The first round of the 2022 NFL draft begins in a week. The Green Bay Packers will go into the event with 11 draft picks and a chance to turn a good roster into a great one over three days of important work.
My goal for this seven-round mock draft (using the simulator at Pro Football Focus) was to pick players I thought the Packers would actually take, based on the team’s drafting history, team needs and my own player evaluations.
Here are the results:
1.22: DB Daxton Hill, Michigan
1.28: WR George Pickens, Georgia
2.53: DL/EDGE Logan Hall, Houston
2.59: WR Alec Pierce, Cincinnati
3.92: TE Jelani Woods, Virginia
4.132: OT Spencer Burford, UTSA
4.140: DL Thomas Booker, Stanford
5.171: OL Cade Mays, Tennessee
7.228: LB D’Marco Jackson, App. State
7.249: S Marquese Bell, Florida A&M
7.258: WR Isaiah Weston, Northern Iowa
Overall thoughts: I think this draft class adds a bunch of quality players and hits on every major roster need. There’s a versatile playmaker for the secondary, three new receivers, a Marcedes Lewis clone, a bunch of help for the defensive front, two developmental pieces for the offensive line and a pair of future special teamers. There’s a good mix of instant impact at the top and roster-stabilizing pieces later.
– Hill is a 21-year-old elite athlete who could be either a terrific free safety or slot defender at the next level. Athletically, he compares favorably to Stephon Gilmore. The Packers could plug him in as a subpackage defender and get a big upgrade right away.
– Pickens is a prototypical “X” receiver with his best football still ahead of him. He was on a fast track to the top 15 picks before his ACL injury last season. The Packers get him on a discount here.
– Hall lasting to No. 53 would be a big surprise, but the Packers wouldn’t mind. He’s a perfect fit as a penetrating interior rusher who can also play out on the edge.
– Pierce needs some refinement to his game overall but he checks a lot of boxes for the Packers. He’s a deep threat with elite speed and terrific body control and ball skills.
– Woods is an alien athlete, but his game fits the Marcedes Lewis mold. Consider him the future at inline tight end. Learning for a year behind Lewis is a best-case scenario.
– Booker is a versatile defensive lineman with powerful hands and some disruptive ability.
– Think of Mays as a Lucas Patrick replacement. He’s a good athlete and a mauling blocker who can play multiple positions.
– Jackson provides depth and special teams talent at linebacker. Bell ran 4.4 at 212 pounds and has the profile of an excellent special teamer. Weston is an elite athlete who is worth a late seventh-round pick for a team in need of receivers.