It’s time for our weekly mock draft check-in. The Green Bay Packers still have plenty of needs they could address heading into next month’s college draft, including receiver, defensive tackle, defensive end and cornerback.
How will the Packers handle the first-round market? We took a look at recent mock drafts to attempt to answer that very question. Unlike last week, where several selections were made several times over, this week’s round-up is spread out over more prospects and positions.
Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
This name isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The Packers are known for taking linemen in the first round of the draft and Derrick Harmon is currently ranked as the 29th overall player on the consensus board, right around the range that the team will be selecting in. He fits Green Bay like a glove. Beyond being a run stopper at 6’5” and 313 pounds, Harmon was also the best interior pressure metrics player in major college football last season. He could potentially be either Kenny Clark or Devonte Wyatt’s long-term replacement, depending on how the room shapes out.
Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Harmon was the only player selected multiple times in these mock drafts, but cornerback was the most frequently drafted position for Green Bay overall. Two former NFL front office members, Mike Tannenbaum and Bucky Brooks, both had the team taking a cornerback. Interestingly, it was announced recently that Shavon Revel Jr., who is coming off of a non-contact ACL tear, is going to visit the Packers soon. Maybe Tannenbaum knew something?
At the moment, the Packers’ starting cornerbacks are Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs, considering that Jaire Alexander is on the move.
Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
Two Texas players made the list, but neither are receiver Isaiah Bond — who has reportedly set up a visit to Green Bay. With general manager Brian Gutekunst and vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan making the trip to Austin for Texas’ pro day, they were clearly interested in adding a Longhorn. Matthew Golden is currently ranked as the second-best true receiver in the class and the 18th overall prospect. We will just have to see if the pass-catcher drops on draft day. Kelvin Banks Jr., meanwhile, was Texas’ starting left tackle but projects better to guard at the next level due to his length. Adding Banks would shore up the right guard question for Green Bay, forcing 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan to compete with Rasheed Walker at left tackle for playing time.
Mykel Williams, DE, Georgia
Mykel Williams is one of the few players in this draft class who has worse pressure numbers than Shemar Stewart, a Texas A&M product who is likely to be taken in the first round and was brought on a visit to Green Bay. Unlike Stewart, though, Williams is more of an athletic run defender than a high upside pass-rusher. Williams can immediately contribute to the Packers as a run-stopper, but his ceiling might be a little lower on the pass-rushing end than Green Bay needs right now.
Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
Unlike Williams, a great fit for the Packers is receiver Jayden Higgins, who brings the size that Matt LaFleur likes at the position to the table, combined with the speed that they’ll be missing without Christian Watson. Higgins is only 53rd overall on the consensus board, but there are a lot of reasons why this pick makes sense. We wrote a full scouting report on the receiver earlier this month.