Packers.com consulted more than a dozen mock drafts from reputable national outlets and compiled a list of players most frequently mocked as draft selections in the bottom third of the first round (picks 20-32).
Between now and draft day, when the Packers are slated to select at No. 29 overall, those players will be profiled with thumbnail sketches in a new series entitled "Draft Digest."
Today's player is …
Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan
Height/Weight: 6-5, 320
Key stats: Started 15 games over the past two years at RT, 13 of them in 2019.
College honors: Named honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2019.
Background: A Michigan native (Grand Rapids) whose father played left tackle at Ferris State, Mayfield was a two-way star on the offensive and defensive lines in high school. He redshirted in 2018 after playing in three games as a reserve left tackle. He took over the Wolverines' starting job at right tackle in 2019 and was especially noted for a solid, late-season outing against Ohio State's Chase Young, the No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft. Mayfield didn't get much chance to build on that, though, playing well in two starts in 2020 before an ankle injury ended his redshirt sophomore season. At Michigan's pro day, he reportedly clocked a 40 time in the high 5.3s with a 28½-inch vertical jump. He did not bench press due to a shoulder not being 100%. In comments to reporters, he credited working with Juan Castillo – a longtime NFL assistant coach who spent the 2019 season at Michigan before returning to the NFL with the Bears last year – for helping his development.
Potential fit with Packers: With All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari's pending ACL recovery and the release of veteran Rick Wagner, the Packers are in the market for an offensive tackle. Depth and future prospects are needed at the position, as well as a potential Week 1 starter depending on when Bakhtiari returns. All of Mayfield's starts in college came at right tackle, but analysts say he could play on the left side or even move inside to guard. His size and athleticism have him projected as a possible late first-round pick. Just 15 college starts raise some questions about the 20-year-old Mayfield's immediate readiness for the pros, but his high ranking in this year's class of offensive tackles speaks to his long-term prospects.
View all the Draft Digest profiles here.
