Way too early 2022 mock draft

[Joemailman]

I’d like this—minus Sanders. I think Zion can play OT—ala Elgton.

You don't think he's too short for OT? At 6-3 he's an inch and a half shorter than Elgton, and Elgton is kind of short for OT. He does have the same arm length as Elgton though.

[HarveyWallbangers]

You don't think he's too short for OT? At 6-3 he's an inch and a half shorter than Elgton, and Elgton is kind of short for OT. He does have the same arm length as Elgton though.

I don't. I think he's unique. I think he's similar to Isaiah Wynn of the Patriots. Johnson started at OG in 2019. He started at LT in 2020. He played both OG and LT in 2021. My best graded game for him this year was at LT vs. Virginia Tech. He was great at Senior Bowl practices. He played well in the game. He tested well and looked smooth in the drills at the combine. He's very athletic (9.74 RAS), but he's also very powerful (32 bench reps that show on tape). He could play OG or OT. He can play in a zone scheme or a gap scheme. He has 34" arms--which are plenty long enough. His hands are big and powerful. They are clamps. People don't get off of him. He has good balance--which I think is important. He mirrors well. He's one of my favorites. To me he may be the safest pick in this draft. I don't normally advocate drafting interior OL in the first round, but I'd make an exception for this guy. He's my top rated interior OL.

He might have been the only OL to stalemate Travis Jones at Senior Bowl practices. Jones is another favorite of mine.

Here he is playing LT vs. Virginia Tech (#77). #11 for VA Tech is Amare Barno--an EDGE prospect in this draft who ran a ridiculous 4.36 40 and 131" broad jump at 6'5" 246 at the combine.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I watched four of Zion's games, and it seemed like 80% of the time BC ran the ball wherever he was.

[HarveyWallbangers]

If we came out of this draft with Zion Johnson, Travis Jones, Alec Pierce, another solid WR (Jalen Tolbert or maybe trading up in round 2 to get an even better WR), and then an EDGE like Josh Paschal, Sam Williams, Dominique Robinson, or Micheal Clemons in round 3, I'd be stoked. Packer nation would be upset.

[HarveyWallbangers]

My guys that I think are fits with the Packers: WR Christian Watson, WR George Pickens, WR Alec Pierce, TE Trey McBride, TE Charlie Kolar, OT Abraham Lucas, OL Zion Johnson, OL Zach Tom, DT Travis Jones, the EDGEs mentioned above, CB Zyon McCollum, CB Tariq Castro-Fields, S Daxton Hill, S Jalen Pitre

[run pMc]

If we came out of this draft with Zion Johnson, Travis Jones, Alec Pierce, another solid WR (Jalen Tolbert or maybe trading up in round 2 to get an even better WR), and then an EDGE like Josh Paschal, Sam Williams, Dominique Robinson, or Micheal Clemons in round 3, I'd be stoked. Packer nation would be upset.

I wouldn't be. That's a pretty good group, even if it lines up unusually with how people see the consensus board and GB's needs

Christian Watson is going to be interesting on draft night. Big boards have him mostly in the 40's, but A LOT of mocks have him going to the Packers at 28 or the Chiefs at 29.

I think it was Tony Pauline who said not a single team he's talked to has Watson in R1, most see him as mid-R2. Seems about right to me, given some of the other WR talent likely available after 25. I do think after the top guys there will be another run on WR late R1/early R2.

[Deputy Nutz]

R1P22 -Chris Olave WR
R1P28 - Kenyon Green IOL
R2P53 - Nik Bonitto Edge
R2P58 - John Metchie WR
R3P92 - Zion McCollum CB
R4P132 - Bailey Zappe QB
R4P140 - Markquesse Bell S
R5P171 - Tyquan Thornton WR

[RashanGary]

A report on john Metchie

https://www.google.com/amp/s/primetimesportstalk.com/2022/01/24/2022-nfl-draft-scouting-report-john-metchie/amp/

I think he is a good fit here. Kind of a complete player.

