Positional-value apologists will be furious at the mere thought of drafting an off-ball linebacker on Day 1, but bear with me for a few minutes.
Edgerrin Cooper’s stellar rookie season has shifted the focus away from something crucial. The Green Bay Packers’ off-ball linebacker corps still has plenty of room for improvement, both in starting quality and depth.
Quay Walker is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and while Brian Gutekunst has expressed a desire to keep him in Green Bay long-term, Walker has yet to justify the first-round pick the Packers used on him. He had a promising stretch late last season before injuring his ankle against the Seattle Seahawks.
Still, his body of work remains underwhelming. In 2024, his career-low 48.8 coverage grade ranked 90th among linebackers with at least 50 coverage snaps. He also finished 58th in run defense and 97th in overall defense among players at his position with the same snap threshold.
The Packers have their starting linebackers set in the 4-2-5 with Cooper and Walker. However, the depth behind them is a concern. They lost Eric Wilson – arguably their second-best linebacker – to free agency, while Ty’Ron Hopper played just 18 snaps as a rookie. Isaiah McDuffie logged the second-most snaps in the linebacker room last season and brings experience, but his play has also been underwhelming.
McDuffie has been average against the run and a liability in coverage. The Packers would like to foster his connection with Jeff Hafley, which is fair, but that alone should not justify a starting role. McDuffie is entering his fifth year in the league. At this point, the Packers know what they have in him.
Green Bay’s base 4-3 alignment is even more concerning. The 4-2-5, used primarily in passing situations, allows defenses to bring in safety near the line of scrimmage to improve coverage, an area where Javon Bullard excelled last year. In contrast, the Packers’ 4-3 setup should mostly feature three linebackers, but they have only one, Cooper, who has proven to be a consistent playmaker.
The Packers reportedly met with former New York Giants linebacker Isaiah Simmons on Monday, a sign they’re doing their homework to ensure the linebacker group has enough depth and versatility to avoid being a liability in 2025. Still, linebacker deserves to be in the conversation for a first-round pick. If I worked for the Packers, it wouldn’t be my first, second, or third target. Still, I can’t say there is no logic in taking one on Day 1.
According to FanDuel, defensive line/edge is the favored position Green Bay targets in the first round. Cornerback is a close second, followed by wide receiver and offensive line. Linebacker comes in a distant fifth.
From an investment standpoint, there’s a case to make for picking a linebacker ahead of addressing the defensive line. The Packers have two big-money contracts up front – Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark – and two recent first-round picks in Lukas Van Ness and Devonte Wyatt. At linebacker, they have a promising second-year starter in Edgerrin Cooper and a former first-rounder in Quay Walker. Even setting aside the fact that Walker has yet to play at a high level, the numbers are simple: four premium investments on the defensive line and only two at the second level.
From an immediate-impact standpoint, off-ball linebacker has a stronger case than the offensive line. Although there’s no harm in adding extra protection for Jordan Love, a first-round offensive tackle would likely begin the season as a swing tackle at best, or be moved inside.
The point here is to highlight that off-ball linebacker deserves consideration as a potential first-round target. In this scenario, Brian Gutekunst’s pick would likely be Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell, one of the best athletes in the draft and a likely top-10 talent. However, I would much prefer the Packers to address the defensive line, wide receiver, or cornerback first. Those positions are more impactful, and while Campbell would be an immediate starter, it makes more sense to prioritize other areas of need.
It’s unlikely that Green Bay will draft an off-ball linebacker in the first round this year, especially after the Quay Walker experiment didn’t pan out as hoped. However, it wouldn’t be without logic if it were to happen. Still, the Packers should prioritize other areas of the roster first.
