The Jordan Love era got off to a fast start, to many people's surprise, with the Green Bay Packers starting 2-1. What came next many people would expect; they would lose five of their next seven. Now the Packers face many questions for the future.
Is Jordan Love the guy? What do they do with impending free agents, such as Darnell Savage and A.J. Dillion?
We will use Pro Football Network's mock draft simulator with no trades. For this mock, we will be building around Jordan Love.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu
With the ninth-overall pick, the Packers select Olumuyiwa Fashanu. An offensive tackle out of Penn State, Fashanu is a redshirt junior. This year is only his second year starting for the Nittany Lions, but he is already considered a top prospect in this year's draft. Fashanu chose to return to Penn State this year to graduate, with experts saying that if he declared the year prior, he would've been among the top tackle prospects.
The 6-6 321-pounder is praised for his athleticism, power, and size. Fashanu is only 20 years old and was called, "a high-level technician with an unbreakable feel for the game," by Ian Cummings.
A major problem for the Packers this year has been pass protection. Love has been sacked 22 times this year. Fashanu is a plug-and-play tackle who has mostly played on the left side. That would be a conflict with the current blindside protector of Jordan Love, David Bakhtiari. Bakhtiari's large contract expires in 2025 and has only played in 13 games in the past three years.
Fashanu would most likely replace Bakhtiari and his large contract as a much cheaper option. He would most pair with Zach Tom or fellow Nittany Lion Rasheed Walkes would slide to right tackle.
Sedrick Van Pran
In the second round, with pick 40, the Packers select Sedrick Van Pran. The former Georgia Bulldog is a former four-star recruit and a two-time (maybe three-time by the end of this year) national champion with the Bulldogs. The center is 6-4 and 310 pounds. He is the clear second-ranked center in the 2024 NFL Draft. Ian Cummings says, "Van Pran is an excellent mover who possesses an innate ability to pursue the correct angle at the second level while also having the lower-body composition and power to be a difference-maker at the first level."
Van Pran has only allowed one sack in the last two years at Georgia, which would immediately improve Jordan Love's protection. Van Pran would automatically be the best center for the Packers, joining a room with Josh Myers as the team's lone center. Sedrick Van Pran would join a group of Green Bay offensive line starters including David Bakhtiari (or first-rounder Fashanu), Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, and Jon Runyan. The Packers look to improve the Green Bay offensive line which has given up 22 sacks this year.
An improved offensive line would improve the running game while giving Jordan Love time to push the ball downfield.
Will Shipley
With their second second-round pick, the Packers select Will Shipley with pick 42. You might be saying that the Packers already have two reliable runningbacks, A.J. Dillion and Aaron Jones. But with Dillion's contract set to expire after this season and Jones' set to expire after next season, it may be time for a new era for the Packers at running back.
At Clemson, Shipley put up 2,639 yards and 31 touchdowns on the ground and 561 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Shipley has been a touchdown machine in his three years at Clemson. The 5-10, 210-pound running back is, "truly a chisel inside the tackles, using his instincts and agility to carve out consistent gains. Meanwhile, he doubles as an elite receiving threat and a quality blocker as well," per Ian Cummings.
My comparison for Shipley would be fellow Clemson running back Travis Etienne; an equally great rusher and pass-catcher in his own right. Shipley's skillset is more like Aaron Jones, who has frequently missed time in his NFL career but would complement the downhill running game more like Dillion.
Shipley would provide a unique game for a Packers offense in need of playmakers.
Calen Bullock
In the third round, the Packers select safety Calen Bullock with pick 77. Bullock would bring his talents from USC to the frigid Green Bay area. The 6-3, 190-pound safety would be an interesting piece for defensive coordinator Joe Barry. The more "modern" NFL safety can play up high (like a traditional safety), in the box, or as a nickel corner. My comparison would be Kyle Hamilton; a safety for the Ravens who has done all of the same things.
