18 Days Until NFL Draft: First-Round Receiver for Packers in New Mock

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers, if you recall all the chatter before last year’s NFL Draft, haven’t selected a receiver in the first round since Florida State’s Javon Walker in 2002.

With one of the most promising young receiver corps in the NFL, surely that two-decade streak will continue in the 2024 NFL Draft.

That didn’t stop James Fragoza from sending another FSU receiver, Keon Coleman, to Green Bay in the first round of his seven-round mock draft for Pro Football Network.

“The Packers have one of the best offenses in the league, but they’re missing an alpha WR who can win on third down and in the red zone,” Fragoza explained. “Coleman can do just that, coming down with highlight-reel contested catches with regularity.”

Coleman is a bit of a confounding prospect. His play speed was excellent but he ran just a 4.62 in the 40 at the Scouting Combine.

His ball skills are superb, yet he caught only 50 passes for 658 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023, his lone season after transferring to FSU from Michigan State. It’s not just the raw numbers. His contested-catch rate of 33.3 percent ranks among the lowest in the draft class.

The team’s big needs – safety and linebacker on defense and offensive line and running back on offense – were addressed in the next couple rounds.

The second-rounders were used on Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin and Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten. 

Nubin immediately would step in as the safety alongside Xavier McKinney. With McKinney playing the “post” safety in a single-high role, “Nubin can slide in as the starting box safety from Day 1, crashing in the run game and making plays as a coverage defender with his eyes and ball skills,” Fragoza wrote.

The third-rounders were used on Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace and Clemson running back Will Shipley. Wallace had 80 tackles in 2023, including 5.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for losses. With a Relative Athletic Score of 9.33, he hits the marks athletically, as well. Shipley rushed for 2,009 yards and caught 69 passes during his final two seasons.

“Do you need a linebacker who does not miss tackles, creates pop on contact, and has the athleticism to mold as a coverage defender? Trevin Wallace is your guy,” Fragoza wrote.

The Packers double-dipped on edge defenders and drafted another receiver in Day 3. Click here for the rest of the picks.

Walter Football (5 Rounds): Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

In a previous rendition, Walt selected Iowa’s Cooper DeJean. This time, he went with McKinstry while DeJean dropped into Detroit’s lap at No. 29. Walt sees McKinstry as a potentially “elite” cornerback because of his size and athleticism.

The second-rounders also were used on the defense, with Alabama’s Chris Braswell replacing injured Kingsley Enagbare and Utah’s Cole Bishop sliding in next to Xavier McKinney at safety. Another Alabama defender, defensive tackle Justin Eboigbe, was picked in the third round to help fix the run defense.  

Two more defenders were added in the fourth and five rounds, including linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio, a big-time athlete who “spent lots of times being injured” at Washington. However, as a sixth-year senior in 2023, he played in all 15 games and had 94 tackles, including eight for losses, and was strong in coverage.

Packers Wire: Iowa DB Cooper DeJean

Brennen Rupp and Zach Kruse teamed up for a two-round mock that led off with Iowa’s Cooper DeJean.

“He has natural ball skills and has the versatility to wear multiple hats for Jeff Hafley,” they said.

With the two second-round choices, they moved to Michigan to get two studs from their championship-winning defense.

Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, had who 4.5 sacks and eight tackles for losses the final two seasons, is an excellent athlete for his size. At about 6-foot-3 and 296 pounds, he ran his 40 4.91 seconds. His Relative Athletic Score was 9.00. He’s not big but he was a big-time menace against the run.

Linebacker Junior Colson anchored the best defense in the nation in 2023. Over his final two seasons, he recorded 196 tackles and eight tackles for losses. He is arguably the best tackler in the draft class. At 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds, he did not go through predraft testing.

CBS Sports: Iowa DB Cooper DeJean

Bryan DeArdo said it was likely the Packers would take a pass rusher or cornerback in the first round. He was impressed by DeJean’s three pick-sixes in 2022. His pro day on Monday might determine whether he’s even on the board at No. 25.

Athlon: Iowa DB Cooper DeJean

There’s a hole in the secondary even after signing Xavier McKinney, Luke Easterling said. “DeJean is one of the most athletic and versatile prospects in the entire draft, with the ability to play any spot in the secondary, making him an ideal fit.”

Sports Illustrated (7 Rounds): Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

In case you missed it, we used the PFF simulator and Reuter’s mock as a guide for a seven-rounder.

NFL.com (5 Rounds): NC State LB Payton Wilson

Also in case you missed it, here’s our breakdown of Chad Reuter’s big mock. 

Related Story: Packers Visits Tracker

Here are the NFL Draft prospects who have come to Green Bay to meet with the Packers.