We are closing in on the conclusion of the regular season,
and I thought it would be a good time to take a look at the Packers potential
draft needs with my first in-season 2025 mock draft. The Packers have already
improved upon their 2023 record with 11 victories so far, compared to last
year’s nine.
1.
Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
The Packers have a huge hole at
cornerback. Keisean Nixon has played a lot better recently and Carrington
Valentine has had a real nice sophomore campaign. However, Jaire Alexander’s
body is failing him and Eric Stokes is a free agent. Alexander has missed most
of the season once again and no one knows when he’ll be back. Packers can’t
have their highly-paid top corner hardly ever pay. I have no idea if they’ll
let him go or not. Stokes, on the other hand, has been pretty disappointing. He
has played better recently, but I don’t know if that will be enough to bring
him back. If they move on from both Alexander and Stokes, corner goes from a
big need to a dire need. Revel has good athleticism and great size at 6-3. One
thing going against him is that he tore his ACL in September. While he should
be fully ready for camp, it will be interesting to see how quickly it takes for
him to feel back to full strength.
2.
J.T. Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
You can never have enough edge
rushers. For much of the year, the Packers were not able to heat up opposing
quarterbacks, but recently, the rushers have started to get it going. Next
season, the Packers hope to have Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness starting. Green
Bay would like to have another fierce pass rusher off the bench with Kingsley
Enagbare and Brenton Cox. Tuimoloau has improved each season with this year
being an 8-sack campaign. He hasn’t necessarily lived up to his massive hype
coming out of high school, but he has a lot of talent and Jeff Hafley could
bring out the best in him. It is well worth the selection.
3.
Patrick Jenkins, DT, Tulane
The defensive tackle group has
improved quite a bit this season, especially with the emergence of Devonte
Wyatt. However, the Packers could always use more depth, especially since T.J.
Slaton is a free agent. Also, while Kenny Clark just received a contract
extension, he might only have a few great years left in him and the Packers
would benefit to try to find a long-term replacement should his production drop
off significantly in 2025. Jenkins is a 3x All-AAC selection and is an integral
part of that defense and could step in and make an impact from day one.
4.
Gus Hartwig, C, Purdue
It will be interesting to see what
the Packers do at center next season if Josh Myers leaves via free agency. One
could be Jacob Monk or a rookie. They really like Zach Tom if he were the
center, but they will likely keep him at right tackle. Another thing would be
moving Elgton Jenkins to center since he was a center at Mississippi Stare and
then put 2024 first round pick Jordan Morgan at guard and have an offensive
line of Rasheed Walker/Morgan/Jenkins/Sean Rhyan/Tom. Regardless, expect the
Packers to take an offensive lineman or two.
5.
Ricardo Hallman, CB, Wisconsin
Even though I have the Packers
taking a cornerback to begin the draft, it really would not surprise me to see the
Green & Gold select multiple cornerbacks. The one bad thing is that the Packers
struggle mightily at taking impact corners early (see: Josh Jackson and Eric
Stokes, to name a few). Carrington Valentine and Keisean Nixon are mainstays,
but I don’t know how you can count on Jaire Alexander and Stokes is a free
agent. Hallman didn’t have as good of a season last year for the Badgers, but Wisconsin’s
pass rush was not good, to say the least, which affected the secondary.
However, he was an All-American in 2023, and has a chance to be a good pick at
this spot.
6.
Ashton Grable, OL, Florida A&M
Another thing the Packers love is
versatile linemen. He moved to right guard this season and played well. He has
things the Packers would like and be able to work with. The Packers love to
take offensive linemen on the third day of the draft and have been wildly
successful doing so. Another thing the Packers love is versatile linemen. He
moved to right guard this season and played well. He has things the Packers
would like and be able to work with.
7.
Caleb Etienne, OT, BYU
I have them bringing in another
offensive lineman for the Packers. The line has been pretty good, for the most
part, but the Packers need to keep replenishing the offensive line with hopes
to make it dominant. He has developmental traits the Packers could like working
with.