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Packers Mock Draft 2017: How does Green Bay’s board set up after the Combine?

With the centralized testing complete, APC’s draft guru simulates a draft to see what prospects fit the Packers’ criteria.

NCAA Football: Cotton Bowl-Wisconsin vs Western Michigan Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Well, the NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone. This means one thing: we’re getting closer to the Draft. #DraftSZN

For this mock, I used the Mock Draft simulator site: first-pick.com which is a fun site to use. I declined making trades for the purposes of this mock, as I often end up taking like 15 players when I let myself make trades.

Also, a lot of the thought process behind this is how the Green Bay Packers would draft. A lot of times there were good players at positions of need, but if they don’t meet the Packers’ thresholds, I didn’t select them.

Yes, I’m aware some of these players “________ in no way will be there in round ____” but for the sake of this mock I had to draft some players, so I did. Let’s get into it.

Round 1 Pick 29 - Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan, 6’3” 209

Let’s get this out of the way. I don’t think Corey Davis will fall to pick 29. But he did. So I drafted him (as I should). Davis would immediately become a difference maker on the Packers’ offense. He’s incredible after the catch for such a big receiver, and would give Aaron Rodgers a welcomed upgrade on the perimeter.

Other players considered: WR/RB Curtis Samuel, RB Christian McCaffrey, CB Marlon Humphrey, CB Tre’Davious White

Round 2 Pick 29 - Dion Dawkins, OG, Temple, 6’4” 314

With T.J. Lang potentially on his way out, the Packers get some help on the offensive line. Dawkins, who played college left tackle at Temple, fits what the Packers look for. Their entire offensive line, other than Corey Linsley, played blindside tackle in college. Dawkins looked good at the Senior Bowl, and tested fairly well. He’s likely a Packers target.

Other players considered: DL Chris Wormley, LB Duke Riley, CB Kevin King, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, EDGE Ryan Anderson

Round 3 Pick 29 - Derek Rivers, EDGE, Youngstown State, 6’4” 248

This is another example of a player who likely will not make it all the way to the end of the 3rd round, but if you look at twitter dot com, you will see that there are at least 200 players that shouldn’t get out of the first 3 rounds, so crazier things have happened. Rivers is a #good pass rusher from the FCS ranks, and would be a #nice addition to the pass rush with Julius Peppers and potentially Nick Perry both leaving via free agency.

Other players considered: TE Gerald Everett, WR ArDarius Stewart, TE Jake Butt, RB Joe Mixon

Round 4 Pick 27 - Jeremy McNichols, RB, Boise State, 5’9” 214

Jeremy McNichols seems to be getting lost in the shuffle of this talented running back class, but he is the type of back that the Packers have drafted in the past. McNichols is talented not only as a runner but as a receiver. He makes a lot of sense for Green Bay, as Eddie Lacy and Christine Michael are both free agents.

Other players considered: TE Jordan Leggett, DL Jarron Jones, OT Julie’n Davenport

Round 5 Pick 28 - E’Juan Price, EDGE, Pittsburgh, 5’11” 241

In Day 3 of the draft, you’re looking for guys with a specific trait that you can utilize from them. E’Juan Price, despite his diminutive stature, can rush the passer. He’s old (24) but that hasn’t stopped Green Bay in the past, who drafted 25 year old Kyler Fackrell a year ago. He wears very short football pants, and no knee pads, but man can he get after the passer. He didn’t test very well at the Combine, which will push him down in the draft.

Other players considered: CB Channing Stribling, DL Eddie Vanderdoes, TE Jeremy Sprinkle

Round 5 Pick 38 - Jayon Brown, LB/S, UCLA, 6’0” 231

Brown is one of the new “hybrid” linebackers who can also play well in coverage on tight ends and not have to come off of the field in Dime packages. While the Packers have Joe Thomas, Brown is a talented kid who will provide some insurance at the position, which has been ravaged by injury the past couple of seasons. Also, with Micah Hyde likely on the way out of Green Bay, which is actually bad and not good, Brown can help in that respect.

Other players considered: RB Donnel Pumphrey, RB James Conner, WR K.D. Cannon

Round 6 Pick 28 - Nate Hairston, CB, Temple, 6’0” 196

The Packers need help at cornerback, and in this scenario, they don’t get any until the 6th round. While most fans would likely not be happy with this situation, Ted Thompson has been adamant that they trust their process and are consistent in the way that they want to build their roster. Hairston satisfies the size requirements the Packers have at the position, and ran pretty well (4.52) for his size.

Round 7 Pick 29 - Josh Tupou, NT, Colorado, 6’2” 345

Josh Tupou is not small. The Packers had issues with depth along the defensive line a year ago, due to the fact that they only carried 5 defensive linemen on the active roster. Tupou will also help ease the situation at nose tackle in the first 4 games of the season, while LeTroy Guion serves his suspension for PEDs. Tupou doesn’t offer much in terms of pass rush, but he’s an absolute plug in the run game.

Help at WR, a starter at guard, pass rush depth, a dual threat runningback, a coverage linebacker, a tall corner #NoSmallCorners and a nose tackle. Not bad.

There. I likely made all of you mad by being stupid. Feel free to tell me how dumb I am in the comments below.