Scott Mock 2.0 (include trade for S)

[Scott4Pack]

Here is my 2nd mock. I’ve added a little “intelligence” to my first mock, by spending just a few moments looking at history/traits of the players. I don’t spend the time that some of you guys do on the draft. But maybe I can “scout” a few players that you haven’t considered much.

I have to confess, I’d be thrilled with a real draft that had trade offers lining up like they did in this one. Fifteen picks is a lot!

Round 1

TRADE: QB Aaron Rodgers to the Jets. Packers receive pick #43 (round 2) and S Jordan Whitehead. This might be a bit generous by the Jets, but they really want Aaron Rodgers and they are not willing to part with pick 13, as they are eating a large amount of his contract. Even so, they can let go of a player, in lieu of the cash.

TRADE: Pick 15 to the NY Giants. Packers receive picks 25 (round 1), 57 (round 2), and 100 (round 4). Also receive a R4 pick in 2024. I didn’t see the players at the positions that I wanted, for pick 15. But there were some very good options going deep into the first round. So this type of trade made a lot of sense, especially since I’m looking to take many swings and surround Jordan Love with many players.

Pick 25: Edge Nolan Smith of Georgia. Yes, some of Packer Nation go crazy over spending this pick on defense! But we need some very good talent at that position, as we don’t know for sure when our premier Edge guy returns.

Round 2

Pick 43 (from the NY Jets): T Dawand Jones of THE Ohio State University. This is a big name player from a big name school and he fits a need at OLine. He can take a year to learn from Bahktiari and fill in if there are injuries.

TRADE: Pick 45 to the Washington Commanders. Packers receive picks 47 (round 2) and 118 (round 4). Again, I didn’t see the value or positions lining up. This was an easy swap and still afforded me the players that I’d want.

Pick 47 (from Commanders): TE Sam LaPorta of Iowa. He is the 10th rated TE on the board. He isn’t elite. But he still catches well enough, runs well enough, has reliable hands, and blocks well enough. He isn’t elite but he is good and that’s good for the Pack.

TRADE: Pick 57 to the Buffalo Bills. Packers receive picks 59 (round 3) and 138 (round 5).

Pick 59 DI Keanu Benton of Wisconsin. This might be a little above his value, but he fits a need and he is from Janesville. I had to pick him in memory of my mother who lived in Janesville and passed away this year. (And this is what “mock” drafts are for!) He isn’t as fast as we’d like. But he can push the pocket and play the run well enough.

Round 3

Pick 100 WR Jayden Reed of Michigan State. This guy has a reputation of being very aggressively competitive against bigger defenders. It’d be nice if he were faster, but he will be scrappy and play mostly in the slot nicely. He might also bring some ST value.

Round 4

Pick 116 TE Luke Schoonmaker of Michigan. Here is another TE from a big school program. He will be more of a blocker for Green Bay. But don’t be fooled. He will also be able to catch the ball in the RZ.

Pick 118 QB Aiden O’Connell of Purdue. This is another pick that is perhaps over-value. And I don’t like a name like “Aiden” as a football player (going back to John Madden days here). But O’Connell is one heck of a good football name! The Pack can train up this guy to make him a reliable backup, in addition to whichever vet they will bring.

Round 5

Pick 138 DI Moro Oromo of Texas. This guy is my dark horse. I think he will play a backup role nicely.

Pick 150 Edge Colby Wooden of Auburn. This guy made a good many pressures in college. The Packers are all about pressures. He can fit in ST until he makes a way into the Edge rotation.

Pick 170 RB Keaton Mitchell of East Carolina. He can return kicks and punts. If he does that well enough, then look for him to have a few snaps on offense as a speed/jet sweep guy. Maybe he works his way into the third down snaps by season end too.

Round 7

Pick 233 RB Eric Gray of Oklahoma. Developmental RB.

Pick 236 T T.J. Bass of Oregon. Get depth for the OLine. And with a name like Bass, he must be a fit in Wisconsin!

Pick 243 CB Alex Austin of Oregon State. It’s a shock that a CB or S wasn’t picked prior to this. But even in this trade, there are only so many picks to go around.

Pick 255 S Brandon Hill of Pittsburgh. Another legacy school that the Packers like.

Pick 258 S Jaiden Woodbey of Boston College.