Green Bay Packers seven-round 2022 NFL mock draft
How will Green Bay replace Davante Adams?
The Green Bay Packers and General Manager Brian Gutekunst solidified their relationship with the team’s top asset, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, this offseason. The back-to-back MVP signed a three-year extension worth roughly $150.8 million, tying him to the team through 2026. Unfortunately, the franchise also lost some valuable offensive contributors that they must replace to remain in Super Bowl contention.
Green Bay traded All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams to Las Vegas earlier this offseason. The Packers received enough draft capital to take multiple shots at landing new weapons for Rodgers, but replacing a player of Adams’ caliber isn’t easy. This mock provides head coach Matt LaFleur’s offense with some needed reinforcements and addresses depth issues on defense.
If you don’t agree with these selections, feel free to leave a comment below this article or reach out to me on Twitter @Sam_Teets33. Build your own mock draft with The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Machine.
Round 1 (No. 22): Drake London, WR USC
The mock draft simulation fell in Green Bay’s favor for pick 22. Gutekunst had his choice of London, Treylon Burks, Chris Olave, and Garrett Wilson. Some analysts view Wilson as the top receiver in the 2022 class, but London is my top prospect at the position. While Wilson offers plenty of upside on short and intermediate routes, London creates more YAC opportunities and can play a larger role in the vertical passing attack.
London is 6'4", weighs 219 lbs., and boasts 33" arms. He doesn’t have elite speed, which means creating natural separation could be a problem in the NFL. However, London’s incredible catch radius allowed him to haul in nearly 68% of his contested catch opportunities in 2021. He’s tremendous at tracking the ball and physically dominates defenders at the catch point.
Green Bay’s top returning wide receivers from 2021 include Allen Lazard (513 yards), Randall Cobb (375 yards), Juwann Winfree (58 yards), and Amari Rodgers (45 yards). The Packers need to add at least two more wide receivers this offseason to field a competent depth chart capable of maximizing Aaron Rodgers’ talent.
Round 1 (No. 28): Boye Mafe, EDGE Minnesota
Preston Smith is 29 years old. The former second-round pick totaled 62 pressures and nine sacks in 2021, marking the best or second-best year of his career. Smith even recently signed a four-year $52 million restructured contract extension, which makes it unlikely Green Bay cuts or trades him until at least 2024.
Smith’s recent deal shouldn’t prevent the Packers from targeting an ultra-athletic player like Mafe. The team already went through this process with Rashan Gary. The Michigan product struggled during his first two seasons as a pro before breaking out with 81 pressures and 9.5 sacks in 2021, just in time to replace Za'Darius Smith.
Mafe totaled 40 pressures and seven sacks last year, applying pressure on roughly 16.8% of his rush attempts. At 6'4", 261 lbs. with 32 5/8" arms, Mafe put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine. He ran a 4.53 40-time and ranked in the top four in the vertical and broad jumps. He earned a 9.91 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) on a scale of one to ten. For reference, Kayvon Thibodeaux earned a 9.7.
Mafe still needs to refine his hand usage and eliminate false steps in his rush plan, but his bend, burst, and ability to turn speed into power offer immense upside.
Round 2 (No. 53): Tyler Smith, IOL Tulsa
This is probably a dumb justification for this selection, but what if the Packers tried playing Elgton Jenkins at right tackle? We already know he can play left tackle at a Pro Bowl level from this past season, and he took some snaps at right tackle in 2020. I’m sure Jenkins would jump at the chance to be paid as a tackle instead of a guard, and kicking him outside allows the Packers to optimize their offensive line.
This proposal comes with the qualification that Smith plays left guard, a position he took fewer than five snaps at while in college. Smith played nearly 1,780 snaps at left tackle for Tulsa, allowing 18 pressures and two sacks. However, his raw technique contributed to 16 penalties he committed in 2021. Some of those issues, including surrendering the edge, would be nullified by moving Smith to guard.
Smith needs significant work on his hands and footwork in pass protection. Sometimes his powerful hands get too low, and he occasionally mistimes his punches. As for the footwork, Smith doesn’t have a smooth initial kick step and misses his marks, which leads to holding penalties. He also fails to reach his potential in the running game because of improper hand usage, which leads to surrendering leverage.
