Jones is a two-time first-team Associated Press All-American in each of the past two seasons, in 2011 as a tackle and in 2012 as a center. He was the nation’s Outland Trophy winner as the nation’s best interior lineman in 2011 and the Rimington Award winner as the nation’s best center in 2012.

Coming in behind Jones was a three-way tie for second with Stanford tight end Zach Ertz, Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert and Alabama running back Eddie Lacy each showing up in nine mock drafts.

Green Bay Packers: Keenan Allen, WR, California
Greg Jennings will be a free agent in March. He's proven to be unreliable in terms of staying healthy, so he won't be back. The Packers consequently may target a receiver early in the 2013 NFL Draft. Keenan Allen is the top player available in this situation, so I doubt Ted Thompson would hesitate to pluck him off the board.

Jesse Williams DT Alabama This pick isn't to replace B.J. Raji, but rather to find an heir apparent to Ryan Pickett. Edge pass-rushing help would be nice, but without a realistic option here, Williams offers strength in the middle and flashes penetration by putting his opposition on skates.

Xavier Rhodes CB Florida St. Can he run? That is the main question surrounding Rhodes. He is very good on tape. He's long, athletic and knows how to play the ball in the air. However, I never saw him really tested deep to gauge his top speed. If he runs under a 4.5 40-yard dash, he could go much higher than this spot.

Manti Te'o ILB Notre Dame no notes

Travis Frederick C Wisconsin With Jeff Saturday likely on his way out, Frederick, who can play center and guard, could step in and help the Packers right away.

Barrett Jones OG Alabama no notes

Zach Ertz TE Stanford no notes

D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama: The depth of Green Bay's offensive line has been sorely tested in 2012 with injuries to former first-round picks Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod. The interior was steadier, especially since Evan Dietrich-Smith took over at center but the Packers' inability to protect Aaron Rodgers played a critical role in their loss to San Francisco. There is no simpler way to put it: the Packers offensive line lacks toughness and physicality - two of Fluker's most impressive traits.


Arthur Brown, OLB, Kansas State: For most of the season, it seemed evident that the Packers needed to add more speed on defense and that was never more true than Green Bay's loss in the playoffs to San Francisco. Brown has a nose for the ball with the position versatility to play inside or outside in the Packers scheme.

Green Bay Packers: Eddie Lacy, RB (Alabama)

It's a deep running back class for Rounds 2 and 3, so reaching for Eddie Lacy isn't a bad idea. Although the Packers need to upgrade the offensive line, Lacy's complete skill set adds balance to Green Bay.

this one has to be my favorite. Thanks to Bleacher Report  we can see one of Mel Kiper's past mocks.



I guess Mel will have to explain this to me again. The draft is deep in rounds 2 and 3 for a RB. Therefore take one in round 1. If the draft is deep in the lower rounds why not actually take a RB in the later rounds where you will get good or great value for your pick? Is he saying Lacy is really a 2 or 3 but go ahead and grab him a round early? If he is gone in round 2 won't there be other RB that will work just as well?

Originally Posted by: wpr 

I'd like him as a 2nd round pick, not a 1st rounder.

Originally Posted by: dfosterf 

I've yet to be convinced that Barrett Jones is anything more than a good player across multiple positions. I'm not so sure he'll ever be "great" at any single position. Obviously such a versatile player would be valuable to most teams, but I'd rather have a "great" player at a single position than a decent player at three. The criticisms against him, such as him being a "technician" and lacking a nasty side just doesn't sound like what the Packers need out of their first round pick. I would love if they drafted him in the 2nd round, but I just don't think he has the nastiness needed to excel at any one position. Although, he very well good be a solid center. Otherwise, I worry he will just be a good player. Admittedly, I am no where near an expert, however. I also read somewhere that his playing weight was around 290, despite his listed weight being higher. I'm not sure how stout or strong he is at the point of attack, either.

As I said, though, I would love to see him as the Packers center of the future with a second round pick, even if it meant moving up a little.

Originally Posted by: doddpower 

I've yet to be convinced that Barrett Jones is anything more than a good player across multiple positions. I'm not so sure he'll ever be "great" at any single position. Obviously such a versatile player would be valuable to most teams, but I'd rather have a "great" player at a single position than a decent player at three. The criticisms against him, such as him being a "technician" and lacking a nasty side just doesn't sound like what the Packers need out of their first round pick. I would love if they drafted him in the 2nd round, but I just don't think he has the nastiness needed to excel at any one position. Although, he very well good be a solid center. Otherwise, I worry he will just be a good player. Admittedly, I am no where near an expert, however. I also read somewhere that his playing weight was around 290, despite his listed weight being higher. I'm not sure how stout or strong he is at the point of attack, either.

As I said, though, I would love to see him as the Packers center of the future with a second round pick, even if it meant moving up a little.

Originally Posted by: doddpower 

I've yet to be convinced that Barrett Jones is anything more than a good player across multiple positions. I'm not so sure he'll ever be "great" at any single position. Obviously such a versatile player would be valuable to most teams, but I'd rather have a "great" player at a single position than a decent player at three. The criticisms against him, such as him being a "technician" and lacking a nasty side just doesn't sound like what the Packers need out of their first round pick. I would love if they drafted him in the 2nd round, but I just don't think he has the nastiness needed to excel at any one position. Although, he very well good be a solid center. Otherwise, I worry he will just be a good player. Admittedly, I am no where near an expert, however. I also read somewhere that his playing weight was around 290, despite his listed weight being higher. I'm not sure how stout or strong he is at the point of attack, either.

As I said, though, I would love to see him as the Packers center of the future with a second round pick, even if it meant moving up a little.

Originally Posted by: doddpower 

Just because he can play multiple positions doesn't mean he's not great at any position. I agree with porky, he looks amazing as a center. Definitely worth a 1st.

Originally Posted by: Packers_Finland 

Projected Round (2013): 1-3.
Skill-Set Summary: It is clear that Jones is a versatile athlete. He is an excellent technician. His hand placement and knee bend are picture perfect. There is no doubt that Jones has done a superb job of developing his technique. He has honed it in practice while going up against many future NFL linemen like Courtney Upshaw, Josh Chapman, Jesse Williams and Marcell Dareus.

As a run blocker, Jones has the strength to push defensive linemen around at the point of attack. He is a good drive blocker to be a power-man blocker with the mobility to hit blocks on the second level. Jones could fit as a zone blocker or in a power-man blocking scheme as a pro.

Jones is rock steady in pass protection. He is quick and shuffles his feet with speed rushers while having the powerful base to stand up bull rushers. Jones really did well at left tackle in 2011, and considering the need for the position in the NFL, some teams could consider him to be their blind-side protector.

Green Bay: There’s a shortage of top-rated running backs available in this draft, and the Packers discovered a bargain find in DuJuan Harris late last season. But there’s still room to upgrade the position, and the Packers need to search for a high-upside back who can be had in the middle rounds perhaps due to a lack of polish or concerns about an aspect of his game. Four of the top seven rookie rushing leaders from 2012 were drafted in the sixth round or later. There’s backfield talent to be had past the first round, and the Packers will head out to survey the landscape of mid-round running backs available.