It’s time for another edition of Mocks in the Media, the bi-weekly series where I scour the internet for the mock draft opinions of media “experts” so you don’t have too. We’ll be looking for trends and popular picks, as well as changes from the last two editions published. So without further ado, let’s kick off this post-free agency publication of Mocks in the Media.
CBSSPORTS
Will Brinson- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Chris Trapasso- Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Ryan Wilson- Jordan Addison, WR, USC
The CBS sports crew goes three pass catchers in the Packers #15 slot, but with two wide receivers in Johnston and Addison. As the reader may recall from the last several editions, tight ends have made up the overwhelming majority of media members’ mocks for the Packers, so a stray from that trend is quite refreshing. You know it’s draft season when the experts are predicting WR’s to Green Bay in the first round.
NFL.com
Bucky Brooks- Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Chad Reuter- Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Daniel Jeremiah- Paris Johnson Jr, OT, Ohio State
Eric Edholm- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Charles Davis- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
The NFL.com writers take TE’s in 3 out of 5 mock drafts, but Bucky Brooks goes with the big Clemson edge rusher and Daniel Jeremiah gives us the first offensive lineman projection of the year.
PFF
Sam Monson and Steve Palazzolo- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
Monson and Palazzolo combine to mock the draft and come to the same consensus as many writers before them.
ESPN
Mike Tannenbaum- Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
Former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum gives the Packers an interesting prospect at pick 15. Jones is a freak of nature at 6’8” 374 pounds, but he’s still widely expected to be the second Ohio State offensive tackle to come off the board behind teammate Paris Johnson Jr.
And Here We Go..
In previous weeks 6 out of draft pundits had the Packers taking TEs. This week only 5/10 media members had the big pass catchers headed to the Packers. 90 percent of this week’s picks were offensive players and 70 percent were pass catchers. For the first time this year, two big offensive tackles were predicted in the Packers spot, and the ever present first round WR prediction has finally made an appearance. Dalton Kincaid was the only repeat selection this edition, with pundits calling his name in 4 out of 10 mocks. Michael Mayer was predicted to the Packers three times last edition, but only once this week as the media sorts out who they think the top tight end is.
It’s almost time. Only four weeks remain before Commissioner Roger Goodell steps up to the podium and opens the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City.
