2013 Packers Mock Draft Round Up: Jesse Williams Appearing More Often

I’m sure you heard somewhere that the NFL Combine has started. This can mean only one thing….we are full on in Mock Draft season y’all! It seems that everyone has some prediction as to how the draft is going to go down, and the only thing we can be sure of is that pretty much everyone is going to be wrong. Reading all of these mock drafts can give a good sense of who should be available at 26, and may provide an idea of which direction Ted Thompson & Co. should go come April. Here are this week’s updates…

SBNation – Mocking The Draft: John Jenkins, DT, Georgia

BJ Raji is one of the better defensive linemen in the NFL, but he plays a staggering number of snaps for the position. If the Packers drafted Jenkins, he take some snaps away from Raji and eventually be Ryan Pickett's replacement at nose tackle.

No real change here. Jenkins is one of those picks that I think most Packer fans can get behind. More depth along the line and a possible future NT is exactly what most people around here would love to see.

Gil Brandt – NFL.com: 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.

Well Saturday is gone with the wind….or is that Tuesday? I’m sure fans of the Badgers would love to see another Wisconsin offensive lineman, but something tells me this is a bit early a pick for Frederick. This could be a good pick if the Packers trade down into the second round, but I can't find the value at the bottom of the first round.

Daniel Jeremiah – NFL.com: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

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.

There’s an old saying in the NFL….you can never have too many cornerbacks. If the Packers made this pick they would really be pushing the truth of this statement. Even without Charles Woodson the Packers seem to be set at corner with Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Casey Hayward, and Davon House.

Pete Prisco – CBSsports.com: Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama

They have to improve inside on their line.

Yes, they do.

Rob Rang – CBSsports.com: 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.

Here’s where a breakdown between the local beat writers and the national writers is probably going to take hold. People who follow the Packers closely are probably not going to go tackle quite this high, unless they have given up all hope for Derek Sherrod. Don Barclay and Marshall Newhouse aren’t perfect but they could be great depth, and Bryan Bulaga has the ability to be one of the best RT’s in football. If Sherrod can’t go then another high round on a tackle isn’t a bad idea. If Sherrod can compete, than those shiny first round picks on OT would be wasted on a benchwarmer.

Walter Football: 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.

This is almost the exact sort of thing as what Mr. Brandt did above; it’s the right idea and the wrong round. I’ll be one of the first people to tell you the Packers need to think WR early in this draft, but that should be address between rounds 2 and 4, not in the first. If the Packers trade down and get Allen great, but otherwise it might be better to spend that pick along one of the two lines.

Bucky Brooks – NFL.com: Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame

For all of the jokes and snickers Te'o has endured since the girlfriend hoax came to light, the Packers would love to add an inside linebacker of his caliber to a defense that has slipped in recent years.

Is Te’o an upgrade or is he A.J. Hawk v.2.0? Discuss.

Josh Norris – NFL.com: Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama

Will Brinson – CBSsports.com: Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama

Dane Brugler – CBSsports.com: Arthur Brown, OLB, Kansas State

Drafttek.com: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA