The Green Bay Packers hold the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. After making the playoffs for the second consecutive season, the Packers will be picking in the second half of the first round once again.
Predicting which player Brian Gutekunst will pick remains a difficult exercise, especially if the team is interested in trading up or down. However, his past nine first-round picks provide a blueprint: Gutekunst likes young prospects with elite athleticism, usually at premium positions and from big schools.
By eliminating the most likely top 10 players on the consensus board and digging deep into the team’s draft preferences, needs and player fits, a prospect list for the Packers in the first round can form.
Eliminated: QB Cam Ward, WR/CB Travis Hunter, DE Abdul Carter, DL Mason Graham, OT Will Campbell, QB Shedeur Sanders, RB Ashton Jeanty, OT Armand Membou, TE Tyler Warren, DE Jalon Walker, TE Colston Loveland, LB Jihaad Campbell, S Malaki Starks, RB Omarion Hampton, S Nick Emmanwori, QB Jaxson Dart
Here are the 15 top remaining options:
1. DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
- Height: 6-5
- Weight: 267
- Age: 21
- RAS: 10.0
- Consensus big board rank: 16
Stewart checks every box — big, young, athletic, plays a premium position, from a big program and a Senior Bowl participant. And while his production numbers weren’t impressive, it’ll be hard to find a player with a higher ceiling than Stewart’s at No. 23 overall.
2. DL Derrick Harmon, Oregon
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 313
- Age: 21
- RAS: N/A
- Consensus big board rank: 28
A big-time disruptor with size and versatility along the defensive front. He’s also young and lacking an injury history — he played in every game over his final three collegiate seasons. An ascending player, Harmon could help solve a lot of short-term and long-term needs in the middle of the Packers defensive line.
3. DE Mykel Williams, Georgia
- Height: 6-5
- Weight: 267
- Age: 20
- RAS: N/A (not enough testing)
- Consensus big board rank: 15
Williams probably would be a lock top-10 player had he not played through a severe ankle injury in 2024. He got on the field right away as a freshman at a powerhouse program and is still only 20 years old. Like Stewart, teams will be betting on upside. He’s not a finished product, but he’s a good football player right now and has the potential to be a game-wrecking force.
4. DL Kenneth Grant, Michigan
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 330
- Age: 21
- RAS: 8.34
- Consensus big board rank: 24
A truly dominant run stopper who has the movement ability to be a disruptor in the passing game. Grant is young and athletic for a nose tackle prospect and could be the Kenny Clark replacement.
5. CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
- Height: 5-11
- Weight: 183
- Age: 21
- RAS: 9.63
- Consensus big board rank: 36
Smaller than the Packers like at cornerback, but he’s an elite athlete with big-time ball production and the potential to be a disruptive perimeter cornerback in a vision-based defense like Jeff Hafley’s.
6. OL Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
- Height: 6-5
- Weight: 313
- Age: 21
- RAS: 8.31
- Consensus big board rank: 13
A three-year starter at left tackle who is an easy mover at his size and likely has tackle-guard versatility at the next level. The Packers just drafted Jordan Morgan and likely have six capable starters along the offensive line, but Banks could be too good to pass up if available at 23.
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 248
- Age: 21
- RAS: 8.14
- Consensus big board rank: 32
While lacking the big frame the Packers like at edge rusher, Ezeiruaku is a clever and crafty pass-rusher who put up big numbers at Boston College. There’s an obvious Jeff Hafley connection here. The Packers have plenty of big edges and could certainly use an explosive and bendy rusher like Ezeiruaku.
8. WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
- Height: 6-0
- Weight: 201
- Age: 22
- RAS: 9.72
- Consensus big board rank: 33
While primarily a slot receiver at Ohio State, Egbuka has the athleticism and size to play all over the formation, and he’s both well-rounded and reliable as a pass-catcher. He caught 205 passes for the Buckeyes and could be a high-volume receiver at the NFL level.
9. CB Will Johnson, Michigan
- Height: 6-1
- Weight: 194
- Age: 22
- RAS: N/A (not enough testing)
- Consensus big board rank: 12
A potential No. 1 cornerback who didn’t test during the pre-draft process and could fall further than he should in the first round. He could be a Week 1 starter on the perimeter in Green Bay.
10. DL Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 300
- Age: 21
- RAS: N/A (not enough testing)
- Consensus big board rank: 29
Explosive interior disruptor who has the traits and potential to be a dominant three-technique at the NFL level. If he too similar to Devonte Wyatt?
11. WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 213
- Age: 22
- RAS: N/A (not enough testing)
- Consensus big board rank: 11
Will he get to No. 23? “T-Mac” has the size and playstyle of a Tee Higgins or Drake London. He was a dominant collegiate receiver who is ready to take on a big workload right away as a pro.
12. WR Matthew Golden, Texas
- Height: 5-11
- Weight: 191
- Age: 21
- RAS: 9.85
- Consensus big board rank: 20
Small but speedy receiver who took off down the stretch of last season. Elite timed speed. Still only 21. Kick return experience. Could he be Greg Jennings like in Green Bay?
13. OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 317
- Age: 22
- RAS: N/A (injury)
- Consensus big board rank: 22
Simmons was enjoying a dominant 2024 season before a significant knee injury ended it prematurely. The injury is a red flag, but Simmons has experience on the left and right side and could be a long-time starter at left tackle in the NFL. Potential high-end starters at left tackle must always be considered.
14. CB Jahdae Barron, Texas
- Height: 5-11
- Weight: 194
- Age: 23
- RAS: 8.62
- Consensus big board rank: 14
A 39-game starter who played multiple spots in the Texas secondary and then ran 4.39 in the 40-yard dash. Teams could see him as a Trent McDuffie-like weapon at cornerback. Some believe he has inside-outside potential, similar to Nate Hobbs.
15. WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 214
- Age: 22
- RAS: 9.63
- Consensus big board rank: 49
Big, fluid and reliable receiver who can play the “X” and in the slot and almost never drops the football. Checks all the boxes for the Packers at wide receiver — big, athletic, productive.
Honorable mentions: WR Luther Burden III, Missouri; DL Tyleik Williams, Ohio State; DE Landon Jackson, Arkansas; DE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M; CB Shavon Revel Jr, East Carolina (age, injury); DE Mike Green, Marshall (character red flag), OT Josh Conerly, Oregon, CB Trey Amos, Ole Miss, CB Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State, DE JT Tiumoloau, Ohio State