We are less than six months away from the NFL Draft that will happen in Green Bay next April. It will be a special couple of days for the city, for the Green Bay Packers, and for its fans.
Taking advantage of the monster work that our friend Ian Valentino put together with his seven-round mock draft, let’s evaluate some options for the Packers.
This is what it looked like:
Ian Valentino 7-round mock draft
23) Green Bay Packers: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
The fastest defensive tackle in the draft joins the Packers at an opportune moment. With the team looking to overhaul their defense, they have multiple options available. However, skipping on Walter Nolen wouldn’t be wise, given that the Packers require influential players as their defense ages in 2025. While he will need to work on his pad-level consistency, the potential he offers makes him a valuable investment.
54) Green Bay Packers: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky}
88) Green Bay Packers: Ajani Cornelius, OT, Oregon
124) Green Bay Packers: Devin Neal, RB, Kansas
159) Green Bay Packers: Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa
200) Green Bay Packers: Elijah Badger, WR, Florida
248) Green Bay Packers: Ethan Onianwa, OT, Rice
Overall analysis
Defensive tackle is not a huge need for the Packers, since they extended Kenny Clark and players like Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks will still be under contract in 2025. That being said, TJ Slaton is a free agent and interior pressure is huge for defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme.
In the second round, though, the Packers attack a real need getting cornerback Maxwell Hairston, a ball-hawker (which fits well in Hafley’s philosophy of forcing takeaways).
In Ian’s mock, the Packers got two developmental tackles — just Brian Gutekunst’s modus operandi. Running back and wide receiver were also selected to add depth to these positions, which is relevant since AJ Dillon will be a free agent after missing this season and third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd has barely played so far. As for the WR position, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs will enter the last year of their rookie deals in 2025, and it’s unrealistic for the Packers to keep both beyond that.
Green Bay would also take Jay Higgins, an off-ball linebacker, since Eric Wilson and Isaiah McDuffie will be free agents, and Quay Walker is also entering the last year of his deal in 2025.