After a long and grueling offseason, we are finally here.
It is draft day, and it’s an extra special one as the festivities return to Wisconsin for the first time since 1940. The Green Bay Packers look to make this draft memorable for their fans by adding another young complementary piece, hoping to improve an already young and ascending roster.
While there have been predictions throughout the offseason about what the Packers will do in the first round, people have suggested various names and positions. Now that it’s draft day, let’s see what these experts think Green Bay will do in their final mocks.
Matt Miller (ESPN+)
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
There was a lot of buzz about the Packers looking at wide receivers, but I keep hearing that pick will come in Round 2 in true Packers fashion. Johnson is a top-10 player on my board, but sources said he’ll slip to the early 20s due to concerns about injuries last season.
While Miller mentions the potential need at wideout, he says the Packers will address it in Round 2, which has been a common theme for them in the past two decades.
Instead, Miller has them selecting Will Johnson, a cornerback from Michigan. Before last season, Johnson was considered a lock to go top five in the NFL draft, but injuries this season have seen him slip down.
With this pick, the Packers either get a great partner or a potential high-end replacement for Jaire Alexander, depending on how his situation plays out.
Peter Schrager (ESPN+)
Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
I know it’s out of character for Green Bay to take a receiver in Round 1 — they haven’t done it since 2002 — but in this scenario, Golden could slide right to them. And I can’t see him sliding much more.
Green Bay could go in several directions. I doubt anyone thought the Packers could get the consensus top wideout on many boards, though.
Schrager sees the Packers going in a different direction. He sees them taking their first receiver in the first round in over two decades.
While this class isn’t the strongest at wideout compared to other recent classes, Matthew Golden is a top-end talent who can come in and make an impact from Day 1. He’s a silky route-runner with the speed to match his route-running skills, giving the Packer a true potential WR 1 in a room of 2s and 3s.
NFL Nation (Rob Demovsky) (ESPN+)
Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M
Two decades of passing on a receiver in the first round makes it hard to predict the Packers would finally end that streak even though Emeka Egbuka and Matthew Golden were both available. Their preferred pass rusher would’ve been Mykel Williams, but Stewart is likely next on their board.
This is yet another direction the Packers can go in the first round, despite all three mocks mentioning the potential to take a receiver early.
Demovsky discusses the possibility before settling on Stewart from Texas A&M after his preferred option, Williams, is off the board. Stewart is an athletic freak at DE who has the raw numbers but lacks the stats during his college career.
It would feel on-brand for the Packers to select him. In that regard, he’s similar to Lukas Van Ness and Rashan Gary.
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com)
Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
The Packers love SEC defensive players, and Hairston can really run. He battled through injury in 2024, but his 2023 tape is exceptional. With Jaire Alexander potentially on the move, Green Bay adds help at cornerback.
Another analyst who has the Packers taking a corner early, Jeremiah banks on their recent trend of drafting athletic defensive players from the SEC. He also highlights the potential Jaire Alexander move for why Green Bay should take a corner early.
Field Yates (ESPN+)
Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M
You’ll hear the traits-versus-production debate in any draft room, but many evaluators across the league believe Stewart’s immense upside and great physical skills make up for his meager college production (4.5 sacks in three seasons). Green Bay hasn’t been afraid of betting on edge rushers with plus traits in prior drafts.
Another analyst who has the Packers selecting Stewart, Yates also acknowledges Green Bay’s faith in their ability to bet on traits when it comes to edge rusher and expects that this will be the reason why the Packers will feel so comfortable taking Stewart despite his lower production.
