokes as a high pick to pair with Jaire Alexander showed a commitment to improving the position but depth remains a question mark. Rasul Douglas and Keisean Nixon should not be a deterrent to add further bodies to the position group.
Darrell Luter Jr had a strong college career at South Alabama, particularly in 2021. He recorded an 86.2 coverage grade, being targeted 45 times and allowing a stingy 12 receptions. Add to that his ball skills, over the past two seasons he has had 16 pass breakups and 5 interceptions. That type of production and 4.46 speed should mean Luter is well regarded on day 3 of the draft.
Draft In Full:
Round 1 – Lukas Van Ness (Edge Rusher, Iowa)
Round 2 – Cedric Tillman (Wide Receiver, Tennessee)
Round 3 – Zacch Pickens (Defensive Tackle, South Carolina)
Round 4 – Zack Kuntz (Tight End, Old Dominion)
Round 5 – Gervarrius Owens (Safety, Houston)
Round 5 – John Ojukwu (Offensive Line, Boise State)
Round 7 – DeWayne McBride (Running Back, UAB)
Round 7 – Jerome Carvin (Offensive Line, Tennessee)
Round 7 – Darrell Luter Jr (Cornerback, South Alabama)
Round 7 – Matt Landers (Wide Receiver, Arkansas)
