Since Brian Gutekunst became general manager, the Green Bay Packers have used seven of their nine first-round picks on defense. Many fans expect that trend to continue each year – and they’re not alone.
On the Friday before the Super Bowl, Kay Adams asked Jordan Love who he thought the Packers would take in the first round of the draft.
“It’s a great question. Knowing the Green Bay Packers, I think we’re gonna go defense,” Love said. “We’ll see, maybe we’ll draft, I don’t even know who’s out there. Might well be surprised.”
The Packers have several defensive options for their first-round pick. They need starting-caliber talent and depth at cornerback. Upgrading their pass rush is also a priority after finishing 26th in pass-rush win rate last season.
The 2025 draft class is deep with talent on the defensive line, giving the Packers a strong chance to secure a first-round-caliber player in the second round. However, if Brian Gutekunst wants to lock in his top choice on Day 1, Derrick Harmon should be a priority on his board.
Before the National Championship, ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranked Harmon as the No. 19-overall prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft. He is the 21st-ranked player on ESPN’s Big Board.
“What jumps out to me most is his consistent disruptiveness on a game-to-game basis,” he said. “He combines quickness with power to cause chaos for opponents. And his scheme versatility only adds to his value; Harmon can dominate at either defensive tackle or end.”
Versatility is one of the most frequently used words by the Packers front office. They use it constantly, often as a defining trait of their draft picks. The organization places a premium on players who can handle multiple roles, regardless of position. The Packers also use it to describe a player’s ability to execute every aspect of their job at a high level.
Throughout the years, Green Bay has emphasized versatility with numerous draft picks, including Elgton Jenkins and Zach Tom, who have played across the offensive line at tackle and interior positions. Jordan Morgan, originally a left tackle, transitioned to guard as a starter. Additionally, Evan Williams is a strong post safety who can fly downfield and be disruptive near the line of scrimmage.
If a prospect hasn’t demonstrated versatility in college or lacks the physical tools to develop it in the NFL, the Packers likely won’t have much interest in them. Derrick Harmon fits the mold of what Green Bay values. He has proven he can move across the defensive line and consistently create disruption.
Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice listed Harmon as one of his favorite players in the draft.
Harmon can do a lot of things effectively up front, including getting pressure on all four downs. Harmon isn’t just a gap-shooting player; he can hold up in the run game, even against double-teams, and effectively perform a lot of roles… Getting someone who can contribute against the run and provide help for Trey Hendrickson is a nice piece to help build a unit.
Harmon is coming off a career-high season at Oregon in sacks and tackles for loss. He followed that up with an impressive combine performance, drawing comparisons to Chris Jones. Despite being listed at 313 lbs., he ran a sub-five-second 40-yard dash. For reference, Kenny Clark is 314 lbs. and ran a 5.06.
After listening to Gutekunst’s comments at the combine, it’s clear that defensive line is in play for the Packers in the first round. “We need to affect the quarterback with four. How we do that remains to be seen,” Gutekunst said. “Excited about the guys in the room, we’ll see if we add to it.”
Gutekunst would never explicitly state that he’s going to take a pass rusher. However, his comments hinted that strengthening the defensive line is on the table.
Harmon should be available when Green Bay picks, and he’s a player they should strongly consider. Super Bowl LIX demonstrated the value of a dominant four-man rush, and Harmon has the tools to impact the defensive line immediately.
