Five Realistic Candidates for the Packers to Pick in the First Round of the 2024 NFL Draft

The Green Bay Packers have a big opportunity to improve their team and take the next step forward towards being Super Bowl contenders in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Pack has 11 picks overall and five picks in the top 100 this year including the 25^th overall pick in the first round. Here is a look at five players who are realistic candidates for the Packers to pick in the first round with the 25^th overall pick or with a slight trade up.

Realistic Candidates for the Packers to Pick in the First Round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Number Five: OT Amarius Mims, Georgia

Amarius Mims meets many of the Packers thresholds, but they’d have to look the other way on a few others. His RAS is 9.59 which is the elite score the team prefers. He also comes from a successful, big-time college program. GM Brian Gutekunst showed interest by having Mims in for a top-30 visit before the draft.

Mims is a little taller than the Packers prefer at offensive tackle at 6’8” and 340 pounds. He also started only eight games in college and the Packers usually prefer at least two seasons of starting experience for top picks.

Mims has the tools to be an outstanding right tackle. If he’s still on the board, the Pack could make an exception for Mims but that’s not out of the question depending on who else is on the board.

Number Four: OL Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon

Jackson Powers-Johnson checks a lot of boxes the Packers look for in an interior offensive lineman. He is versatile, having started at both center and right guard. At 6’3” and 328 pounds, he can move well, and he was often the best player on the field for the Ducks.

Powers-Johnson only started one season in college, but his strong performance at Senior Bowl week may have erased some doubts.

The Oregon alum can pass block well and has the football smarts to pick up stunts and blitzes. On the run game, he can get to the second level and does a good job of opening up holes off the snap of the ball.

Powers-Johnson could start at center or guard and would give the Pack a big upgrade on the interior offensive line.

Realistic Candidates for the Packers to Pick in the First Round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Number Three:  DB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

Kool-Aid McKinstry was a shutdown corner at Alabama as opposing quarterbacks completed less than 50 percent of their passes throwing to receivers covered by the Crimson Tide corner.

He is a smart player who can learn a new defense quickly. That means he could contribute as a rookie. McKinstry is physical and isn’t afraid to make tackles on running plays.

He could be a day one starter in the secondary and upgrade the Packers corner room if they decide to add him to the roster.

Number Two:  OL Graham Barton, Duke

Graham Barton would be a perfect fit for Gutekunst who loves versatile offensive linemen. Barton can play all five positions along the line. Adding him to a unit that already includes Zach Tom and Elgton Jenkins would give the Pack a lot of flexibility.

He also has an elite RAS which includes a 9.99 at guard and a perfect 10 at center.

Barton could start at center and allow the Packers to move Josh Myers to guard, or he could compete with Sean Rhyan at guard. He seems like a perfect fit for what the Packers are trying to do along their offensive line and would give the team three very versatile startling-caliber players out of five to help them get the best five players on the field at all times.

Realistic Candidates for the Packers to Pick in the First Round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Number One: DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa

Cooper DeJean would give the Packers the same kind of versatility in the secondary that Barton would give them along the offensive line.

DeJean played boundary corner in college but also played in the slot and is projected most likely to play safety in the NFL.

The Iowa alum also has an elite RAS at 9.89 and really would be a good fit for what new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley says he is looking for in a safety to play opposite Xavier McKinny.

The only issue may be that the Packers would likely have to trade up in Round 1 to get DeJean, but they have plenty of picks that could help them do that.