On the positive side, Smith has power for days. He can maul defenders in the running game and has vice-like hands capable of locking down reps once deployed. Smith packs a powerful punch, and his anchor is one of the best in this class. His 6'5", 324 lb. frame and 34" arms offer some of the “unteachable” elements NFL coaching staffs love.
The Tulsa product doesn’t have the swiftest feet, but they aren’t heavy either. He moves fairly well, as shown by a 5.02 40-yard dash and 1.71 ten-yard split, which both rank in the 90th percentile among offensive linemen according to MockDraftable.
Round 2 (No. 59): John Metchie III, WR Alabama
Metchie suffered a torn ACL in the SEC Championship Game, but he should return in time for the preseason. Jameson Williams largely overshadowed Metchie for the first half of Alabama’s season, and Metchie saw his stock plummet into the mid-rounds. However, he recovered with dominant performances against Auburn (with Williams out of the game), Arkansas, Mississippi St., and Tennessee. He had six receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown against Georgia before tearing his ACL.
Metchie lacks desirable size for an outside receiver at 5'11", 187 lbs. with 30 5/8" arms. He played roughly 29% of his college snaps in the slot, but I think he’ll take most of his snaps there in the NFL. I’m not opposed to playing Metchie outside, I just don’t think the Packers will take that route.
Drops were an issue at Alabama for Metchie. He had 15 drops on 212 career targets, including eight this past season. This is largely because he tries too many body catches instead of extending within his already limited catch radius. Metchie also lacks elite speed and explosiveness but makes up for those shortcomings in other areas.
Metchie thrives as a route runner capable of creating natural separation with his cuts, footwork, and wily misdirection. He shows some short-area twitch and enough quickness to press defenders on deeper routes. This also helps create YAC. Metchie has an excellent release package that complements his professional profile. He should thrive on short to intermediate routes and develop into a solid deep threat in the NFL.
Round 3 (No. 92): Channing Tindall, LB Georgia
At 6'2", 230 lbs. with nearly 33" arms, Tindall is an elite athlete who tested among the top three linebackers in the events he participated in at the NFL Scouting Combine (40-yard dash, broad jump, and vertical jump). His scores in those events ranked among the 95th percentile or higher for linebackers according to MockDraftable.
Tindall was a one-year starter at Georgia, so he’ll experience a sharp learning curve in the NFL. However, his physical skill set means he’ll at least have an immediate impact on special teams. Tindall should become a starter by his second season in the league, but I believe he could quickly eclipse Green Bay’s current depth around All-Pro De'Vondre Campbell (Krys Barnes, Isaiah McDuffie, and Ty Summers).
Tindall has upside as a pass rusher. He produced 26 pressures and 5.5 sacks in 2021 on just over 100 pass rush attempts. His ability to stick with pass catchers, especially those capable of making sharp cuts and changing direction in small spaces, remains up in the air.
Tindall is an excellent tackler that brings the power to challenge climbing offensive linemen and clog running lanes. His sideline-to-sideline speed is an elite counter for outside runs, and he’s fantastic in pursuit. Tindall still struggles to diagnose plays and make quick reads because of how new he is to the starting role. Experience will naturally fix those issues.
Round 4 (No. 132): Charlie Kolar, TE Iowa St.
Kolar offers premier size at the tight end position at 6'6.5", 252 lbs. with 34 1/2" arms. He’s quickly become underrated in this class because he’s not as twitchy or flashy as many modern tight ends. However, Kolar finds and sits in space, using his frame to box out smaller defenders. He projects as a capable security blanket at the next level.
Despite his size, Kolar struggles with blocking. It’s not because of a lack of effort (which is great news). Instead, Kolar suffers from poor technique and some issues maintaining leverage. Most of these problems should get ironed out within his first two years in the league, leading to Kolar becoming an average blocker.
Kolar isn’t a twitchy athlete, and he struggles to create yards after the catch. The fourth-year Iowa State product also struggles to get open at times because he lacks burst off the line of scrimmage and speed going into and coming out of routes. However, his soft hands (just five drops on 256 collegiate targets), size mismatch (caught 66.7% of his contested catch opportunities in 2021), and ability to find open space make him a reliable future NFL starter.
