Packers Take Defensive Stud In NFL Mock Draft By Bucky Brooks
With the off-season officially in full swing speculation as to who the Packers will select with their coveted first round pick has begun. The possibilities are endless. We have about 90 days till the NFL Draft officially takes place.
There will be no lack of NFL draft content on this newsletter and on my Youtube channel. I am ready to evaluate any and every idea no matter how crazy or realistic the idea may be.
Today I want to look at a recent mock draft done by NFL draft analyst Bucky Brooks.
Bucky Books has the Packers going with CB/S Brian Branch from Alabama.
Safety is one of the Packers biggest needs heading into this offseason. Adrian Amos is going to be a free agent and who knows if the Packers will decide to bring him back in 2023. Amos signed a 4yr 36 million dollar deal with the Packers in 2019 after spending his first 4 years with the Chicago Bears.
He’s been an impact player on this Packers defense but he is about to turn 30 years old. He had a down year when it came to coverage. He allowed the worst passer rating when targeted since he got to Green Bay: 121.9. For comparison here is his passer rating when targeted from 2019-2021: 82.4, 71.7, 95.7.
Honestly as a fan I never want to see a player leave Green Bay. I’m all for Amos returning if the Packers are able to work out a reasonable contract with him. But considering the NFL is a business, GM’s have to make some tough decisions.
Darnell Savage should be returning to Green Bay in 2023 considering the Packers exercised his 5th year option. He’s been inconsistent and at one point this season got benched. He made his way back into the lineup and spent some time at nickel corner as well, but he has not been playing at an elite level.
Now let’s talk about Brian Branch.
6ft, 195
very versatile: spent time at nickel and safety
great ball skills
very physical tackler: only missed 4 tackles in 176 attempts
insane closing speed, flies to the ball
The Packers have had issues when it comes to tackling and Brian Branch does not have that problem. Not only is he great in coverage but he’s also great vs the run. He’s physical and plays incredibly hard. The Packers could use his physicality on this defense.
Brian Gutekunst loves drafting versatile players. Brach can be used at safety or nickel corner. The Packers would likely use Branch at safety considering we already have 3 solid corners in Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, and Rasul Douglas.
I’ve said recently that I’d like the Packers to target a tight end in the first round, but at the same time adding a stud safety would not be a bad idea. The question for the Packers will be where do they see the most value in the draft. Which positions are the deepest? When do they feel they can wait for a specific position and when do they find it necessary to go for that position early?
As I’ve been reading more and more about this draft class many people see this as one of the deepest tight end classes in a long while. The Packers could wait to take a tight end and snag a guy like Brian Branch in the first round. This defense did not live up to the high expectations in 2022 and adding a safety of Branch’s skill level would go a long way in building a solid defense for the Packers going forward.
If he is associated with the NFL, he probably knows squat.