The Green Bay Packers fell to the 49ers in the playoffs — again. Still, Aaron Rodgers is in town, keeping their Super Bowl window open. To reach that height this season, Green Bay has to select impact players in the NFL Draft. This 2022 7-Round NFL Mock Draft hopes to accomplish that goal for the Packers.
Green Bay Packers 7-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft
Using the free PFN Mock Draft Simulator with trades, equipped with the current 2022 NFL Draft order, let’s see who the Packers should target with 11 picks.
Following the Davante Adams trade, the Packers now own extra first- and second-round picks this year. What can they do with their extra draft capital?
Round 1, Pick 22: Drake London, WR, USC
It’s time, Green Bay — you can’t avoid drafting a receiver in Round 1 any longer. It’s been 20 years since the packers have selected a WR in the first round, but with Davante Adams off to Las Vegas, they don’t have a choice.
Drake London can be the team’s WR1 from Day 1. He can line up as a “big slot” or as an X/Z on the outside, allowing LaFleur to scheme the ball to Adams easily. I’m sure Aaron Rodgers would appreciate another playmaking receiver to throw to.
Round 1, Pick 28: Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
Preston Smith re-signed, but Za’Darius Smith is a free agent. So, the Packers tap into the edge defender well by selecting Boye Mafe in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Mafe is a supremely athletic pass rusher with the power to pair with his explosiveness. He’s rawer than some others in the class, but the upside is immense.
Round 2, Pick 53: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
Eric Stokes flashed as a rookie, Jaire Alexander will be healthy to start the year, and Rasul Douglas re-signed. But in this league, you can never have too many talented corners. Kyler Gordon is a terrific athlete in the secondary with the fluidity to play in the nickel. Yet, he has the size and playmaking ability to stick on the outside.
Round 2, Pick 59: Travis Jones, DT, UConn
Travis Jones owns impressive length and power to man the nose but the athleticism to fill the B gaps. He can two-gap and stuff the run, but he has potential as a pass-rushing penetrator from the interior. He proved such at the Senior Bowl and tested well at the NFL Combine.
Round 3, Pick 92: Quay Walker, LB, Georgia
The Packers need reinforcement at off-ball linebacker, and Quay Walker more than fits the bill. He is one of the best seek-and-destroy players from the position. As long as Green Bay doesn’t ask him to think too much, he will excel in Year 1. Playing alongside De’Vondre Campbell will allow Walker to run free downhill.
Round 4, Pick 131: Kyle Philips, WR, UCLA
London isn’t all the reinforcements the Packers need at receiver. Kyle Philips is an extremely efficient route runner. He is a technician out of the slot and can get open in a hurry for Rodgers. Philips also dabbles as a punt returner, further adding to his value. Sure, Randall Cobb re-signed, but Philips would be an upgrade right out of the gates.
Round 4, Pick 140: Cole Strange, G, Chattanooga
Cole Strange offers guard/center versatility, providing valuable depth as a mid-round pick. He is one of the more explosive linemen in the class, and his tape against Kentucky and at the Senior Bowl proved he could compete against top competition.
Round 5, Pick 171: Kellen Diesch, OT, Arizona State
Speaking of O-line help, Kellen Diesch can develop into a swing tackle for Green Bay, which is necessary with David Bakhtiari’s injury history and advancing age. Diesch owns solid length and is impressive in pass protection. He’s athletic but lacks some strength as a run blocker, though an NFL-level weight room could fix that.
Round 7, Pick 228: Tycen Anderson, S, Toledo
Tycen Anderson has the speed to hold up as a deep safety but is best deployed coming downhill. He’s a long tackler and has a nose for ball carriers. His coverage prowess is adequate but in a seventh-round safety, you can’t ask for much better than Anderson.
Round 7, Pick 249: Zach VanValkenburg, DL, Iowa
At 6’4″ and roughly 265 pounds, Zach VanValkenburg flashed on the edge for Iowa. His size/speed combo makes more sense on the interior with some added muscle mass, but VanValkenburg has potential. His power is imposing, but he can get stuck on blocks at times, which some further hand usage development could amend.
Round 7, Pick 258: Andrew Ogletree, TE, Youngstown State
Andrew Ogletree has impressive long speed (4.69 40-yard dash) to pair with his 6’5″, 250-pound frame. He has a big catch radius with 33″ arms, and even if Robert Tonyan re-signs, having another pass-catching tight end is never a bad thing for an offense.