NFL mock draft: Packers 7-round 2023 projection if Aaron Rodgers leaves

Packers might need another defensive tackle earlier but Zacch Pickens is good value at No. 149

When you look at the best reps of Zacch Pickens, you’re blown away. It’s the lack of consistency in those reps that is troubling. He needs to have his motor oiled by NFL coaching to unlock his potential. With that said, Green Bay could be in dire need of interior defensive linemen for 2023 and getting someone with the upside of the former Gamecock on Day 3 would be a massive boom for the franchise.

Isaiah Land with the 170th pick is an all-upside play for the Packers

It’s hard not to be intrigued by Isaiah Land as a Day 3 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He lacks size to a concerning degree at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds on the edge but he’s lightning-fast and explosive and plays with a ton of heart. If he can come in and bulk up, he could be a developing weapon for the Packers pass rush.

Address the O-line with the 217th pick, putting Kingsley Eguakun on the Packers

For a sixth-round pick, Eguakun is a project. However, there is enough potential to like as he’s a violent player in the trenches that needs to polish his feet and technique as a blocker, particularly against the run. Still, he’s the type of player who could be a developmental project for a team like this that needs trench depth.

Packers get IDL depth with Tyler Lacy at pick 233

Lacy could be intriguing for the Packers after playing on the end at Oklahoma State but possessing a nice frame at 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds that could make him a versatile piece on the line. He needs work with his pass-rush efficacy but he can be a run-stopper as an end in Green Bay’s 3-4 base alignment.

Late-round flier on a cornerback could benefit the Packers

Corner isn’t a dire need for Green Bay but any good NFL team is taking shots at the position in the draft. Darius Rush is a converted wide receiver who doesn’t have the fluidity needed to be a tight man-cover man in the NFL. With that said, as a depth piece who can be effective in zone coverage, he’s worth a shot here.

Why not take a shot at Stetson Bennett IV if you’re the Packers?

If Rodgers is leaving the Packers and, in this scenario, Green Bay is sticking with Jordan Love, they’ll need QB depth, even if they bring in a veteran. Stetson Bennett IV might be a former walk-on but he’s athletic and has a decent arm along with being a proven winner after claiming back-to-back titles at Georgia.

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