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While the Green Bay Packers have a ton of free agent decisions to make in the coming weeks, the bread and butter of the Packers roster building strategy has always been to draft and develop.
The consensus among draft expert and on draft Twitter has vacillated between wide receiver and inside linebacker, but there are some other positions that have been floated for the Packers to consider.
In today’s mock draft roundup, we get a look at a few more unique prospects as draft stocks begin to get volatile.
PFF: Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
According to PFF, Moore is a zone-coverage beater who had “more plays of 15-plus yards in 2020 via finding a hole in zone” than any other WR in the FBS. This would be a great add, specifically for Rodgers, if Moore’s zone coverage beating skills translate to finding open holes after the play breaks down.
Moore is a shifty slot receiver with sticky hands and crisp route running ability. He’s a little undersized at 5’9” and 185 lbs., but he doesn’t go down easily when hit and he can always add weight. To be the kind of player the Packers would want, Moore will have to be a little more engaged in the run game and become a more willing blocker.
Moore’s production in college is a definite plus on his resume. From his sophomore to junior seasons, he improved across the board in receiving yards, yards per catch, and touchdowns. He went from 850 yards, 12.7 YPC and 6 receiving TDs in 2019 to 1,193 yards, 13.9 YPC and 8 receiving TDs in 2020 – in four fewer games.
Pro Football Network: Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
The Packers have gotten thinner on the offensive line after the release of Rick Wagner. David Bakhtiari will also likely miss the start of the season as well. Adding a solid piece on the offensive line, particularly at right tackle, can help the Packers more immediately than at other positions.
Jenkins is a player that has spent time at right guard and left tackle, along with right – and we all know how much the Packers love a lineman who can play in different spots along the line, if necessary. Jenkins is a powerful lineman who has been slowly moving up draft boards.
A mountain of an offensive lineman, Jenkins is a 6’6”, 310-pound bulldozer who can man handle edge rushers and climb to the second level in the ground game with ease. He’s a hardhat and lunch pail kind of lineman who doesn’t necessarily have elite athleticism, but can be another Jenkins on the line who can turn into an elite pro.
Fox Sports: Elijah Molden, DB, Washington
The Packers have a new defensive coordinator and an upgrade at the defensive back position would help smooth the transition. Reaching back into the Washington well for a defensive back would likely be to replace Kevin King, who hasn’t lived up to his draft status.
Even if the Packers retain King, Molden is an experienced player who can play the nickel position – another spot the Packers could use an upgrade at. He has also been able to put in good reps at safety, which would provide for great flexibility with Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos moving around the defense. He’s not the quickest defensive back in this draft, but he does have great instincts that help him compensate. Casey Hayward comes to mind as a player who doesn’t have elite speed, but still ended up being a solid, versatile pro.