The 2021 Draft is fast approaching. A lot has changed since my initial Packers Mock Draft back in March. The team have re-signed Aaron Jones and surprised many with their decision to restructure Preston Smith and bring back Kevin King. They are clearly not far away from making a Super Bowl, but they need more depth at key positions, most noticeably at corner, offensive line, and wide receiver. This mock draft was done using PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator.
You can read more of my 2021 NFL Draft content here.
Round 1, Pick 29 – Caleb Farley | CB, Virginia Tech
If Farley is on the board at No. 29 overall, this pick is a complete no-brainer. His issues with injuries are obviously a concern, but there is not a more talented cornerback in this class than Farley. He would be a starter from day one opposite Jaire Alexander and would provide a complimentary skillset. Farley has prototypical cornerback size and length and pairs this with reported 4.2 speed. His short area quickness makes him an ideal fit in the two-high defense the Packers will be running under Joe Barry. Farley only switched to the position in 2018, but has already shown elite production. In 2019 he allowed a passer rating of 26.8, easily the best amongst draft-eligible corners. He excels at the catch point too, and logged 13 forced incompletions on his 50 targets. If he can stay healthy the Packers could have the best young cornerback tandem in pro football.
Round 2, Pick 62 – Walker Little | OT, Stanford
A former five-star recruit, Little was the No. 9 ranked player in the country in the 2017 recruiting class. He has borderline first round talent, although he hasn’t seen the field much in recent years. A knee injury saw him miss most of the 2019 season and he then opted out in 2020. When he’s on the field, Little has all of the traits you want in a tackle. He possesses the ideal combination of size and athleticism, with unrivalled movement skills for a player of 6’8″ and 313 lbs. He is strong too, and has one of the stoutest anchors you will find in this year’s class. Pass protection is his strong point, having allowed just 12 pressures across his last 508 pass blocking snaps. Through his final seven games he allowed a single pressure. Matt LaFleur loves athletic offense linemen who can play in space and Little ticks that box.
Round 3, Pick 92 – Kendrick Green | IOL, Illinois
The Packers need to replace Corey Linsley at center and there are few better fits in this class than Green to Green Bay. He is an outstanding athlete, testing in the 95th percentile or above in the 40-yard dash, vertical, and broad jump. He is a handful in the running game, and led college football with 14 big-time blocks in 2020. Like the Packers, Illinois ran an outside zone-heavy scheme and Green excelled when asked to play in space. His 93.6 PFF grade on zone runs was one of the highest marks in the country. His hand technique in pass protection could do with some work, but he would be the perfect scheme fit in Green Bay. He also offers guard/center flexibility.
Round 4, Pick 135 – Jaelon Darden | WR, North Texas
This is a really deep wide receiver class and the Packers don’t need to force the position early on. Instead they can pick up a player like Darden in the fourth round. He enters the draft off the back of an excellent 2020 season, becoming UNT’s first Consensus All-American since Mean Joe Greene in 1968. Darden is one of the most electric players you will find with the ball in his hands. He forced 23 missed tackles on 74 receptions last season, the most of any college receiver. The Packers need a weapon in the slot who can offer value after the catch and Darden would give them just that. 55.8 per cent of his career yardage has come with the ball in his hands and he averaged 7.7 yards after the catch in 2020. At just 5’7″ and 174 lbs he lacks ideal size, but this shouldn’t be a problem from the slot.
Round 4, Pick 142 – Jonathan Marshall | IDL, Arkansas
The Packers have one of the league’s best interior linemen in Kenny Clark, but little else besides. Adding more talent there would be a smart move and Marshall fits the Packers’ profile of athletic freaks. He posted a 9.99 Relative Athletic Score at his pro day, the best of any interior linemen and the fifth best of any prospect in the 2021 class. His initial get-off is fantastic and he combines this with tremendous power at the point of attack. Marshall is undoubtedly a raw prospect, but he has the ability to win in a variety of different ways. He may take some development, but the potential payoff if things click is huge.
Round 5, Pick 173 – Zech McPhearson | CB, Texas Tech
With the Caleb Farley selection at No. 29 the Packers sorted their issue at outside corner. That said, there is no harm in depth at the position and McPhearson would be a fantastic mid-round selection. A two-year starter at Texas Tech, McPhearson has the versatility to play on the boundary or in the slot. His short area quickness makes him a perfect fit in Joe Barry’s Cover 2 defense and he excelled in a zone-heavy role at Texas Tech. His 2020 tape was particularly impressive. He posted a forced incompletion rate of 18.8 per cent and allowed a passer rating of just 71.5 across his 53 targets. McPhearson is also one of the better tacklers in the class, with just three misses on 57 attempts last season. He lacks ideal long speed, but this is less of an issue in Joe Barry’s defense, where he will be primarily responsible for covering the flats.
Round 5, Pick 178 – Nick Niemann | LB, Iowa
As things stand, the Packers are set to start Kamal Martin and Krys Barnes at linebacker next season. Given their inexperience it makes plenty of sense to add more depth around them, and Niemann has the tools to potentially develop into an NFL starter. He is an accomplished run defender who reads the game very well. He is also one of the best tacklers in this year’s class, logging just three misses on 77 attempts in 2020. Niemann has the athletic ability you want in a linebacker, running a 4.48 40-yard dash and a 6.67 three-cone at his pro day. He isn’t much of a playmaker in coverage, but still managed to allow a passer rating of just 85.7 last season.
Round 6, Pick 214 – Chris Rumph | EDGE, Duke
At this point in the draft you are taking players with upside or special teams value. Rumph definitely falls into the former category. He has proven himself to be one of the most productive pass rushers in college football over the past few seasons. He racked up 92 pressures on just 438 pass rushing snaps since 2019. His 23.1 per cent pass rush win rate ranked fifth amongst draft-eligible edges in 2020. He actually led the country with a 31.6 per cent win rate in 2019. The reason he is available at this spot is his size. Rumph played at just 235 lbs last season, which would be incredibly light by NFL standards. He could fill a role as a designated pass rusher and provide the Packers with some depth at a valuable position.
Round 6, Pick 220 – Avery Williams | CB, Boise State
It became increasingly apparent last season that the Packers need more quality on special teams. According to PFF, the team ranked 29th in special teams grade last season, falling from 24th in 2019. Williams would give the Packers a high-quality return specialist from day one. During his time with the Broncos, Williams returned five punts and three kickoffs for touchdowns. He was a four-year starter at cornerback, but could reportedly switch to wide receiver or running back in the NFL. In addition to bringing special teams value, Williams could play the ‘Swerve’ role in the Packers’ offense next season.
Round 7, Pick 256 – Pooka Williams | RB, Kansas
With the re-signing of Aaron Jones, running back is no longer a major need for the Packers. That said, they need someone to replace Jamaal Williams, who accounted for 851 all-purpose yards in 2020. Pooka Williams would give them a solid backup running back with genuine ability as a pass catcher. He was a reliable option for Kansas, with just one drop on his 66 career catchable passes. He is comfortable being flexed out wide and has elite short area burst. At 5’8″ and 175 lbs he is noticeably undersized, but plays with great contact balance, averaging 0.33 missed tackles per carry. This is higher than the likes of Travis Etienne and Najee Harris. Williams comes with some off-field concerns, but is worth a flyer in the seventh round.
