We’re in the final hours for first-round mock drafts during the 2025 NFL draft cycle. By Thursday night, all 32 first-round picks will be made, and the Green Bay Packers will — barring a trade down — have a brand new player. Brian Gutekunst currently holds pick No. 23 in the first round.
All of the top draft analysts and prognosticators are submitting their final mock drafts for the first round by Thursday. Who is going to land in Green Bay?
Here’s who the Packers are getting in those final 2025 mocks (list will update as final mock drafts come in):
Tracker by player
- CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky: 3
- CB Will Johnson, Michigan: 3
- WR Matthew Golden, Texas: 1
- WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona: 1
- DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M: 1
- DE Mykel Williams, Georgia: 1
- DL Walter Nolen, Ole Miss: 1
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Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network: CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Reasoning: “The Packers love SEC defensive players, and Hairston can really run. He battled through injury in 2024, but his 2023 tape is exceptional. With Jaire Alexander potentially on the move, Green Bay adds help at cornerback.”
Matt Miller, ESPN: CB Will Johnson, Michigan
Reasoning: “There was a lot of buzz about the Packers looking at wide receiver, but I keep hearing that pick will come in Round 2 in true Packers fashion. Johnson is a top-10 player on my board, but sources said he’ll slip into the early 20s due to concerns about injuries last season.”
Peter Schrager, ESPN: WR Matthew Golden, Texas
Reasoning: “I know it’s out of character for Green Bay to take a receiver in Round 1 — they haven’t done it since 2002 — but in this scenario, Golden could slide right to them. And I can’t see him sliding much more. Green Bay could go in several directions. I doubt anyone thought the Packers could get the consensus top wideout on many boards, though.”
Todd McShay: CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Reasoning: “Mad Max is one of my favorite players in the draft. He would be an explosive young starter on the perimeter in Green Bay and ease the Packers’ concerns about Jaire Alexander’s role. Hairston is as quick as he is fast, which is notable considering he ran the fastest 40 (4.28 seconds) at the combine. He is also the most confident cornerback in this year’s class when the ball is in the air, evidenced by his tying a Kentucky program record with three career pick-sixes.”
Connor Rogers, NBC Sports: CB Will Johnson, Michigan
Reasoning: “Johnson’s slide ends as the Packers land a corner with tremendous size and ball skills.”
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Reasoning: “The playmaking cover corner is the ideal ballhawk to play in Jeff Hafley’s system. Hairston excels as a ‘see ball, get ball’ defender with superb instincts, awareness and diagnostic skills.”
Nate Tice, Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
Reasoning: “The Packers don’t historically draft wide receivers in the first round (Javon Walker was their last first-round WR all the way back in 2002), but I think McMillan falling into their laps would change the Packers’ modus operandi. McMillan has the size the Packers covet at the position and would complement their young receiver group nicely. His upside as a true No. 1 would allow the other Packers to slot into more fitting roles, plus give them someone who can actually beat man coverage on their roster (something that hindered them greatly in 2024). A McMillan-Jayden Reed-Tucker Kraft-Romeo Doubs pass-catching group (with Luke Musgrave, Dontayvion Wicks and an injured Christian Watson on the roster) has great synergy and would be exciting to watch with Jordan Love. I’m trying to manifest this one.”
Eric Edholm, NFL.com: CB Will Johnson, Michigan
Reasoning: “Johnson has been a tricky player to place in mock drafts because of questions about his health and long speed. But at No. 23, the Packers absolutely can justify the risk for a highly pedigreed talent at a needed spot.”
Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd Team: DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Reasoning: “Green Bay’s defensive needs take center stage here, and a freakish talent like Shemar Stewart lasting until the early 20s is a perfect pairing.”
Thor Nystrom, Fantasy Life: DE Mykel Williams, Georgia
Reasoning: “Williams plays assignment football against the run and has dormant pass-rushing ability left to be untapped.”
Charles Davis, NFL.com: DL Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
Reasoning: “The Packers add another interior pass rusher for DC Jeff Hafley as he seeks to cause a lot of turbulence for the opposition.”