Round 4 (No. 140): Max Mitchell, OT Louisiana
Once viewed as a top 100 prospect, Mitchell had arguably the worst pre-draft process of all offensive linemen. He was routinely blown off the line of scrimmage at the Senior Bowl and had some horrible testing numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine. At 6'6", 307 lbs. with 33 1/2" arms, Mitchell ran a 5.32 40-yard dash and an 8.09 three-cone. None of his athletic tests rose higher than the 70th percentile according to MockDraftable. Most were below the 40th percentile.
Adding Mitchell gives Green Bay an experienced player with over 2,700 offensive snaps split between left and right tackle. On 1,280 collegiate pass blocking snaps, Mitchell only allowed 40 pressures and five sacks. He makes good use of his hands in pass protection and shows some spring out of his stance against the run.
Mitchell desperately needs to add muscle once he enters the NFL. His lower body lacks the strength to move heavier players in the running game, and his anchor fails when faced with power rushers or sack artists capable of turning speed into power.
I know I floated out the idea of Elgton Jenkins playing right tackle earlier. If the Packers decide that’s a dumb move (and it might be), Mitchell gives them a player who could start as a rookie and at least bring something to the table. Preferably, he doesn’t start right away.
Round 5 (No. 171): Bryan Cook, S Cincinnati
Depending on the year, Adrian Amos is a top-ten safety. His running mate, Darnell Savage Jr., showed flashes of top-ten play during his first three seasons but hasn’t solidified himself as an elite player at the position. Amos is a better, more consistent player, but the soon-to-be 29-year-old becomes a free agent next offseason. Meanwhile, Savage’s cap hit will spike next year if Green Bay picks up his fifth-year rookie option.
With so much potential turnover on the horizon, adding depth at safety becomes a priority for Green Bay. This class is very deep at the position. Gutekunst could settle for Cook or JT Woods at this spot or target players like Nick Cross or Kerby Joseph with a top 100 pick. In this scenario, the Packers wait on adding a safety.
Cook (6' 1", 206 lbs. with 31 7/8" arms) converted from corner to safety when he transferred from Howard to Cincinnati. He primarily played in the box this past season, and it’s easy to see why. He’s a fantastic run defender and one of the best tackling defensive backs in this class. Cook lacks elite speed, which could compromise his range in coverage. However, he saw significant snaps in the slot and at free safety this past season.
Round 7 (No. 228): Christopher Hinton, IDL Michigan
Hinton offers minimal athletic upside at 6'4", 305 lbs. with 32 3/8" arms. He moves more like a player that’s 340 lbs. with a lack of burst and closing speed. Hinton doesn’t bring much to the table as a pass rusher. He only produced 24 pressures on over 500 pass rushing snaps while at Michigan.
Despite all of these concerns, Hinton plays with good leverage and has an NFL-caliber anchor. His hands pack some power, and they could become a greater weapon if he learns to keep them active at all times. Hinton likely won’t see the field much as a rookie, but he could get snaps as a defensive end in Green Bay’s 3-4 scheme, which recently added Jarran Reed.
Round 7 (No. 249): Jaquarii Roberson, WR Wake Forest
Roberson is a 6'0", 182 lb. slot receiver with 31 6/8" arms. He amassed 133 receptions, 2,004 yards, and 16 touchdowns over his final two years with the Demon Deacons, including six games with at least 90 yards in 2021. Roberson lacks elite speed, and his thin frame could get pushed around by stronger defensive backs.
Despite his physical limitations, Roberson performs well in contested catch situations and rarely lets the ball hit the ground. He only had nine drops on 227 targets in college. I wouldn’t call Roberson an elite route runner, but he’s capable of creating some separation this way. He’s a player who consistently finds open space and gives his quarterback a target.
Priority UDFAs
De'Shaan Dixon, EDGE Norfolk St.
Decobie Durant, CB South Carolina St.
Ali Fayad, EDGE Western Michigan
Brad Hawkins, S Michigan
Tayland Humphrey, IDL Louisiana
Malcolm Rodriguez, LB Oklahoma St.
Alex Wright, EDGE UAB
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