[run pMc]

The Packers have a type at WR: at least 5-11 and 190 with a 4.55 40 and 7.08 3 cone. If they deviate from them, it's by a very small amount. (Amari and Cobb would be the deviations.)

I like Metchie, but that site compares him to Justin Jefferson and I think that's a stretch. He's a Day 2 pick and probably a R3 pick because of the ACL effectively wiping out his rookie year.
Something about him screams Patriots to me...maybe it's that he's good in the short to intermediate game and he played with Mac Jones.

[texaspackerbacker]

It seems like tall fast WRs are a fairly recent phenomenon for the Packers. You got something against 6'4" or 6'5 and 4.37 40 times?

[Anti-Polar Bear]

R1P22 -Chris Olave WR
R1P28 - Kenyon Green IOL
R2P53 - Nik Bonitto Edge
R2P58 - John Metchie WR
R3P92 - Zion McCollum CB
R4P132 - Bailey Zappe QB
R4P140 - Markquesse Bell S
R5P171 - Tyquan Thornton WR

Yo Nutz! Still listening to Pac and showing Remember the Titans to your players?

Cool mock. I might have to revise my forthcoming My Mastery Mockery of a Draft cos you picked two of the playas I liked.

[Deputy Nutz]

It seems like tall fast WRs are a fairly recent phenomenon for the Packers. You got something against 6'4" or 6'5 and 4.37 40 times?

Your post gave me an opportunity to look back on the past several drafts. Boy, the Packers have no interest in drafting receivers with first round picks. Packers seem to make their money on second round picks or they look low for diamonds in the rough

All Second round picks
Ty Montgomery 2015
Devante Adams 2014
Randall Cobb 2011
Jordy Nelson 2008
Greg Jennings 2006
Terrance Murphy* 2005

There track record in the second round has been really good for productive receivers. I don't see the Packers reaching or moving up in the first round to take a receiver, especially in this draft as receiver seems pretty light for this draft class. I feel like height is not a necessity for the Packers, but receivers that can run a variety of routes and are good quality route runners.

[Deputy Nutz]

Yo Nutz! Still listening to Pac and showing Remember the Titans to your players?

Cool mock. I might have to revise my forthcoming My Mastery Mockery of a Draft cos you picked two of the playas I liked.

Yes to listening to Pac, don't have the time to show "Remember the Titans" but that doesn't mean it isn't the best football movie ever made.

You can change your draft, but the reality is the Packers are looking to draft more athletic and dynamic athletes, regardless of position. They will wait on the linemen on the offensive side of the ball. You were probably right all along

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Yes to listening to Pac, don't have the time to show "Remember the Titans" but that doesn't mean it isn't the best football movie ever made.

You can change your draft, but the reality is the Packers are looking to draft more athletic and dynamic athletes, regardless of position. They will wait on the linemen on the offensive side of the ball. You were probably right all along

I would be pissed if the Packers take Green in Rd 1 - Yokozunas, offensive linemen and defensive tackles alike, should not be drafted til the 4th. But I totally dig Olave, Metchie and Thornton.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Your post gave me an opportunity to look back on the past several drafts. Boy, the Packers have no interest in drafting receivers with first round picks. Packers seem to make their money on second round picks or they look low for diamonds in the rough

All Second round picks
Ty Montgomery 2015
Devante Adams 2014
Randall Cobb 2011
Jordy Nelson 2008
Greg Jennings 2006
Terrance Murphy* 2005

There track record in the second round has been really good for productive receivers. I don't see the Packers reaching or moving up in the first round to take a receiver, especially in this draft as receiver seems pretty light for this draft class. I feel like height is not a necessity for the Packers, but receivers that can run a variety of routes and are good quality route runners.

I'm pretty convinced they'll take several guys before they reach on a WR. I think they probably have EDGE George Karlaftis, DT Travis Jones, S/CB Daxton Hill, an OL (I personally like Zion Johnson), and maybe even a guy like Boye Mafe ahead of some of the WRs that fans have been discussing.