The Green Bay Packers used their top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on Iowa Hawkeyes edge rusher Lukas Van Ness. Trading quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets likely played a significant role in Van Ness landing with the Packers.
As we look ahead to Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft,it’s time to examine how Green Bay can use its top picks on Friday to fill out the roster.
The Packers are in an advantageous position on Friday night, boasting a pair of top-45 selections and three in the first 100 picks. While this franchise has always shown a penchant for finding hidden gems on Day 3, our focus here will simply be on the players they should target with their three selections on Friday.
Keeping that in mind, let’s dive into our Green Bay Packers mock draft for Day 2.
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Day 2 Green Bay Packers mock draft: Building around Jordan Love
Round 2, 42nd overall: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia Bulldogs
If Michael Mayer is on the board, he should be Green Bay’s top choice. With the Notre Dame standout gone in our Day 2 NFL mock draft, Darnell Washington becomes the latest Georgia Bulldogs star to find his way to Green Bay.
The first thing that stands out about Washington is his blocking. He was the best tight end at the NFL Combine in the blocking drills, showing outstanding pop and the ability to drive back his man. He’s reminiscent of a young Marcedes Lewis, just with far more athleticism and upside. Plus, Washington would fit perfectly into an offense that should be using a lot of play-action in 2024.
Washington is certainly a lot more than just a blocker. Standing at 6-foot-6, he posted a stellar 9.88 Relative Athletic Score at the NFL Combine. He is also a very capable receiver, one who has shown the ability to make one-handed catches, bounce off defenders and dominate inside the red zone. Young quarterbacks like pass-catchers with a huge catch radius and they feel more comfortable with good blockers around them, Washington checks off both boxes.
Round 2, 45th overall: Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State Buckeyes
Green Bay will keep All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari around for the 2022 season for two reasons. First, he’s still one of the best pass-blocking tackles in the NFL when healthy and Love needs a clean pocket in his first season as the starter. Second, there’s no real financial incentive in trading or cutting Bakhtiari this offseason.
However, the oft-injured tackle is a likely cap casualty in 2024. Green Bay would create $21.4 million in cap savings (Spotrac) if it releases him next spring, which would put the franchise at nearly $76 million in cap space. If Yosh Nijman kicks over to left tackle, that opens up the right side as a need.
Ohio State offensive tackle Dawand Jones is eerily similar to players like Trent Brown and Orlando Brown Jr. Standing at 6-foot-8 and weighing 374 pounds, Jones is the furthest thing from being a great athlete for his position. What he lacks in athleticism, he makes up for with length and power. Jones is the definition of a right tackle – 5 pressures allowed in 419 pass-block snaps last season – put him at right tackle and you’ll have a bodyguard who can help protect Love.
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Round 3, 78th overall: Jordan Battle, S, Alabama Crimson Tide
Safety is arguably the biggest of the Green Bay Packers draft needs. Adrian Amos isn’t returning and it’s clear the coaching staff lost confidence in Darnell Savage months ago. While there are some defensive backs with higher upside, Jordan Battle is the right pick for Green Bay.
Battle isn’t a flashy safety prospect, but he was a four-year starter for Nick Saban. The Packers’ defense needs immediate help, especially if it can find a rookie who provides excellent instincts and knows what his assignments are on the field.
Alabama’s 6-foot-1 safety offers some versatility, capable of playing the slot in a pinch and he looks comfortable playing close to the line or as a two-high safety. Interestingly enough, PFF’s comparison for Battle is Adrian Amos.
Battle would be a Week 1 starter in the Packers’ defense, making smart plays in coverage and fulfilling his assignments when asked to defend against the run. Green Bay already has playmakers and pass rushers, now it just needs safeties who can deliver consistently. Battle checks off that box and would fit nicely in Green Bay’s secondary.
