23 First-Round NFL Draft Prospects for Packers

Here are 16 first-round possibilities for the Green Bay Packers at their key positions of need at receiver, offensive line, defensive end, defensive tackle and cornerback. Plus, another seven options if the Packers trade back.

The NFL Draft scene at Lambeau Field. | Bill Huber/Packers On SI

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers own the No. 23 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, which will start on Thursday night at Lambeau Field. Here are 16 first-round possibilities at the Packers’ key positions of need.

The stats, scouting reports and notes are for players who could be available to Green Bay. Thus, while the Packers need a cornerback and a receiver, you won’t see Travis Hunter. Players are listed by how they’re ranked within the position.

First-Round Prospects for Packers

Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan

Measurables: 6-foot-4 1/8, 218 pounds. 10-inch hands. 4.53 40.

Relative Athletic Score: Not enough testing.

By the Numbers: In three seasons, McMillan caught 214 passes for 3,423 yards and 26 touchdowns. He led the conference with 18.0 yards per catch in 2022 and 1,319 yards in 2024. His career averages were 16.1 yards per catch and 92.5 yards per game.

According to Pro Football Focus, 118 FBS-level, draft-eligible receivers were targeted at least 55 times. McMillan ranked 63rd in yards after the catch per catch (5.1), 78th in drop rate (7.7 percent) and third in forced missed tackles (28). He caught 12-of-31 deep passes and scored five touchdowns.

He said it: “I feel like people sleep on my ability with the ball in my hands,” he said at the Scouting Combine. “Obviously, everybody knows about my 50-50 balls and my catch radius. But I feel like I can get in and out of my breaks as a big receiver, and ability with the ball in my hands. …

“People look at me as a big receiver, which I am. I’m physically dominant but, at the end of the day, I’m able to run every route in the route tree. I’m able to play inside or outside, and I feel like a lot of people, a lot of teams are sleeping on that right now.”

Daniel Jeremiah said it: ““He’s got unbelievable body control with hands to go play above the rim – red-zone weapon, Drake London-esque, a real, real smooth mover,” Jeremiah said before the Combine.

“The size is outstanding. The body control and ball skills are as good as you’re going to see. There were times just on the back side of routes, I don’t really see him busting it all the time. I’d like to see that just be a little bit more consistent and competitive with each rep in that regard. But, man, someone who can play above the rim in a big, big way. [Coaches would] have some fun with him, especially down in the red area.”

Westendorf said it: A big-bodied receiver that Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has shown plenty of interest in through the predraft process. Suffered from some bad quarterback play at Arizona but catches almost everything that throws his way.

May be good at everything, if not great at anything. Some of the questions that emerged about his speed may allow him to slip into range for Green Bay to pick him.

Noteworthy: Packers GM Brian Gutekunst watched his individual pro day and then invited him to Green Bay for a predraft visit.

Yeah, McMillan is big and that helps with contested catches. So did his background as a star player in volleyball. “I think it’s a big reason why I’m efficient at what I do as far as jump balls, 50/50 balls, going up to get it,” he told ESPN. “Volleyball plays a huge role in that, for sure.

I tell everybody -- and I probably shouldn’t say it -- that volleyball is my favorite sport. I probably had the most fun playing it."

Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka

Measurables: 6-foot 7/8, 202 pounds. 9 5/8-inch hands. 4.48 40.

Relative Athletic Score: 9.72.

By the Numbers: Despite never having been the guy, Egubka was one of the most productive receivers in OSU history with 205 receptions for 2,868 yards and 24 touchdowns. Most of that production came over the final three seasons, including 81 receptions for 1,011 yards (12.5 average) and 10 touchdowns in helping the Buckeyes win the national championship.

According to Pro Football Focus, 118 receivers were targeted at least 55 times. Egbuka ranked 45th in YAC per catch (5.9), 54th in drop rate (5.8 percent) and 49th in missed tackles (10). He caught 6-of-11 passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield.

He said it: “Quick background on the room I stepped into. There was Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Julian Fleming, Jameson Williams, Kamryn Babb, Marvin Harrison Jr. That’s probably one of the craziest rosters I’ve ever heard in my life. Some of you can picture what that room was like. That was one of the reasons I decided to go to Ohio State. I didn’t want to go to a place where I wasn’t going to be challenged by my peers. I wanted to go somewhere I could grow at an exponential rate because they were growing as well.”

Pro Football Focus said it: “Egbuka is such a smooth, smart route runner, as evidenced by his very high separation scores versus zone and single coverage. His breaks aren’t as sharp or twitchy as some, but he attacks leverages and adjusts when he breaks based on the coverage. His long speed isn’t Tier 1, but it is certainly adequate enough to threaten vertically, especially due to how quickly he reaches top speed. His hands are reliable, posting catch percentages above 93.0% in each of the last two years.”

Westendorf said it: One of the most prolific wide receivers to ever play at Ohio State. That is true despite always having shared a wide receiver room with Marvin Harrison Jr. Jaxson Smith-Njigba, or Jeremiah Smith.

Egbuka feels like the receiver that Matt LaFluer could fall in love with. He plays both on the boundary and in the slot. He has mentality in the run game that LaFleur has shown a propensity to value with his receivers.

Noteworthy: Egbuka is the most polished receiver in the draft, scouts agree. After last year’s struggles, the Packers could use a ready-made receiver threat. Egbuka is that player.

In 2011, he threw out the first pitch at a Seattle Mariners game. Why? He was the winner of the MLB Pitch, Hit & Run Championship in the 7- and 8-year-old division. “I just find it so much easier looking for a ball over my shoulder,” Egbuka told The Columbus Dispatch in 2022, “because I’m so used to running down a ball in center field.”

Texas WR Matthew Golden

Measurables: 5-foot-11, 191 pounds. 9 1/2-inch hands. 4.29 40 (fastest receiver).

Relative Athletic Score: Not enough testing.

By the Numbers: Golden caught 134 passes for 1,975 yards (14.7-yard average) and 22 touchdowns in two seasons at Houston and one season at Texas. With the Longhorns, he set career highs with 58 receptions, 987 yards, 17.0 yards per reception and nine touchdowns. Golden had four 100-yard games in his career, led by eight receptions for 162 yards against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game and seven catches for 149 yards against Arizona State in the College Football Playoffs.

According to Pro Football Focus, 118 receivers were targeted at least 55 times. He ranked 62nd in YAC per catch (5.2), 61st in drop rate (6.5 percent) and 64th in missed tackles (eight). He caught 13-of-22 passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield, ranking among the leaders in receptions and catch percentage.

He said it: “Knowing I can play inside and out” is why he believes he’s the No. 1 receiver in the class. “You can move me anywhere. I can get open at any phase, at any level. Just understanding the game and seeing whatever the team wants me to do. I’m reliable on special teams also. So, I feel I can change the game in any way.”

Daniel Jeremiah said it: “I’ve become kind of obsessed with receivers with the thought and keeping an eye out for guys who are grounded through the catch, guys who really trust their hands and run through the ball,” he said before the Scouting Combine of Golden and Egbuka. “I just put more importance on that. You just see the really great receivers in the NFL have that trait, that quality, that confidence in their hands and allows them to do so much after the catch as well. Both those guys are grounded through the catch, tough, smart, instinctive players.”

Westendorf said it: One of the risers of the predraft process, Matthew Golden came into his final college season expecting to play second fiddle to Isaiah Bond.

Now, it appears Golden could be drafted at least one round before his fellow Longhorn. He ran one of the fastest 40s at the Combine but does not play to the same speed on the field that he showed on the track.  

Noteworthy: During his first game on varsity in high school, he caught four touchdown passes. In the process, he became tight with his coach’s young son. ““Win or lose, whether he had the type of game he wanted to have or not, he always made time to stop and give my son hug and do all that,” James Clancy said of Golden. “That was one of the things I told him. No matter what level you play at, don’t ever lose that wholesomeness. Because that’s what makes him special.”

Texas OT Kelvin Banks

Measurables: 6-foot-5 1/8, 215 pounds. 33 1/2-inch arms. 5.16 40.

Relative Athletic Score: 8.32.

By the Numbers: There were 120 FBS-level, draft-eligible offensive tackles who played at least 575 snaps in 2024, according to Pro Football. Banks ranked eighth in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-protecting snap. He allowed one sack and 10 total pressures and was penalized seven times. In three seasons, he played 2,778 snaps (2,774 at left tackle) and allowed four sacks (one in 2024, one in 2023 and two in 2024).

He said it: At the Combine, Banks said a handful of teams mentioned a move to guard. “I feel like I’m great in space. I can run. I’m willing to run through anybody’s face who’s in front of me. My approach to run blocking is just to kind of try to dominate my defender. Sometimes that kind of gets me in a bind because I get too aggressive.”

Daniel Jeremiah said it: Banks was No. 31 on Jeremiah’s latest Top 50. “I was looking at it the other day. I was like, I need to go back and revisit my original list and see who has moved and why. Why did I have him go up or down? He’s one that felt more like other guys I had just moved up more so than he did anything to disqualify himself and move down. When I do my final update, I’ll move Banks back up a little bit closer to where I had him originally, which I think he was my 19th player at that point in time. He’s a solid player. I just wish he strained to finish a little bit more.”

Westendorf said it: Banks is my favorite tackle in this class. He has good size and plays with a physicality the Packers are starting to shift toward for their offensive linemen.

He can likely hack it at tackle, but if that does not work out for him, he should be able to kick inside at guard and be a productive player there, as well.

Taking Banks gives Green Bay two cracks at finding a franchise left tackle, with last year’s first-round pick, Jordan Morgan, already in tow. The loser of that competition should be more than capable of being Sean Rhyan’s replacement in a year.

Noteworthy: “Most people would have died from everything I went through,” Banks’ mom, Monica, told Yahoo Sports. “I was in a coma twice in the hospital and they told my family I was going to die.” Monica Banks defied the doctors, though, and serves as inspiration. “When she can’t make a game, she’d call me, ‘You better put those guys in the dirt!’” Kelvin Jr. said.

Ohio State OT Josh Simmons

Measurables: 6-foot-7 7/8, 317 pounds. 34 1/8-inch arms (at pro day but 33 at the Combine).

Relative Athletic Score: No workout because of knee injury.

By the Numbers: Did anyone improve more than Simmons? At San Diego State in 2022, he allowed four sacks and 24 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, and was penalized … a lot. More on that later. He transferred to Ohio State and moved to left tackle in 2023. He allowed one sack and 15 pressures in 2023 and zero sacks and just one pressure in six games before a knee injury (torn petallar tendon) in 2024. Among all offensive tackles with at least 300 snaps, Simmons was No. 1 in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-protecting snap.

He said it: “Physically, obviously, you got to be ready,” Simmons said via Buckeye Huddle, “but I think mentally, that’s where you’ve got to start tightening up a little bit because then you start playing in those Notre Dame games, those Penn State games, and then you realize a penalty like that can literally destroy the whole game. And once you kind of look at that lens, you know those are no-no’s. It can’t happen.”

Daniel Jeremiah said it: “Talent-wise, if you just watch his tape and put his pure talent up there against everybody in this class, he stacks up really well. I think he’ll be a 10-year starter. Itwould have been great to have him healthy the whole year, to see him play against the caliber of competition that they ended up going through. We probably would be talking about him more as a lock as a top-15 pick if that were the case. Talent-wise, yeah, no question, this guy has the ability to start in the NFL for a long time.”

Westendorf said it: One of the big injury questions in this draft class. Simmons looked like he was on track to be in competition to be the first tackle taken in this year’s draft. That was before an injury he suffered in October knocked him out for the rest of the season.

Simmons came on a predraft visit to Green Bay and could be a target as Rasheed Walker’s replacement. His lateral quickness shows up on tape and is something the Packers usually prefer. Feasibly, he could play at either tackle spot and possibly guard.

Noteworthy: At San Diego State in 2022, he was guilty of 17 penalties – most among all offensive tackles. He cut that number to eight in 2023 – only one in the final five games – and one in 2024.

North Dakota State OL Grey Zabel

Measurables: 6-foot-5 7/8, 312 pounds. 32 arms. No 40.

Relative Athletic Score: 9.49.

By the Numbers: Zabel allowed one sack and seven total pressures in 16 games helping the Bison win the FCS national championship. In five seasons, he played 2,776 snaps, with 1,064 at right tackle, 974 at left tackle, 453 at left guard, 222 at right guard and 17 at center. Center might be his position in the NFL, but his proven versatility will make him an asset.

He said it: “It’s extremely critical,” he said of being versatile. “The biggest thing is understanding the different responsibilities depending on which hand you have down, which stance you’re in, and even if you have to snap the football. You never know where a team might need you in any given week, so just being the best football player you can be is the most important thing.”

Daniel Jeremiah said it: “Not only can he come in and start right away, he’s going to allow you to get your best five guys on the field because of his versatility. So, you get injuries throughout a season, that would be a valuable chess piece for them.”

Westendorf said it: Zabel has that positional versatility the Packers love. He is a former tackle in college that is going to kick inside in the NFL.

Zabel is going to be a first-round pick, but it’s hard to envision the Packers picking someone who seems destined to play at guard or center at the next level.

Noteworthy: During Senior Bowl week, Zabel played four positions. During the game, he played 26 snaps at center and 21 at right guard. “I played quarterback up until eighth grade before they saw my frame and moved me to the offensive line. I was also a pitcher in baseball.”

While he beat up on FCS-level competition, there are several quality FCS blockers in the NFL, including former North Dakota State standout Cody Mauch. “Going down to the Senior Bowl and competing well against top talent just goes to show that football is football. Everyone puts on the shoulder pads the same way. Everyone bleeds red. If you’re a good football player, teams are going to find you, no matter where you played.”

Georgia edge Mykel Williams

Measurables: 6-foot-5 1/8, 260 pounds. 34 3/8-inch arms. 4.77 40.

Relative Athletic Score: Not enough testing.

By the Numbers: Williams had five sacks, eight tackles for losses and two forced fumbles in 2024. He suffered a high-ankle sprain in the first game and wound up playing in 12 games but with only five starts. “It lingered the whole year. I never was healthy. I actually re-injured it multiple times throughout the year. I didn’t practice until Texas game (mid-October). I was messed up pretty bad.”

His three-year totals were 14 sacks, 21.5 TFLs and three forced fumbles. According to PFF, there were 100 FBS-level, draft-eligible edge defenders who played at least 239 pass-rushing snaps. He ranked 36th in pass-rush productivity, which measures sacks, hit and hurries per pass-rushing snap, and 54th in pass-rush win rate

He said it: “I have a different grit about myself that I can push through pain. No matter how I’m feeling I can still go get it done. The teams loved that I did. Most players in the position I was in, they would’ve sat and called it. They respected that about me.”

Daniel Jeremiah said it: “Mykel Williams, gosh, I just wish we could have seen him healthy. If he doesn’t get hurt in that Clemson game and we see him at full strength, I think we’re talking about him as another top-10 lock who has a lot of freaky qualities to him, freaky traits to him. He can really get off the ball. He’s got a lot of power and violence as a rusher. He can set the edge. It’s just a perfection. I think the Travon Walker experience and seeing how he has continued to develop with the Jags … I will be more surprised than not if he’s not all the way up in the top 10.”

Westendorf said it: Hyper-athletic former Georgia Bulldog sounds like someone Brian Gutekunst could fall in love with. Green Bay had him on a predraft visit, and there’s plenty of reason to feel good about his potential.

Williams played at an estimated 60 percent last season with an ankle injury and still was one of the best players on one of the best defenses in the nation. Williams had two huge games against Texas, who is one of the most talented teams in the country. He’d require some polish but would immediately impact the team as a run defender as he develops as a rusher.

Noteworthy: Williams has always been big and athletic. He dunked for the first time while in eighth grade and wrestled throughout high school. “It helps a lot, especially with the mentality that you have to have,” he said of wrestling. “It helps knowing that you’re one-on-one, and it’s you versus him. You’re going to give your best and he’s going to give his best. It also builds a mental toughness in you, because you’ve got to have the discipline to cut weight. It helped a lot.”

Boston College edge Donovan Ezeiruaku

Measurables: 6-foot-2 1/2, 248 pounds. 34-inch arms. No 40.

Relative Athletic Score: 8.15.

By the Numbers: Ezeiruaku emerged as one of the most dominant players in college football in 2024. He ranked second in the nation with 16.5 sacks and added 20.5 tackles for losses and there forced fumbles to win the Lombardi Trophy as the nation’s best defensive lineman. He had an eight-sack season in 2022 when Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley was Boston College’s coach. According to PFF, there were 100 FBS-level, draft-eligible edge defenders who played at least 239 pass-rushing snaps. He ranked 13th in pass-rush productivity, which measures sacks, hit and hurries per pass-rushing snap, and ninth in pass-rush win rate.

He said it: “Just going back to what got me here in the first place when I was just having fun flying to the football and playing free. I think I have a knack for the football. I always took pride in playing the run game because I understand that you can’t pass rush on third down until you win on first and second down. And then I take a lot of pride in that. There’s areas to improve in, you know, all parts of, you know, our games. But, I think I played the run pretty darn well. Obviously, it’ll be different going to the NFL, but I think I’ll be just, you know, just fine.

Daniel Jeremiah said it: “One of the knocks on him is as a pass rusher that he has too much of an arsenal. Like, you would almost like to see him be a little bit more focused on just his get-off with speed, developing a little more power. He has all the tricks in his bag. Like, he’s got a million different moves, and it’s why he was so dang productive this year. When you get to the NFL, incorporating more power into his game is going to be a big part of his development. In the run game, I thought he was fine. You know, I didn’t think he was just a rugged, knockback, violent run defender, but he’s got really, really long arms, and he can set the edge. He can lock out. He can extend. He is definitely a better pass rusher at this point in time than he is a run defender, but I didn’t view him as a liability in the run game at all.”

Westendorf said it: A former pupil of Jeff Hafley, Ezeiruaku has emerged as one of the favorites among draftniks as a fit in Green Bay.

Ezeiruaku is smaller than what the Packers have preferred on the edge, but he was far more productive than some of the players Gutekunst has taken in the past. If the Packers want to go the safer route in the first round, Ezieruaku is someone they could look to target.

Noteworthy: Ezeiruaku has more ties to the Packers than Hafley. His defensive coordinator in 2024 was Tim Lewis, a first-round pick by the Packers in 1983 whose career was cut short by a neck injury. Historically, he’s too short for the Packers’ tastes. Will his long arms and pass-rushing prowess make up for it? It’s different positions, obviously, but Gutekunst in 2021 selected receiver Amari Rodgers, who was shorter than the team’s historic preferences but wasn’t small.

“I think the film speaks for itself,” he told The Draft Network after the Scouting Combine. “Without giving too much away, I have a deep arsenal of moves. I obviously love that speed rush to the outside. …I have an overall feel for the game as a pass rusher. That plays a big role. I’m an instinctual player. I watch a lot of film to study my opponent. I think it shows on film. That’s why I was able to win so much as a pass rusher this past year.”

Texas A&M edge Shemar Stewart

Measurables: 6-foot-5, 267 pounds. 34 1/8-inch arms. 4.59 40.

Relative Athletic Score: 10.00.

By the Numbers: In 2024, just like in 2022 and 2023, Stewart had 1.5 sacks. His 5.5 tackles for losses weren’t impressive, either, but they did match his combined total from his first two seasons. According to PFF, there were 100 FBS-level, draft-eligible edge defenders who played at least 239 pass-rushing snaps. He ranked 33rd in pass-rush productivity, which measures sacks, hit and hurries per pass-rushing snap, and 40th in pass-rush win rate.

He said it: “I wasn’t a sack-chasing warrior. I just wanted to become the best player for my team. And sometimes the stats don’t show that. Definitely trying to get more comfortable and get after the quarterback, trying to run through the tackle instead of maybe trying to reach out, lunging for a tackle.”

Daniel Jeremiah said it: “Shemar Stewart from Texas A&M is easily the most polarizing edge rusher in this draft. I mean, he is the ultimate example of traits versus production. He has all kinds of twitch. He’s explosive. He’s disruptive. He just hasn’t been able to finish, to compile sacks. More and more teams don’t really -- they aren’t focusing quite as much on the sack number as they are on win percentage, pressure percentage, where he’s more than functional there. He plays really, really hard.”

Westendorf said it: Stewart is the most Green Bay Packer prospect that has ever Green Bay Packer’d. He’s big, fast, and as athletic as anyone that has ever been through the NFL Combine.

His production, however, leaves something to be desired. Stewart is more disruption than production at this point of his career but has every trait that anyone could wish for if they built a pass rusher in a lab. If he’s available when Green Bay is on the clock, it’s hard to envision Gutekunst passing on him.

Noteworthy: Stewart started playing football when he was 8. He hadn’t even seen a game of football in his life, he said. “I was terrible,” he said at the Scouting Combine. Everything changed after his freshman season when he met Moe Marquez, the defensive line coach at his high school. “My father figure because he taught me how to be a man, how to talk to people, how to treat people with respect and how to just protect the ones you love. He gave me so much wisdom throughout the recruitment process, and he’s definitely the guy I go to if I’m ever in any trouble.”

When he was 17, he took note of Julius Peppers. “I was scrolling through YouTube one day watching some of the NFL guys, and I seen him, and went, ‘Man, he kind of looks like me.’ Same weight and everything. He’s explosive, strong and powerful. He just made plays. I think he got the most interceptions I’ve ever seen from a D-lineman.”  

Oregon DT Derrick Harmon

Measurables: 6-foot-4 1/2, 313 pounds. 34 3/8-inch arms. 4.95 40.  

Relative Athletic Score: Not enough testing.

By the Numbers: After decent seasons at Michigan State in 2022 and 2023, Harmon had a superb 2024 at Oregon with five sacks and 11 tackles for losses among 45 total tackles. He also forced two fumbles and batted down four passes. According to PFF, there were 100 FBS-level, draft-eligible defensive tackles who played at least 238 pass-rushing snaps. Harmon was first with 55 total pressures (11 more than anyone else), first in pass-rush productivity, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-rushing snap, and second in pass-rush win rate. Somehow, he was only third-team all-Big Ten.

He said it: “With a little bit of grit,” he said when asked to describe his game. “I’ve got a dog in me. Real gritty player, just trying to get to the ball and make a play.”

Daniel Jeremiah said it: “He’s someone who can get up the field. He plays really, really hard. He’s got good instincts. Ultra-, ultracompetitive. Can get up the field. Plays smart. He flashes some bull rush power. I would like to see a little bit more of that going forward, but this is a guy who has worked hard to change his body over the last year, 18 months and coming off a monster year.”

Westendorf said it: Of all the defensive tackles in this deep class, Harmon probably fits what the Packers have liked the most under Gutekunst.

He’s a twitchy athlete that is capable of winning quickly at the line of scrimmage. He has some work to do when it comes to missing tackles. He’s often in position to make a play, just does not always make them.

He’s likely more consistent at his peak than Devonte Wyatt has been in his young career, and the Packers loved Wyatt coming out of Georgia and have expressed confidence in him.

Noteworthy: Harmon said his mom, Tiffany Saine, is his “why.” She had a couple brain surgeries when he was young. During his freshman season at Michigan State, she had a stroke that paralyzed the left side of her body. She is his inspiration, having made sure he had what he needed to play football since he started at age 5. “I lived with moms, and me and moms was hurting,” Harmon told Oregon Live. “She really broke her back trying to get me to every camp, every visit I could get to. Any time somebody invited me to a camp, she tried her best to get me out there. I never took that for granted. I still thank her to this day for what she did.”

Mississippi DT Walter Nolen

Measurables: 6-foot-3 3/4, 296 pounds. 32 1/2-inch arms.

Relative Athletic Score: Not enough testing.

By the Numbers: Nolen had four sacks and nine tackles for losses as Texas A&M in 2023. He transferred to Ole Miss for his final season and was a consensus All-American with 6.5 sacks and 14 tackles for losses among 48 tackles. According to PFF, there were 100 FBS-level, draft-eligible defensive tackles who played at least 238 pass-rushing snaps. He ranked 14th in pass-rush productivity and 15th in pass-rush win rate.

He said it: “I’m the next Aaron Donald, man” he told The Draft Network. “I feel like I can do it all. Aaron Donald did it all at the highest level. I’m a younger, upcoming version of Aaron Donald. I just can’t wait to show everybody that when I get this opportunity I’m being blessed with.” At the Scouting Combine, he said of his game, “Violent, just plain violent. I feel like I play fast. Fast and violent, that’s how the game is supposed to be played.”

Todd McShay said it: “While on tape he’s one of the most physically gifted interior defensive linemen in the class and he has plenty of college experience at big-time programs, he has yet to develop high-level pass rush moves, and far too often, he appears not to have a plan. If he gets with the right veteran group and has a great teacher as a defensive line coach, he has a chance to be a hit. A lot of untapped stuff here.”

Westendorf said it: Nolen came on a predraft visit to Green Bay, and he’s one of the more polarizing prospects on the defensive line.

One man referred to him as the next Aaron Donald. Others think he shouldn’t be taken until the fourth round.

He’s explosive at the line of scrimmage but occasionally plays too high. That can allow some of the bigger offensive guards to get underneath his pads and take him wherever they wanted him to go.

Noteworthy: Nolen was the No. 2 recruit in his class behind only Travis Hunter. "My dad introduced me to the sport of football when I was 3," Nolen told USA Today. "I started playing in pads when I was five and I enjoy the contact, the physicality. I like watching (Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack. I like how physical and fast they play."

Michigan DT Kenneth Grant

Measurables: 6-foot-3 5/8, 331 pounds. 33 1/2-inch arms. 5.13 40.

Relative Athletic Score: 7.18.

By the Numbers: Grant had 3.5 sacks and five tackles for losses to help Michigan win the national championship in 2023 and three sacks and seven tackles for losses among 32 tackles in 2024. He deflected five passes in each of those seasons. According to PFF, there were 100 FBS-level, draft-eligible defensive tackles who played at least 238 pass-rushing snaps. He was only 69th in pass-rush productivity, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-rushing snap, but 29th in win rate.

He said it: “Definitely it’s my power” that is his best asset, he said. “It’s working on my power watching Dexter Lawrence, Vita Vea, all those guys using their power and their body size.” He added: “I’m a 3-down player for sure. I can rush the passer with my strength and a little bit of finesse in there. Most guys think I’m just a run stopper, but I’m super athletic and can rush the passer.”

Todd McShay said it: “Grant eats up a lot of space, but he has the traits to become a lot more than that. He has a lot of high-impact snaps, but there are also a whole lot of snaps when it feels like he’s just going through the motions—he needs more determination and consistency. At worst, he could be a monster in the middle of a run defense. At best, he could refine his skills and become an elite run defender and an occasional factor as a pass rusher.”

Westendorf said it: Grant is a mountain of a man that could be pigeonholed as a nose tackle solely because of his size. For a 330-pounder, however, Grant has shown plenty of speed.

Grant could be an impact run defender in Green Bay and replace TJ Slaton almost immediately. He has upside as a pass rusher that can make him a potential impact player during his rookie contract.

Noteworthy: Grant has always been big. He started playing football when he was 8 or 9. “Every game, the parents were like, ‘That’s a grown man. Did we weigh him in? Where’s his birth certificate?’” his mom, Ewana, told The Michigan Daily. He’s not just big, though. Against Penn State in 2023, he chased down running back Kaytron Allen to prevent a touchdown. "One of the best plays of the season, that play by Kenneth Grant. Maybe one of the best plays ever,” then-Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Compare it to the play Justin Smith made against the Eagles my first year coaching at the 49ers. It was a guardian of victory type of play.”

Michigan CB Will Johnson

Measurables: 6-1 3/4, 194 pounds. 30 1/8-inch arms. No 40.

Relative Athletic Score: Not enough testing.

By the Numbers: In 32 carer games, Johnson had nine interceptions – including three he returned for touchdowns – and 19 passes defensed. Injuries limited him to only six games in 2024. He had two pick-sixes and four passes defensed. According to PFF, he allowed a 61.5 percent completion rate in 2024 (but 45.9 percent in 2023) with zero touchdowns and two penalties. His missed-tackle rate was 20.8 percent in 2024 and 15.7 percent for his career.

He said it: Asked about his speed at the Combine, he said, “Have you ever seen somebody run away from me?"

Daniel Jeremiah said it: “Will Johnson is an interesting one because there’s so much hype on him coming into the season, and he’s this big, athletic, rangy corner. He’s got ball production. I do not think he played his best this year. I thought there were times where he wasn’t super-interested against the run and he got trucked a couple of times against the run. I just want to see a little more physicality there. And had then some guys got on top of him. Didn’t get a.” chance to finish out the year healthy.”

Westendorf said it: Johnson was thought to be someone who would be long gone by the time the Packers are on the clock. The speed concerns are real in NFL circles, as are injuries. He missed most of his final season in Ann Arbor with two separate injuries.

When he’s healthy, he’s stood toe-to-toe with some of the top receivers who were drafted in the first round. Against Ohio State he drew the assignment of shadowing Marvin Harrison Jr. Against Washington in the CFP National Championship Game, he drew Rome Odunze.

Johnson won’t back down from a challenge and does his best work when the ball is in the air. He had two interceptions and returned both for touchdowns in 2024. His skill-set may not fit well for every team, but is a seamless fit in Jeff Hafley’s vision-based defense.

Noteworthy: Johnson chose to wear Charles Woodson’s famed No. 2. “(The number) obviously reminds me of the legacy behind that number and just to perform, it’s a little motivation,” Johnson said. His father, Deon, was a defensive back at Michigan in the early 1990s, so Will Johnson was well-schooled at a young age. “When he gets a little pissed off, that’s when you see it,” Michigan co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale told The Michigan Daily. “Oh yeah, oh yeah, he plays with a different aggression. That’s the part of Deon I see in him.”

Mississippi CB Trey Amos

Measurables: 6-foot 3/4, 195 pounds. 31 1/4-inch arms. 4.43 40.

Relative Athletic Score: 8.37.

By the Numbers: Amos spent three seasons at Louisiana and was a backup at Alabama in 2023. In 2024 at Ole Miss, he had three interceptions and led the SEC with 16 passes defensed to earn first-team all-SEC. According to PFF, there were 110 FBS-level, draft-eligible cornerbacks who played 280 coverage snaps in 2024. He ranked 32nd in completion percentage allowed (51.6) and 16th in passer rating (54.5) with two touchdowns allowed. He was guilty of three penalties. His career missed-tackle rate was 10.1 percent, with 11.5 in 2024 and 7.7 with Alabama in 2023.

He said it: “My best skill is my man coverage, just getting hands on wide receivers and just being able to like just do my thing - just go out there and just compete. And I feel like I just need to improve tackling, just taking better angles. I feel like that’s how I can improve being a cornerback. I feel like my man coverage and my zone coverage have all gotten better.”

Daniel Jeremiah said it: “Trey Amos has a really good shot going in the bottom half of the first round. He’s had a good process. He ran well, which was kind of the only question mark on him. He answered that.” Going more in-depth at NFL.com, Jeremiah wrote: “He has average twitch and burst, but he plays with excellent instincts and ball skills. He can play the ball with his back to the quarterback as well as any cornerback in this draft.”

Westendorf said it: Amos possesses prototypical size for the position. He marries that size with excellent press technique. He plays well mirroring the receiver and getting his hands on them at the line of scrimmage.

He did just turn 23, so he is an older prospect. The Packers have typically leaned toward players that are younger, therefore having higher upside, though they drafted Devonte Wyatt in the first round a couple years ago.

Amos’ skills would fit well in Green Bay’s scheme if Hafley wanted to play more man coverage than he did in 2024.

Noteworthy: At Catholic of New Iberia (La.) High School, Amos was a dual-threat quarterback who totaled more than 2,300 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2018. “My younger self, I was looking forward to [being an All-American],” he said in 2024. “But now, I appreciate that, but there’s still stuff left on the table. Still want to keep on improving for this last game. Still, getting the recognition on being an All-American, I’m still grateful for that, too.”

Texas CB Jahdae Barron

Measurables: 5-10 3/4, 194 pounds. 29 5/8-inch arms. 4.39 40.

Relative Athletic Score: 8.64.

By the Numbers: Barron led the SEC with five interceptions in 2024 and finished with 16 passes defensed to win the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back. All eight interceptions came during his final three seasons. According to PFF, there were 110 FBS-level, draft-eligible cornerbacks who played 280 coverage snaps in 2024. He ranked 45th in completion percentage allowed (54.4) and second passer rating (34.4) with two touchdowns allowed. He was guilty of two penalties. His career missed-tackle rate was 14.0 percent but just 9.5 percent in 2024. He had a ridiculous 12 tackles for losses in 2022.

He said it: “This class has heckuva ballplayers, heckuva DBs. They do a lot of great things, and I do a lot of great things. I think for myself, I’m more versatile than anybody in this draft class. I know it will help a defense. I like watching McDuffie, how he gets moved around, from corner to nickel. A team won’t anticipate where I’m at in the next week or the next drive.”

Daniel Jeremiah said it: “I’m higher on Barron than just about every team I’ve talked to. I love the way that he plays. This is what I’ve said to teams. I’m, like, ‘Look, you blew it on (Brian) Branch. You let Branch fall to the second round. The league collectively blew it on Cooper DeJean and let him fall to the second round. Is this going to happen again?’ Are we going to let Barron fall because we’re not going to give credit to someone who is going to be on the field the whole game as someone who is going to be a nickel or going to play in that different role, he can play and be your dime linebacker, your nickel? I think he could survive outside if you needed him to. That’s not going to be where his specialty is, but somebody that is a sure tackler, that has instincts, that takes the football away, that’s an outstanding blitzer, he can be a difference-maker and has been in the past.”

Westendorf said it: Barron’s arm length is going to be a key point of discussion as to whether he can play on the boundary with arms that short. If a team thinks he can play the boundary, Barron has a claim to be the best defensive back in this class not named Travis Hunter. Even if he cannot play the boundary, Barron has a skillset similar to Cooper DeJean, a favorite from last year’s draft class and hero of Super Bowl LIX.

In Green Bay he could be an immediate starter in the slot, with potential to be the primary backup to Xavier McKinney if the Packers did want to go that route. His ball skills are some of the best in the class, as well. His biggest concern is just his size.

Noteworthy: Barron’s short arms could take him off some teams’ boards, Green Bay’s included. He played primarily in the slot in 2022 and 2023 and primarily on the perimeter in 2024. He’s fast and intelligent, though. “Jahdae’s kind of the glue over there for us right now,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said in 2023. “He does a really good job of tying the front and the back end together. Jaylan (Ford) obviously does it from the backer position, but Jahdae does it from the star position. He’s in and around the box in the run game; we’re asking him to play in coverage … he gets some tough matchups.”

Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston

Measurables: 5-11 1/4, 183 pounds. 31-inch arms. 4.28 40.

Relative Athletic Score: 9.63.

By the Numbers: After a breakout season of five interceptions in 2023, Hairston in seven games in 2024 had one interception, five passes defensed and two forced fumbles. Had he played enough coverage snaps, he would have ranked 46th in completion percentage (54.5) and 54th passer rating (78.2). He did not allow any touchdowns and was guilty of two penalties. His missed-tackle rate soared from 8.2 percent in 2023 to 27.3 percent in 2024.

He said it: “From the [vertical jump] to the broad jump to the 40 [yard dash], the field work, too, that’s going to be the cherry on top...You need to get popcorn, probably a milkshake and some candy,” Hairston said before his Combine workout. On the heels of his breakout 2023 season, Hairston told The Draft Network: “I played wide receiver growing up. That’s where the ball skills come from. It definitely helped with that. I feel like I can catch any ball thrown my way just like a receiver can. I have great instincts for the position, as well. When I do see something, or I have a natural feel for something, I’m not afraid to trigger and trust my instincts.”

Dane Brugler said it: “A fluid mover with A-plus speed, Hairston moves fairly effortlessly in all areas of the field. He (shows) conviction and awareness in Cover 3. He is a natural making plays at the catch point, but he’s also more scrappy than strong, which will show against physical NFL receivers and in run support. Hairston … plays with the reactionary movements and ball skills to fit a variety of coverages. If he makes the necessary improvements as a tackler, he has the talent to become a capable NFL starter early in his career.”

Westendorf said it: Hairston has the athleticism that is desired to play cornerback. He glides when the ball is in his hands.

There are questions, and justifiably so, about his ability and willingness as a tackler. Hairston was skinny as a rail during his time at Kentucky. He’s shared pictures about him putting on weight, but can he play as fast when he’s 10 or 12 pounds heavier?

If you’re just looking at his RAS score, you’d think he’s a perfect fit in Green Bay, but his skill-set does not seem like something that matches up with what the Packers would covet in their cornerbacks.

Noteworthy: Hariston’s nickname is “Mad Max.” As he told Steelers Depot at the Combine: “It’s my personality on the field. My coach gave me it when I was younger, and now that NIL’s a thing, I just kind of took off with it. That’s my personality on the field. I’m Mad Max.”

Trade-Back Options for Packers

Here are more first-pick possibilities for the Packers, especially if they trade out of No. 23.

Missouri WR Luther Burden

Measurables: 6-foot, 206 pounds. 8 1/2-inch hands. 4.41 40.

Relative Athletic Score: Not enough testing.

By the Numbers: Burden had a sensational sophomore season, earning second-team All-American in 2023 with 86 receptions for 1,212 yards (14.1 average) and nine touchdowns. In 2024, with the same quarterback and same head coach, he dipped to 61 receptions for 676 yards (11.1 average) and six touchdowns. He lined up wide less than 12 percent of the time.

According to Pro Football Focus, 118 FBS-level, draft-eligible receivers were targeted at least 55 times. He ranked 36th in yards after the catch per catch (6.1) and 40th in drop rate (4.7 percent) but first in forced missed tackles (30). He caught 7-of-18 deep passes and scored three touchdowns.

He said it: “I got a mentality (of) as soon as I get the ball, trying to score, trying to put my team in the best position to be successful.”

Daniel Jeremiah said it: “The production did dip and due somewhat to the quarterback play that was a little bit up and down. The offense just wasn’t what it had been previously. I didn’t see any decline in his skills. As a player he reminded me a lot of Stef Diggs coming out of Maryland. And Stefon Diggs was just so quick at just getting away from people, separating from people, and then with the ball in his hands, could make some things happen. He’s outstanding. One of the best run-after-catch receivers in this draft, if not the best run-after catch receivers in this draft.”

Westendorf said it: Burden is one of the more polarizing prospects in this receiver class. He’s been flagged for some concerns about his character in the locker room, though Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz has defended his player.

Football-wise, there are questions as to whether he could play in the boundary or is destined in the slot. For my money’s worth, he could do both of those things, and has shown the ability to make plays down the field. There are questions about his ability to run the whole route tree due to the offense he played in at Missouri.

Noteworthy: Burden grew up in St. Louis and played in the same youth football league and at the same high school as Lions receiver Jameson Williams. “I think he’s going to be a top-five pick. He’s one of the greatest athletes I’ve ever seen,” Williams said of Burden last year. “Basketball, football, he’s doing it. I watched every single Mizzou game last year. I never watched a Mizzou game. I ain’t gonna lie. But Mookie (Cooper) and Luther, that’s the only two people I’m watching. Those are my guys.” Said Burden of Williams at the Combine: “I like how he always tries to make something happen when he gets the ball, as well. He’s got a mentality to score and not go down by the first guy.”

Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins

Measurables: 6-foot-4 1/8, 214 pounds. 9 1/8-inch hands. 4.47 40.

Relative Athletic Score: 9.63.

By the Numbers: After two seasons at Eastern Kentucky, Higgins caught 53 passes for 983 yards (18.6 average) in 2023 and 87 passes for 1,183 yards (13.6 average) and nine touchdowns in 2024 to earn third-team All-American.

According to Pro Football Focus, 118 FBS-level, draft-eligible receivers were targeted at least 55 times. He ranked 94th in yards after the catch per catch (3.8), 12th in drop rate (2.2 percent) and 37th in forced missed tackles (12). He caught 8-of-24 deep passes and scored two touchdowns.  

He said it: “I would say my versatility, being a big guy, I can do anything that a small guy can do and also just being able to catch the ball when it's in the air and make plays. … Just being able to move like a smaller receiver. I'm big, 6-4, but I can play in the slot. I can play inside and out and just make those plays at the end of the day.”

PFF said it: “Higgins is well built for an X receiver, with some added wiggle and agility for a big man. As a possession type, he has reliable hands and consistently catches the ball away from his body. He brings good footwork and a variety of releases to effectively get off press coverage. He also knows how to run almost all routes in the tree. While Higgins isn't a consistent winner with athleticism before and after the catch, he can still create separation due to his savviness and foot quickness. He is a willing blocker with good length.”

Westendorf said it: Probably the most popular Day 2 receiver prospect for Green Bay, and for good reason. Higgins is one of few receivers in this draft class that have the size that Brian Gutekunst typically covets, combined with the speed that Green Bay’s offense craves.

Higgins is who is the formula spits out if you tried to design a prototypical “X” receiver in a laboratory. He’s not the greatest at making plays after the ball in his hands, but his size and speed combination suggests he could become better in that spot. At minimum, he injects some speed, and that gravitational effect that defenses have to account for.

Noteworthy: Higgins, who returned to football as a junior in high school, has some of the best hands in the draft even though they measured a bit on the small side. “I catch a hundred JUGS every single day, Monday through Friday, with my guy Jonathan Vande Walle, someone we got on the team. Man. It's just a routine that I have. I have a certain routine as far as catching the ball, and I like to do that every single day to stay sharp … (and) trying to be better than the other guys. Honestly, just put in that extra work and just add something to my resume.”

As Higgins said, he’s not just a big receiver in the mold of another former Iowa State star, Allen Lazard. “Jayden’s ability to not only be big and have a great catch radius,” Cyclones coach Matt Campbell said, “but he’s a great route runner. One of the things that separates him is his speed and his ability at the top of route to really separate and create open windows. Sometimes when you’re big, it’s hard to lower your lever at the route point and be able to create separation. He does such a special job of it.” 

Oregon OT Josh Conerly

Measurables: 6-foot-4 5/8, 311 pounds. 33 1/2-inch arms (but 34 1/4 at pro day). 5.05 40.

Relative Athletic Score: 8.84.

By the Numbers: There were 120 FBS-level, draft-eligible offensive tackles who played at least 575 snaps in 2024, according to Pro Football. Conerly ranked fourth in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-protecting snap. He allowed one sack and nine total pressures and was penalized four times. His pressure count was down from 17 in 2023. Almost all 1,881 career snaps came at left tackle.

He said it: “As far as I can tell, there is nobody that's made me better than Jordan Burch. You see his size – 6-5, runs like the wind. At 290 (pounds), he gets a head full of steam and comes to bull rush you... that's somebody who has helped me develop an anchor. Going head up in run drills every day. He's helped me a ton.”

Daniel Jeremiah said it: “Conerly, he has that sturdy frame, long arms. He’s real patient. He has quick feet. The issue with him is just going to be he’s not a great bender, and that’s how you can kind of get caught like he did in the clip that got sent around from Mike Green at the Senior Bowl. That’s going to be something he is going to have to continue to work through. It’s just getting a little bit lower, bending a little bit better.”

Westendorf said it: A toolsy left tackle that has improved every year in college. He moves well in pass protection and is able to get out in space in the run game. His movement skills are something that Gutekunst will likely love, and could be the best in the entire draft class.

His hand usage is going to require some improvement at the next level. He was able to get away with spotty hand placement in college but will need to improve. If he adds that, there is star potential for him as a left tackle. He fits in Green Bay from the standpoint he could essentially redshirt for a season, allowing him to hone his craft.

Noteworthy: Conerly was a running back through his freshman year at Seattle’s Rainier Beach High School. Then, when he was about 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds, he was moved to the offensive line. “My first year playing, I played O-line. The next year, I was like running back and middle linebacker until about my sophomore year of high school. Going into my sophomore year of high school, we lost our starting offensive and defensive line. I just had to make the switch and it worked out well.” Working out well is an understatement. As a senior at Rainier Beach, he won the Anthony Munoz Award as the nation’s top lineman.

Conerly played left tackle at Oregon. At the Senior Bowl, he was trucked by Marshall’s Mike Green during one of his first reps at right tackle. “It's the game of football. Everybody 'gets got.' I got 'got', simple as that. This happened before in practice [at Oregon] so I've been in that situation. No matter what, you have to get back up and keep fighting. You're not just going to lay there forever.”

Minnesota OT Aireontae Ersery

Measurables: 6-foot-6, 331 pounds. 33 1/8-inch arms. 5.01 40.

Relative Athletic Score: 9.42.

By the Numbers: There were 120 FBS-level, draft-eligible offensive tackles who played at least 575 snaps in 2024, according to Pro Football. Ersery ranked 18th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-protecting snap. He allowed one sack and 12 total pressures and was penalized three times to become the Big Ten’s Offensive Lineman of the Year. He allowed five sacks in three years as a starter. Almost all 2,433 career snaps came at left tackle.

He said it: “I’m physical at the point of attack in pass protection,” he told The Draft Network. “I’m always the one that starts the fight. I’m detail-oriented in pass pro. That comes first and foremost. I never want to give anything away. I go out there and have fun. I don’t overthink it. Like you said, I’m a three-year starter now. I’ve seen a lot of different moves. I don’t think there’s a pass-rush move you can hit me with that I’m not familiar with. I’m pretty much prepared for anything.”

Bleacher Report’s Brandon Thorn said it: “With his NFL-ready build and length, Ersery has a stiff punch to steer rushers wide of the pocket, and he can anchor down when rushers try to attack him down the middle. Though he moves well for a big man, especially as a zone-blocker, it might be a bumpy ride early as he transitions to the next level.”

Westendorf said it: Ersery is a mountain of a man. He’s the first-player-off-the-bus type of guy. When the Packers drafted Josh Myers in 2021, Gutekunst said that he wanted to build a big, intimidating offensive line. Ersery would fit the bill there. Can he move well enough laterally to stay at offensive tackle? That’s the multimillion-dollar question. If he cannot, he could kick inside to guard. He’s currently much better in the run game than as a pass blocker.

Noteworthy: The Kansas City native didn’t begin playing football until his sophomore year at Ruskin High School. By the end of high school, he was a hot recruit who reached the state tournament as a wrestler and finished fourth in the state in the shot put.

Recalled former Ruskin coach William Perkins: “He’s got a video where as a big kid he’s jumping on top of these stacked plyo boxes to prove to some of the receivers that he was more explosive than they were. He’d compete with those guys.”

Ersery’s not just big. He’s fast. His 40 time was the fastest mark by an offensive lineman who is at least 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds since 2003.

Toledo DT Darius Alexander

Measurables: 6-foot-3 7/8, 305 pounds. 34-inch arms. 4.95 40.

Relative Athletic Score: 9.17.

By the Numbers: Alexander started 23 games the past two seasons. He had four sacks, 5.5 tackles for losses, 36 tackles and three passes defensed in 2023 and 3.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for losses, 40 tackles, five passes defensed and one pick-six in 2024 to earn second-team all-MAC. According to PFF, there were 100 FBS-level, draft-eligible defensive tackles who played at least 238 pass-rushing snaps. He was 12th in pass-rush productivity, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-rushing snap, and ninth in pass-rush win rate. He was PFF’s second-ranked run defender.

He said it: “I think my best attribute is my whole game. I think there's areas I can work on all my game, but my best attribute is to go out there and play physical. … I play everything on the D-line. I don't play just one spot. I'm a game wrecker and I just love to show my skill off.”

Daniel Jeremiah said it: “Darius Alexander, he’s a little bit older, which we’ll see some teams care more about that than others. When I was watching defensive linemen this year, the ones that I circled back on after the Super Bowl was over, I just wrote vet, ‘v-e-t’ on my sheet. If you see the words ‘violent, explosive, twitchy’ over and over again, those are the guys that I think you want because that’s what we just saw win the Super Bowl.”

Westendorf said it: Alexander is an interesting prospect because, at this point, we should have a really good idea of what he can become. He’s an older player who will turn 25 during his rookie season. There likely isn’t much more potential he can reach from his body growing into itself.

His skills are something conducive to what the Packers have typically liked. He is a disruptor, dominating in his final season at Toledo. Can he hold up well enough in the run game to make an impact? Would Gutekunst spend a premium pick on an older player? Those are the questions he’ll have to answer.

Noteworthy: Alexander was lightly recruited coming out of Fort Wayne (Ind.) High School. He redshirted in 2019 as an offensive lineman before being shifted to defense. “We’re talking about a kid that played left tackle as a freshman, that’s probably going to be an NFL draft pick,” Toledo coach Jason Candle said in October.

His dominance started at practice, position coach Frank Okam said. “I do think Darius has the skill set, the athletic build, the mindset, the mental makeup, the toughness, and the durability to be a really, really special player,” Okam said. “Some of the things he can do, there are not a lot of people in the country that can do that.”

He was No. 53 on this year’s Freaks List.

Ohio State DT Tyleik Williams

Measurables: 6-foot-2 7/8, 334 pounds. 32-inch arms. Fell on 40.

Relative Athletic Score: Not enough testing.

By the Numbers: Williams was a Freshman All-American in 2021 with five sacks. That wound up being his career high. In four seasons, he finished with 11.5 sacks, 27 tackles for losses and 10 passes defensed. In 13 games in 2024, he had 2.5 sacks and eight TFLs among 46 tackles. According to PFF, there were 100 FBS-level, draft-eligible defensive tackles who played at least 238 pass-rushing snaps. He was 57th in pass-rush productivity, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-rushing snap, and 58th in pass-rush win rate. He was PFF’s fourth-ranked run defender.

He said it: “I’m great at getting off the ball,” he told The Draft Network. “I think my get-off is among the best, especially at my size. My movement skills are rare for a guy my size. It catches teams off-guard. My defensive line coach, the way our drills were set up in practice, we were taught to attack relentlessly by using our hands. That’s what I’ve been doing these past few seasons at every practice. It became natural for me to make plays on the field. I know how to find the ball.”

PFF said it: “His calling card is his power. He plays with a compact, explosive stance that allows him to fire off the ball and convert speed to power. He has the frame to play both interior spots (nose and 3-tech), but his skill set is best suited for a run-stuffing nose tackle role. However, he lacks a well-developed pass-rush arsenal. His career pass-rush win rate has remained below 10.0%, and he doesn’t showcase many finesse moves. If he doesn’t win with his first step, his rushes tend to stall out.”

Westendorf said it: Not quite as a player, but the same style, Williams reminds me of former Packers defensive tackle Jarran Reed when he was entering the draft. Reed was a brick in the run game. Williams could step in on Day 1 and replace TJ Slaton and become an impact defender. He may be an upgrade from Slaton frankly, as a rookie.

Williams is not just a run plugger. He may not ever get 10 sacks in a season the way that Reed did, but he can grow into a more disruptive pass rusher. Williams might not go in the first round but may not make it to their second-round pick. Gutekunst may have to either reach for him in the first round, or manipulate the draft board to be in a position to where he’s comfortable taking him.

Noteworthy: Before he was a 330-pound, NFL-bound defensive tackle, the native of Manassas, Va., was a youth quarterback and running back. When he arrived in Columbus, he was 360 pounds. “I was supposed to be around 320, but COVID got the best of me,” he said.

He grew up playing basketball and is a much better athlete than he looks. “I’ve always been that dude that the other team would look at and be like, ‘Who’s that?’ It’s been my whole life,” Williams said. “People think I’m some slow slob.”

Tennessee edge James Pearce

Measurables: 6-foot-5 1/4, 245 pounds. 32 3/4-inch arms. 4.47 40.

Relative Athletic Score: 9.40.

By the Numbers: Pearce is arguably the best pure pass rusher in the draft. He was first-team all-SEC in 2023 (10 sacks, 14.5 tackles for losses, two forced fumbles) and 2024 (7.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, one forced fumble). According to PFF, there were 100 FBS-level, draft-eligible edge defenders who played at least 239 pass-rushing snaps. He ranked first in pass-rush productivity, which measures sacks, hit and hurries per pass-rushing snap, and first in pass-rush win rate.

He said it: “On the tape, there’s nothing you really can dislike,” Pearce said of character issues at pro day. “(In meetings with NFL personnel) they want to know the type of person that I am. They want to know that from me. They ask everybody else, but they want to know from me, too. I’m a great guy. I’m a great teammate, a great player. I’m a people person. I’ve got a good heart.”

Daniel Jeremiah said it: “James Pearce, he’s going to be an interesting one. He could go in the top 15. He could go bottom of 1. He could go top of 2. There’s a wide range on him. He’s a lean, skinny rusher, but he has a ton of juice and explosiveness. He really knows how to rush. His first three steps are pretty dynamic. … H has that one dominant pitch with his speed. I think that would translate really quickly. That would be maybe the one if you are looking for Year 1 impact.”

Westendorf said it: At this time last year, Pearce was projected as one of the top picks in this year’s draft class. Now, Pearce is likely to be picked in the second half of the first round. It won’t be from a talent standpoint. Pearce has speed to burn and a skill-set that does not occupy Green Bay’s edge room.

Pearce is one of the most disruptive players in college football, the question is whether he can withstand a full workload at the NFL level. He averaged 36 snaps per game at Tennessee. He’s probably best suited as a situational pass rusher in the way the Packers used to use Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila in the late 2000s, but is a player like that worth a first-round pick?

Noteworthy: Pearce, a native of Charlotte, shot up the recruiting ranks. Following one game as a senior, a rival coach made a point to tell him he’d be “playing on Sundays.”

“James is a smart player, electric in his ability to rush the passer,” Vols coach Josh Heupel said at pro day. “Just seeing his growth on and off the field in three short years, his best is still in front of him.”

He was arrested in 2023. “When a young man comes into our building, they are at varying levels of maturity,” Heupel said. “It’s our job to accelerate them as fast as we can. James has done a really good job. His football understanding grew really quickly. Developing as a man and as a person, he has done a really good job continuing that, too.”