We know the 17 players who will attend the NFL draft that begins in Green Bay on April 24, so the next natural question: Will the Green Bay Packers’ pick be there?
The Packers own the No. 23 pick in the first round, so many of the top prospects will be gone. But there’s still a so-so chance that the player the Packers take with that selection will, in fact, be on hand to soak in applause from the local supporters.
Players like edge rushers Mykel Williams and Shemar Stewart have been available for the Packers in several mock drafts. Wide receivers Matthew Golden and Tetairoa McMillan could be available, as could guard Tyler Booker, offensive tackle Josh Simmons and Georgia safety Malaki Starks.
With 10 days to go before things get started in Green Bay, here’s what the latest batch of mock drafts are thinking for the Packers with the first pick:
Tetairoa McMillan, wide receiver, Arizona (attending)
Mike Renner of CBS Sports: “McMillan is so perfect for what the Packers need that I’d even consider a trade up for them if he slides into the late teens. His sure-handedness is desperately missing in the Packers’ receiving corps.”
Nate Davis of USA TODAY: “Yes, we know HC Matt LaFleur wants to ‘vomit’ at the notion of No. 1 receivers. Yes, we know the Pack haven’t taken a wideout in the first round in 23 years. We’d also suggest the value of a big-bodied pass catcher like McMillan (6-4, 219), also an accomplished volleyball player, would be too much to pass up here – especially given uber-sized deep threat Christian Watson is only three months removed from a torn ACL as he heads into his walk year.”
Mykel Williams, edge rusher, Georgia (attending)
Jordan Plocher of Pro Football Focus: “The Packers like to use early draft picks on the defensive trenches. Williams is so athletic that he can play multiple positions along the line and rush standing up or down in a stance. He is still developing as a pass rusher but is a great draft-and-develop edge prospect who boasts a 6-foot-5 and 260-pound frame along with very long 34 3/8-inch arms.
“Williams is already a stout run defender, with PFF run-defense grades above 80.0 in each of the past two seasons.”
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA TODAY: “Lukas Van Ness has yet to make a serious jump in the two years after he became a first-round pick, so in comes another pass rusher defined more by his potential than his production. The 6-5, 260-pound Williams looks the part of a Brian Gutekunst selection, and Green Bay could get another crack at maximizing the disruptiveness of an explosive athlete with a formidable bull rush.”
Shemar Stewart, edge rusher, Texas A&M (attending)
Field Yates and Mel Kiper of ESPN: “Stewart has some of the most intriguing traits in the class. His speed, length and power all pop on tape and were on full display at the combine. However, he managed just 4.5 sacks in three seasons at Texas A&M. This would be a bet on his potential for Green Bay, but there’s no doubt the Packers could use his upside and ability to get pressure off the edge.”
Jahdae Barron, cornerback, Texas (not attending)
Mike Band of NFL.com: “GM Brian Gutekunst has a clear track record of targeting elite defensive athletes early in the draft, and Barron fits that profile. A first-team All-American at Texas, Barron earned an overall draft score from Next Gen Stats’ draft model of 89 — he was one of only five prospects to receive a grade that high.”
Garrett Podell of CBS Sports: “The Packers need cornerback help. No. 1 corner Jaire Alexander could easily be on another team by either the end of the month or next offseason (check his 2026 cap hit), and 2021 first-round pick corner Eric Stokes didn’t pan out and departed in free agency. Barron won the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award as college football’s best defensive back, and he had a 91.3 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus, the second best by a cornerback in the nation. He’ll help patch up Green Bay’s secondary nicely.”
Jared Durbin of CBS Sports: “Barron is probably at his best in the slot because of his shorter arms but he showed in college that he can hang outside, too. And the Packers could use a high-level corner, especially if they end up parting ways with Jaire Alexander.”
The Ringer: “The Packers grab a big-time playmaker here in Barron, who brings versatility and ball skills to Green Bay’s secondary. The former Texas star impressed at the combine, running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash while logging 35 inches in the vertical jump. He can contribute right away for the Packers, lining up both outside or in the slot.”
Matt Brandon, Sports Illustrated: “I would love to see the Packers take a wide receiver here but something tells me they will wait until Day 2 to give Jordan Love another playmaker. Instead, they target a defensive back who some believe is a top-10 prospect. Jaire Alexander’s future with the Packers appears increasingly uncertain, as his ongoing health issues have raised significant concerns. The Green Bay front office seems increasingly frustrated by his inability to stay on the field, and regardless of whether he remains for another season, the team urgently requires a long-term solution at cornerback.”
Emeka Egbuka, wide receiver, Ohio State (not attending)
David Bearman of Pro Football Network: “Offensively, there are two main needs for the Green Bay Packers. Josh Jacobs called out the wide receiver situation, stating that they need a true No. 1 for Jordan Love. The Packers have a very talented group, but none of them are receivers you look at as potential game-winners on a regular basis. However, this is a case where, if they do not draft a No. 1, they do not need to add more No. 2 level options to the offense. Emeka Egbuka is a big, reliable receiver with good hands and quick lateral movements as both a route runner and a ball carrier. Egbuka’s tape looks the part of a future NFL starting wide receiver.”
Derrick Harmon, defensive tackle, Oregon (not attending)
R.J. White of CBS Sports: “The Packers are even odds to take a DL/edge first, and Harmon is the type of prospect who fits their profile. He’s also -1000 to be a first-round pick, so we want to be sure to slot him in before the end of this mock.”