Every general manager and team will go into the NFL draft with specific goals that need to be accomplished. Brian Gutekunst and the Green Bay Packers are no different. After back-to-back playoff appearances to start the Jordan Love era, the Packers are now positioned to reclaim their status as an annual Super Bowl contender. But plenty of work remains after a disappointing finish to the 2024 season.
So, what’s one thing the Packers must do in the 2025 draft?
Last year, our staff correctly predicted the Packers would invest heavily along the offensive line and at safety while also acquiring a linebacker early in the draft.
Our staff at Packers Wire made their picks for 2025:
Zach Kruse: Find a pass rusher
The Packers have needs — either immediate or long term — at both defensive end and defensive tackle, so expect Brian Gutekunst to use at least one of his top picks on a player who can disrupt the quarterback. The team might believe in the players on the roster and see the potential for internal improvement, but the defensive front is too important to playing winning football in big games for the Packers to stand pat, especially after the inconsistency of last season and the lack of an addition in free agency. There is a clearly defined offseason focus on becoming more disruptive and more consistent rushing the passer, and while a rookie might not solve the problem alone, an investment in defensive end or defensive tackle (or both, most likely) will provide an immediate boost to the competition and talent levels, create the potential for instant impact and give the two important position groups much needed long-term stability. The Packers must get better rushing the quarterback to be a Super Bowl quality team in 2025, and a rookie addition must be one piece of the solution puzzle.
Brandon Carwile: Add competition at wide receiver
You could say this about multiple position groups, but wide receiver might be the most important. Green Bay’s receivers were a major disappointment in 2024, suffering from a lack of playmaking and consistency for most of the season. It’s probably not a matter of if but when Brian Gutekunst will start adding pass catchers in this year’s draft. The Packers haven’t drafted a wideout in the first round since 2002 but recently hosted first-round hopeful Matthew Golden out of Texas on a top-30 visit. Even if the streak isn’t broken, expect Green Bay to dedicate multiple picks to wide receivers in this year’s draft. Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are entering the final year of their contracts, so they need to get guys in the building to start developing. Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks also battled drops last season, and competition could bring out the best in them.
Brennen Rupp: Bolster the interior of the DL
The Packers need to bolster the interior of the defensive line. Kenny Clark isn’t getting any younger and he’s getting up there in mileage. Devonte Wyatt’s time in Green Bay could end after next season if the Packers don’t pick up his fifth-year option and the Packers may not hand him a second contract even if they pick up his fifth-year option. Karl Brooks has shown he can be a valuable piece of the rotation. To sum it up, this team needs a talent infusion so they can more consistently cause chaos, both against the run and the pass. Thankfully for Brian Gutekunst and Jeff Hafley this draft class is stocked with talented defensive tackles. It would not be surprising if the Packers took Oregon’s Derrick Harmon with the 23rd overall pick and then came back to the Ducks’ talent pool by taking Jamaree Caldwell in the fourth or fifth round. Harmon is a disruptive presence who recorded 55 pressures this past season, which was the most among defensive tackles. He’s also no slouch against the run. Caldwell is a space eater who could replace TJ Slaton. It may not be those exact players, but the Packers would be wise to add a defensive tackle who could bolster their interior pass rush in the first three rounds and then go back to the position on Day 3 by adding a space-eater who could help replace Slaton’s mass.
Mark Oldacres: Draft an interior DL early
This is a “meat and potatoes” draft, with strong offensive and defensive line classes to help beef up the trenches. The Packers tend to look a year ahead with their draft strategy, getting out in front of roster holes that could appear down the line, and the defensive line is the ideal position to be proactive with. Kenny Clark could be a cut candidate in 2026 if he does not bounce back this year, and Devonte Wyatt may not be on the team past 2025 either. That would leave just Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden as the notable names on the roster, both of whom would be in the final year of their contract. The 2025 D-line class is strong, and the run is projected to start right around Green Bay’s first-round pick. Beginning with Kenneth Grant, currently ranked 22nd on the consensus big board, the likes of Derrick Harmon, Tyleik Williams, Darius Alexander and T.J. Sanders could be in play for the Packers in round one or two. Green Bay needs to invest in the interior of their defensive line to give them a young player to build the group around in the long term.