We are two days away from the 2021 NFL Draft! Two days! All of the mock drafts, the relative athletic scores (RAS), and position value debates will subside when the draft officially begins. Will the Packers stay put at pick 29? Will they trade up into the early 20s to snag their guy? Or will they trade back into the second round and accumulate picks to use as ammo on Days 2 and 3? That’s the beauty of the draft! If you want to get caught up on the first 20 prospects I looked at for this mini series, you can do that here. Now, let’s get to these final five players!

Robert Rochell, CB, Central Arkansas

Rochell is creeping up draft boards a little bit given his elite athleticism. I know the Packers aren’t necessarily married to high RAS, but at the cornerback position, they really are. Rochell’s 9.65 RAS absolutely qualifies for Brian Gutekunst’s big board. He’s a hair under 6-0 and is a freak athlete with a 43-inch vertical and a 4.41 40-yard dash. He had a breakout campaign in 2019 when he had 44 total tackles, five picks, and 13 passes defensed through 13 games, earning him a first-team All-American selection. Rochell ended his collegiate career with 10 interceptions and a whopping 38 passes defensed. He’s also got special teams experience which could help him latch onto the roster early. One downside to his game is that he can be a little handsy in coverage and almost too physical at times, but he’s fantastic in man coverage and if he cleans up his technique, could earn himself a starting role opposite Jaire Alexander as a boundary corner. 

Jaelon Darden, WR, North Texas

“Making someone miss is like waking up in the morning and brushing my teeth, I gotta do it every day.” After reading that quote, if you aren’t sold on Jaelon Darden then I can’t help you. His size may be a concern to some at only 5-7, 170lbs, but if you watch him play football you don’t even notice his size. In his four years at North Texas, Darden compiled 230 receptions for 2,782 yards with 38 touchdowns. His senior year alone he had 19 touchdowns in only nine games and 1,190 yards, averaging 16.1 yards per reception. Darden was selected the 2020 CUSA Most Valuable Player, leading the Conference USA in receiving touchdowns in both 2019 and 2020. What’s more, Darden has plenty of experience as a punt returner, scoring a touchdown on a return his freshman year. He could be an ideal gadget piece for Matt LaFleur’s offense in that “Tyler Ervin” role, and he’d make an immediate impact on special teams for new coordinator Maurice Drayton. 

James Wiggins, S, Cincinnati 

Wiggins had a productive season for Cincinnati in 2018, snagging four interceptions with one returned for a touchdown and earning second-team All-AAC honors. However, he did lose his entire 2019 season to an ACL tear just before the season started, and while his 2020 campaign was still strong, it lacked the same explosiveness he had in 2018. In 2020, Wiggins ended his year with one sack, one pick, and six passes defensed. His 5-11 height was the only negative from his athletic testing, posting a RAS of 9.70 with an impressive 4.41 40-yard dash. Wiggins is a sound tackler and even has experience on special teams, as he returned kicks for the Bearcats in 2018, averaging 20.9 yards per return. As a day three prospect, Wiggins could develop into a key contributor in Joe Barry’s defense. 

Sadarius Hutcherson, IOL, South Carolina

Hutcherson played left guard, right guard, and left tackle for South Carolina during his four years with the team. While his best fit at the NFL level is at guard, the Packers do love linemen who have left tackle experience, and Hutcherson’s versatility would benefit the entire offensive line room. If Lucas Patrick or Elgton Jenkins slide to center, Hutcherson could easily compete for the remaining starting guard spot while providing added insurance as an emergency backup tackle. Joe Marino from Draft Network describes him as “a powerful blocker that executes with a mauler’s mentality.” Hutcherson has an elite RAS of 9.89 with elite speed for a 321lb lineman, though his RAS lacks agility drills (and we know how important the 3-cone is to Gutekunst’s evaluation of linemen). If the Packers don’t feel entirely confident in the depth they have along the interior of the offensive line, spending a day three pick on a high-upside developmental prospect like Hutcherson makes a lot of sense for Adam Stenavich’s position group. 

Javian Hawkins, RB, Louisville

Go Go Gadget Running Back! If you thought Darden was fun, you’re also going to love Hawkins. (Imagine them on the field at the same time!) The Packers have already met virtually with Hawkins and it’s not hard to see why. The 5-8, 183lb running back boasted a 5.9 yard career average at Louisville. He had 1,525 yards rushing and nine touchdowns as a freshman before being utilized more heavily in the receiving game as a sophomore. While Hawkins isn’t the biggest back, he would bring a different dynamic to a running back unit that already has Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. As a complementary piece, Hawkins is incredibly elusive in space and would fill the jet motion role in LaFleur’s offense perfectly. While ball security is a slight concern, he makes up for the occasional fumble with his big-play ability. He’s a back capable of taking any handoff to the house for a score.