Maybe it’s not too late for the Packers to nab Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean?
While Day 1 of the draft is always exciting, Friday is going to be the day that will most impact the Green Bay Packers. Thanks to trades with the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, general manager Brian Gutekunst owns a pair of second-round picks and a pair of third-round picks going into the second day of the event.
Once you went to sleep following the selection of Arizona tackle Jordan Morgan, draftniks frantically pieced together best available lists and Day 2 mock drafts. Let’s take a look at the latter, parsing out what does or doesn’t make sense for Green Bay in the second and third rounds of the 2024 draft.
- #41: Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
- #58: Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky
- #88: Mohamed Kamara, EDGE, Colorado State
- #91: Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, S, Texas Tech
Zierleine had the Packers addressing their two biggest positions of need, off-ball linebacker and safety, in Day 2. It would also be interesting if they brought in Andru Phillips to the cornerback room, as he is the former college teammate of Carrington Valentine.
- #41: Payton Wilson, LB, North Carolina State
- #58: Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
- #88: Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky
- #91: T’Vondre Sweat, DL, Texas
Despite being a super athlete, there are major injury questions surrounding Payton Wilson — whose brother is a pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. The former blue-chip recruit tore his ACL during his senior season, reinjured that knee in the summer of his freshman season and wound up missing the majority of those two seasons because of it. He also has missed a total of 14 games in his college career with shoulder issues, which at one point required surgery. He ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash but is very much “buyer beware.”
- #41: Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
- #58: Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State
- #88: Jalyx Hunt, EDGE, Houston Christian
- #91: DeWayne Carter, DL, Duke
Edgerrin Cooper is going to be a very popular name for Green Bay in the second round, especially if they do trade up early on Day 2 as reported. At the moment, Cooper is considered the consensus top off-ball linebacker in the class. No off-ball linebacker was selected in Day 1 of the 2024 draft.
- #41: Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
- #58: Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest
- #88: Dominick Puni, OL, Kansas
- #91: Calen Bullock, S, USC
Like Cooper, Junior Colson is a popular pick for the Packers in the second round — if they stick with the 41st pick. Colson doesn’t have a true calling card, but he checks all the boxes for an NFL prospect. In a bad linebacker class, there aren’t many players who can say that. Calen Bullock is somewhat of a project safety who is considered to be a year away from being a full-time starter, which is a bit of a risky proposition for Green Bay considering their need at the position.
Bleacher Report Scouting Department
- #41: T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State
- #58: Cole Bishop, S, Utah
- #88: Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale
- #91: T’Vondre Sweat, DL, Texas
One of the risers in the pre-draft process was Cole Bishop, who ran a surprising 4.45-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. Bishop was also offered a scholarship by Boston College when Jeff Hafley was still the head coach of the Eagles. That’s something to look out for. We’ve previously written on all the prospects with college ties to Hafley.
Matt Verderame, Sports Illustrated
- #41: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
- #58: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
- #88: Cole Bishop, S, Utah
- #91: Ruke Orhorhoro, DL, Clemson
Taking a true tackle in Patrick Paul (6’8”, 331 pounds) would certainly be a choice for the Packers in the second round. If that pick is made, it probably means that both first-round pick Jordan Morgan and current right tackle Zach Tom will both be moved into the interior. It’s not that difficult to imagine a starting lineup of Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Zach Tom, Jordan Morgan and Patrick Paul (left to right), but it would limit the team’s flexibility up front some.
Luke Easterling, Athlon Sports
- #41: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
- #58: Ruke Orhorhoro, DL, Clemson
- #88: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
- #91: Renardo Green, CB, Florida State
Tyler Nubin falling all the way to the third round would be an ideal situation for the Packers. Nubin didn’t run well, as he quickly turned around from knee surgery to get numbers on paper during the pre-draft process, but he’s still considered the top true safety on the consensus draft board.
Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News
- #41: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
- #58: Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
- #88: Christian Mahogany, G, Boston College
- #91: Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina
This would be as close to a dream draft as I would be able to imagine for the Packers on Day 2. Cooper DeJean becomes the long-term starter at safety. Hafley, obviously, has ties to Christian Mahogany. Cedric Gray is one of my favorite linebackers in this class. Bralen Trice is a pretty underrated defensive end who probably did better than 15th overall pick Laiatu Latu against high-quality West Coast competition head-to-head. Sign. Me. Up.
John Kosko and Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus
- #41: Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
- #58: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
- #88: Austin Booker, EDGE, Kansas
- #91: Christian Mahogany, G, Boston College
Javon Bullard might be the best fit to play opposite of Xavier McKinney, if Green Bay really does want both starting safeties as strong and free safeties — as they have said this offseason. Jackson Powers-Johnson is a true center, which would be a somewhat confusing selection considering the rumors that the team wants to move Zach Tom to center, especially after drafting a tackle in the first round. Austin Booker was also brought in on a pre-draft visit with the Packers, which generally means that Green Bay is interested in a prospect.
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