Ian Cummings says, "He's effective coming downhill and delivering hard hits, but he'll also go get the ball if quarterbacks leave passes hanging." Bullock has 148 tackles and nine interceptions in three years at USC. Ho would make an interesting tandem with impending free agent, Darnell Savage, or breakout star Rudy Ford. Bullock's length at the safety position would definitely improve a Green Bay Packers defense allowing 327.9 yards per game.
To improve the Packers' defense, it will take more than just the addition of Bullock, but he would be a good piece for a defense whose most notable player is cornerback Jaire Alexander. As some would say, defense wins championships, and Bullock certainly possesses the ability to be a game-wrecker.
Malachi Corley
Five slots later, the Packers select receiver Malachi Corley with pick 82. The Packers have felt the absence ever since trading game-changing receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022. Corley most likely isn't the guy to finally fill the Davante Adams shoes in Green Bay, but he does possess a unique set of skills. The 5-11, 200-pound receiver out of Western Kentucky can do a bit of everything.
Ian Cummings called Corley, "incredibly gifted with the ball in his hands to a degree we've rarely seen. Corley has excellent contact balance, toughness, and open-field agility, making him a nightmare to tackle." In college, Corley mainly caught screen passes, then would show defenders what he could do with the ball in his hand. My comparison is Deebo Samuel; a receiver for the San Francisco 49ers who has carved out a unique role for a Kyle Shannahan-led offense.
The Eastern Kentucky receiver has caught passes for 2,955 yards and 28 touchdowns. Corley could become the "Swiss army knife" that so many teams have been implementing, modeling the 49ers' use of Deebo, for a Packers offense that otherwise has been rather one-dimensional.
T.J. Tampa
With their lone fourth-round pick, the Packers select cornerback T.J. Tampa. The Iowa State corner would most likely face an uphill battle to see the field, behind Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes. The 6-1, 198-pound corner is projected to run in the 4.4 range in the NFL combine.
Ian Cummings says, "Tampa is a very talented coverage option thanks to his physical traits. Capable in both man and zone assignments, Tampa is regularly in a great position to challenge receivers at the catch point. While his patience and footwork are advanced enough to stay in the receiver's hip pockets throughout the duration of routes, his speed is a neutralizer for when he does fall behind." In his four-year college career, Tampa only has three interceptions with 102 total tackles.
A comparison for Tampa would be teammate Eric Stokes; who in comparison ran a 4.2 40-yard dash. Stokes isn't always perfect in coverage but can rely on his speed to stay with the receiver.
Tampa would definitely be a project for defensive coordinator Joe Barry and defensive back coach Jerry Gray. But Tampa definitely possesses the intangibles to be a top corner.
Jestin Jacobs
The Packers do not have a pick in the rest of the fourth round or the fifth round. In the sixth round, though, the Packers select linebacker Jestin Jacobs, out of Oregon. Jacobs would also most likely struggle to see the field for his first NFL season.
Jacobs would total his best year in his sophomore season at Iowa, totaling 53 total tackles. After a lackluster junior season, Jacobs transferred to the University of Oregon for his senior season. Despite limited playing time, Jacobs has been described as having great burst and strength. The 6-4, 245-pound linebacker has been criticized for his inability to be a sideline-to-sideline backer. Jacobs would most likely find it difficult to break into a linebacker room commanded by Devondre Campell and Quay Walker. Jacobs lacks the experience needed to be an NFL linebacker, but definitely possess the size of one.
It is incredibly likely that Jacobs struggles to even make the final 53-man roster, which means he would either be a free agent or signed to the team's practice squad. Jacobs will face a large learning curb as a linebacker who has little playing time on his resume.
Graham Mertz
With their final pick, the Packers select quarterback Graham Mertz. Mertz will also struggle to see his field. But hey, a recent seventh-round rookie has become a starter. I'm talking about Brock Purdy, of course, who became the starter for the 49ers after a series of quarterback injuries.
Mertz, though, has posted 8,308 yards and 58 touchdowns between four years at Wisconsin and one at Florida. The 6-3 216-pound quarterback has been praised for his arm strength while being criticized for poor footwork.
