Short version
Packers trade their 2023 1st round pick for another late 1st round pick this year (never gonna happen, but I like this year's defensive front guys).

1) Edge Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State
1) DT Devonte Wyatt, Georgia

2) TE Trey McBride, Colorado State
3) ILB JoJo Domann, Nebraska

4) WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State
4) (Comp) CB Mario Goodrich, Clemson

5) NT Noah Elliss, Idaho
6) Traded last year for Cobb

7) (from Texas) WR/KR/PR Velus Jones Jr, Tennessee
7) P Matt Araiza, San Diego State
7) (Comp) LS Jordan Silver, Arkansas


Long version
I used PFF mock draft to make this.

1) Edge Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State
Johnson only played his final year at Florida State as he was trying to get a clear starting role to up his value for the NFL draft, as Georgia was forcing all the pass rushers to rotate. And Johnson did dominant, especially in the run game but also very good at pass rushing with his large 6'5" frame.

1) DT Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
Wyatt didn't get as much attention as some others on the DL as he's the small one at 6'3" 315lbs, but of their interior guys he was their best pass rushers.

I just love the idea of getting four great guys on the DL with Gary, Clark, Wyatt and Johnson for long time.

2) TE Trey McBride, Colorado State
McBride went to a small school and their offense struggled but he absolutely dominant as the team schemed the entire offense to go through him, and so defenses tried to stop him and they couldn't as he put up over 1100 yards still, and was a very good blocker as well and very versatile. He might not be an elite athlete, but he can be used in any which way a normal TE can ask and the Packers offense loves versatility.


3) ILB JoJo Domann, Nebraska
PFF lists him as a CB since the role he played his last year was basically that of a slot CB. But he's 230 lbs... whom can cover extremely well. Perviously he was used as a 3-4 Edge Rusher, where he gave great effort but clearly playing out of position. So he's been asked to be a lineman and a DB, and I think someone should finally put him at true LB where O think he'll truely excel.

4) WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State
6'4", 210, was 35% of his offenses passing attack, is expected to run a 40 yard dash faster than Jordy Nelson (4.5) and sounds like his character in the locker room is off the charts good, team guy, willing blockers, wants team wins, not personal stats. But he has the size and speed that Gute likes, also willing blocker and sounds like a true team first guy, while putting up 800 yards, while no one else put up 300 yards by themselves. In the passing game, he was the focal point to stop.

Also on a side note, the Packers drafted his father... 6th round (156th overall) S Tim Watson. Though Tim didn't make the Packers 53 man roster, but stuck around the Chiefs for a couple of years.

4) (Comp) CB Mario Goodrich, Clemson
A good solid physical CB whom shows very good route recognition, who'll need to play in zone coverage, because one on one can beat deep, so he needs help over the top, but very good route recognition underneath and willing to be very physical against the run. With the Packers running a more complex zone, with always having help over the top, he could be a good fit with his ability to read the field. Also some what to move him to Safety.

5) NT Noah Elliss, Idaho
At 6'4" 365 lbs, is not only tough to move but has been moving OLs in the wrong direction... and while you might think it's only Idaho, but he also did it in the East-West Shine Bowl Game which is the best all-star games non-Seniors draft prospects can enter. But he was pushing around some good NFL draft prospects in those practices.

Also should be noted, that Elliss had a ton of Big Football schools offers and was even committed to Mississippi State at one point. But Elliss decided to go to Idaho to play with/for his brother and dad.

Elliss father, Luther, coached the DL at Idaho. Luther Elliss selected in the 1st round (#20 overall) by the Detroit Lions in the 1995 NFL draft, and he'd go on to make two probowls for them, as he got 15 sacks between 1996 and 1997.


6) Traded last year for Cobb

Special Teams

7) (from Texas) WR/KR/PR Velus Jones Jr, Tennessee
Jones a good (not great) returner who's 6', which is very large for a returner but Gute doesn't like small guys. And it's possible he could run a sub 4.4 in the 40 yard dash... so he can potentially be a speed decoy as well, or used for sweeps on offense even if he never fully develops as a receiver.

7) P Matt Araiza, San Diego State
Pat McAfee has talked about how Araiza has a freaking cannon for a leg. Araiza has a ton of hype, but isn't considered the top punting prospect, but the kid has a ton of potential. Also can do kick offs.

Based on some of his interview, Araiza doesn't care some common punting logic with hang time and touchbacks are bad. Example if they're at their own 20 yard line, and he can boot it 80 yards, then why not do it? Even if it's a touch back, it's still a 60 yard punt which is a good thing.

And according to Araiza, when punter screw up most is when they're trying to take a little off the punt, or trying to go for maximum hang time... so an idea of his to screw up less is to not take power off the kick, or go for amazing hang time, just bomb the thing deep.


7) (Comp) LS Jordan Silver, Arkansas
Honestly, I know nothing about him, but he and the Pittsburgh LS seem to be the top top rated LS I'm the draft.

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Brian Gutekunst hasn't drafted someone over 22 years old in round one. I don't think that changes this year.

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Meh, you never seem to like my first round selections 😛

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I would be very surprised if the first pick isn't an Edge. Unless someone who is ranked really high on their draft board drops I can't see them ignoring the huge hole of possibly losing both Z and Preston.

I also think a TE goes high. Not sure what we do with Tonyan.

Well because FAs is before the draft, Gute should know how the OLBers are shaping up, seems like Za'Darius won't be kept based on his current contract, but he either been asked to take a paycut and/or an extension at a lower value (my guess is paycut), which probably Preston and Cobb have been requested to take as well.

As for Tonyan, it depends on what his market is like, but considering the ACL injury, he market might be fairly cold. Of course he's former position coach is now offensive coordinator for the Broncos and the Bears got a former Packers coach as well, so there could be more interested that one would normally expect for him coming off an ACL injury. But the Broncos already got a good number of offensive weapons.

I think Tonyan will sign a cheap one year deal on a team that he thinks he'll know the system. So probably Packers.

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Hey, blame Brian G, not me, lol.

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I haven't heard Gute put a limit on it... and more surprised you knew that stat and how old they were, as it took a while to find both of them, so see their ages.

But Gute loves upside potential and position values in the first round.

Position Values
Tier 1: QB
Tier 2: CB, Edge, OT
Tier 3: S, TE

All of Gute first picks have been in the first two tiers and all first round selections in the first 3 tiers.

Which is why I think Gute would be willing to select a large slot WR whom could play a TE like role at times. Which is why I selected the WR from Arkansas in my other mock, as he's played from the slot a lot, and I think he might be the best of both Lazard and MVS mixed together in a heavier body while still keeping the fast speed.

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I didn't say he did. I'm saying he hasn't drafted someone over 22 in first round. I only knew of Wyatt being 23/24. Saw his age Tweeted. And in Madden, I always avoid over 22 as well so it stuck out a bit.

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