News for the NFL and the Green Bay Packers on the free agency front has come to a screeching halt. That means it’s time to get back to the NFL Draft and mock draft season!
Before we carry on, the Packers did sign two players to fill needs using free agency. Green Bay signed cornerback Nate Hobbs and interior offensive lineman Aaron Banks. As mentioned in my last week’s article, Brian Gutekunst uses free agency to fix any holes that were made by misses in the draft. Well, Nate Hobbs was brought in to fix the miss on Eric Stokes. Aaron Banks was brought into fix the miss on Josh Myers.
Free agency is fun and all, but it honestly can be considered an indictment of poor drafting by teams who are having to invest heavily in it. You have to remember that players for one reason or another are only available during free agency because their team let them go in some capacity. Free agency is honestly very high risk. Invest at your own risk, but some teams have no other answer but massive swings in free agency.
Be thankful that the Green Bay Packers didn’t have to take so many chances. Especially in what is considered such a weak free agent class. Now, let’s get started.
NFL Draft: Mock Draft Number One!
The first mock NFL draft that I want to look at is by Kyle Stackpole. In his most recent mock draft, he has the Packers selecting interior defensive lineman Derrick Harmon out of Oregon.
Per Lance Zierlein: Harmon is a powerful, position-versatile defensive lineman with impressive size, length, and strength, making him a tough obstacle for opposing offenses. He excels at clogging running lanes, disrupting the backfield, and protecting his linebackers by occupying blockers. While not a primary sack threat, his power and toughness contribute to a relentless defensive front. However, his top-heavy frame, limited agility, and inconsistent finishing ability need improvement. With his physical tools and hard-nosed playing style, Harmon has the potential to thrive in a rugged defensive scheme.
Considering the Packers lost TJ Slaton to free agency, they are now in desperate need for a run stuffer which is what TJ Slaton specialized in. Harmon’s versatility is exactly something that Gutey likes to look for in basically every player.
Derrick Harmon is number 30 on the Consensus Big Board.
Mock Draft Number 2 – A second rounder?
Profootball Network’s Jacob Infante recently did a seven-round mock draft, which is quite the endeavor. Well, instead of talking about who he had going to Green Bay in the first round, I decided to talk about his selection for the Packers in the second round! Check out the rest of his mock draft, including who he chose in the first round, by clicking here.
In the second round, Infante has the Packers selecting Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris.
Per Lance Zierlein: Harris is a size/speed wide receiver who improved his game in 2024, showing better route-running and contested-catch ability. He excels on short and deep routes, using his speed to create big plays and his agility to turn short passes into longer gains. While his skill set points to a strong WR2 role with big-game potential, concerns remain about his injury history, inconsistent route precision, and contested-catch struggles. With continued development, Harris has the tools to become a dynamic “X” receiver at the pro level.
Harris does fit the bill at his size and weight for the Packers. He does have some work to do to be ready at the NFL level, his upside might be worth the selection in the second round. The one thing that causes me to hesitate is his 4.54 40-yard dash time. I know that isn’t bad by any means, but the Packers need someone who can take the top off of a defense while they are missing Christian Watson. However, he could develop into a great X receiver.
Davante Adams ran a 4.56 by the way.
NFL Draft: Mock Draft Number Three
I saved the *ahem* most interesting one for last in this edition. The Draft Network’s Mason Johnstone has the Packers trading in the first round. Green Bay trades all the way up to pick 13 with the Miami Dolphins and select edge/linebacker Jalon Walker out of Georgia.
What did the Packers give up for this trade? Well, they gave pick 23, their second rounder this year, and their second rounder next year. All of this for Jalon Walker. Walker is 12th on the Consensus Big Board while PFF has him ranked 30th. The views about Walker are all over the place.
Jalon Walker
Here is Lance Zierlein’s take: Walker is a versatile defender with experience at both edge and linebacker, combining athleticism, closing speed, and strong blitzing skills. His explosiveness and ability to attack both edges make him a disruptive force. Despite being undersized for a full-time edge role, Walker’s hybrid skill set allows him to thrive as a dynamic linebacker who can pressure the quarterback on passing downs. With improved technique and awareness, he has the potential to become a productive and impactful pro.
Don’t get me wrong, Walker could very well be a value pick at 23. However, trading up to 13 to get him seems kinda like a bit much. He’ll more than likely go in the top of the first round because of his high upside, versatility, and crazy athleticism. I’m not against the Packers trading up if he begins to fall. But I would hate for them to give up two second round picks!
Only time will tell. That does it for this week’s Mocks In Review. Stay tuned for further iterations and other NFL draft articles in the coming weeks here on PackersTalk!
And as always,
Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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The post NFL Draft: Break Down of the Latest Packers Mock Drafts first appeared on PackersTalk.com Blog Posts and Podcasts.