Green Bay, Wisconsin – The Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl thanks to their trench work and the cornerbacks they drafted in the first and second rounds of the NFL draft.
In a new three-round mock draft for The 33rd Team, the Green Bay Packers chose an offensive tackle, a cornerback, and a defensive tackle.
Josh Simmons, the offensive tackle at Ohio State, went from a so-so right tackle at San Diego State to a sure-fire first-round pick as the team’s left tackle in just two years.
Actually, it was more than a year. Simmons suffered a torn ACL in October and missed Ohio State’s journey to the national championship. He could be on the field at the start of training camp.
“Despite recovering from a torn ACL, Josh Simmons could be the top left tackle in this class,” Ian Valentino said in his mock. “His blend of power and quickness is apparent in run and pass blocking, making him a great fit for Matt LaFleur’s system.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Simmons allowed one sack and 15 total pressures with eight penalties in 2023, a year marked by growing pains due to the position move and increased competition. He was a brick block in 2024, though, with no sacks, one pressure allowed, and one penalty in six games.
“Physically, obviously, you got to be ready, but I think mentally, that’s where you’ve got to start tightening up a little bit because then you start playing in those Notre Dame games, those Penn State games, and then you realize a penalty like that can literally destroy the whole game,” Simmons said on the Buckeye Huddle website. “And once you look through that lens, you see those are no-noes. “It’s impossible.”
The Packers have a strong duo in left tackle Rasheed Walker and right tackle Zach Tom, who are both in their final season under contract. Josh Myers, who is leaving for free agency, leaves them with only one hole at centre.
If Myers joins elsewhere, the Packers may move Tom, who finished third in the All-Pro voting, to centre.
“When we drafted him, we also thought he could be a very, very good centre if we needed him to be,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said about Tom at the end of the season.
Darien Porter, an Iowa State cornerback, was the second-round pick. Porter, who is 6 feet 2 3/8, would add much-needed size to Green Bay’s tiny cornerback group.
Porter is quite the story. He was a three-star recruit at receiver, where he played his first three seasons. In his 28 appearances, he played primarily on special teams. In 2022, he switched to defence. In 2024, he became a part-time starter. He intercepted three passes and finished with five passes defensed.
“I obviously use that length and speed to my advantage,” Porter told Justin Melo of The Draft Network prior to the Senior Bowl. “I have many abilities that very few corners are equipped with. I use my length to make wide receivers feel uncomfortable. I make it difficult for them at the line of scrimmage and along the route. I strive to be as physical as possible, taking advantage of all of my natural abilities.
PFF charged him with five completions in 17 targets, for a 29.4 percent completion rate in 202 coverage snaps. He also blocked a field goal and a punt, the fourth of his career.
What’s the obvious question? “Why did it take him until his sixth season in college for him to see steady snaps?” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked him as the No. 99 prospect in the class.
His stature, quickness, and ball skills are clear advantages. He excels at zone coverage, something the Packers rely on under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
What about the negatives?
“Will be 25 years old before the end of his rookie season in 2025, with only three years of cornerback experience, creating a challenging developmental curve vs. physical peak dynamic,” noted The 33rd Team’s Kyle Crabbs in his scouting report.
Shemar Turner, a defensive tackle from Texas A&M, was selected in the third round. Turner had a fantastic six sacks and 11 tackles for losses in 2023, but dropped to two sacks and six tackles for loss in 2024.
“There are baseline traits present to be a dangerous pass rusher, but he’s more proficient and ready to contribute on early downs to help control the point of attack against the run,” says a clip from his 33rd Team scouting report.
Stewart was chosen for the Senior Bowl, where he measured 6-foot-3 and weighed 289 pounds, however he withdrew due to a stress fracture in training camp. He should be prepared for the Scouting Combine and the Pro Day, though.
Stewart gained roughly 30 pounds for his final season on what he dubbed the “Chipotle diet.” What is that? Six chicken tacos served with green chile salsa, rice, and beans.
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