Kiper has the Packers taking a receiver in the first round
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., the man who essentially invented draft coverage, just dropped his first post-free agency mock draft and he had the Green Bay Packers doing the unthinkable: actually taking a first-round wide receiver. Kiper has Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka, who mostly played in the slot for the Buckeyes, coming to Green Bay.
With that being said, Egbuka is sort of in the Justin Jefferson situation, where he clearly has the ability to play outside receiver but played in the slot because of another freak pass-catcher on his team. In Jefferson’s case, it was Ja’Marr Chase — now the highest-paid non-quarerback in NFL history. For Egbuka, it’s Jeremiah Smith — a 19-year-old who probably would be a top-five pick in this draft had the 6’3”, 220-pound true freshman been eligible to declare.
Here’s what Kiper had to say about sending Egbuka to Green Bay:
Egbuka’s game is really refined. He is a great route runner. He has good hands. He reads the defense well. And while Green Bay doesn’t have much history of drafting wide receivers on Day 1 (Javon Walker was the last one in 2002), this seems like a good year to break the streak. Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs all have injury concerns, and I’m not sure any of them are true WR1s when healthy. Egbuka had 1,011 receiving yards last season, and he could make an immediate impact on this offense.
I’m also watching the Jaire Alexander situation. If he gets traded or cut, Green Bay could look at the cornerback class.
I’m not sure that I agree with Kiper’s last paragraph. It seems like Alexander and the Packers are headed for a divorce, one way or another, at this point. The signing of Nate Hobbs to pair with Keisean Nixon at outside cornerback is probably Green Bay’s post-Alexander plan at the position.
Mel Kiper Full Mock Draft
- Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
- Browns: Abdul Carter, ED, Penn State
- Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
- Patriots; Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
- Jaguars: Mason Graham, iDL, Michigan
- Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
- Jets: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
- Panthers: Jalon Walker, ED, Georgia
- Saints: Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi
- Bears: Mykel Williams, ED, Georgia
- 49ers: Armand Membou, OL, Missouri
- Cowboys: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
- Dolphins: Will Campbell, OL, LSU
- Colts: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
- Falcons: Mike Green, ED, Marshall
- Cardinals: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
- Bengals: Shemar Stewart, ED, Texas A&M
- Seahawks: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
- Buccaneers: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
- Broncos: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
- Steelers: Derrick Harmon, iDL, Oregon
- Chargers: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
- Packers: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
- Vikings: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
- Texans: Josh Simmons, OL, Ohio State
- Rams: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
- Ravens: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
- Lions: James Pearce Jr., ED, Tennessee
- Commanders: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
- Bills: Kenneth Grant, iDL, Michigan
- Chiefs: Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
- Eagles: Walter Nolen, iDL, Mississippi
Based on the consensus draft board, there weren’t too many surprises from Kiper in this mock. Only three players ranked as top 32 players on the consensus board failed to go in Kiper’s first round: Alabama guard Tyler Booker, Missouri receiver Luther Burden and Boston College edge defender Donovan Ezeiruaku.