(Photo: Tim Warner, Getty)
The 2025 NFL Draft is officially less than one month away, and I can confidently say that I have zero confidence in what direction the Packers will go in the 1st round. The combination of multiple glaring needs, as well as a relatively "weaker" draft class, leaves us with a ton of options as we approach the big day.
Over the next month I'm going to go position by position highlighting players I think the Packers could actually draft. Not players I'd like them to draft or players I think they should draft, only players that meet all of their (tedious and slightly infuriating) thresholds.
In my opinion, there is no bigger need on this team right now than edge rusher which is where we are going to start this series. Earlier I mentioned it's a "weaker" draft class, and that may be true, but not when it comes to the edge class. There are plenty of really exciting options and the best part is that most of my favorites should meet our thresholds.
Let's get started. I'll list players in order of how I personally have them ranked. (Not every player listed today would be in consideration in the 1st round.)
****Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
There may not be a player in this entire class that I like more than Nic Scourton. His blend of speed and power is incredible to watch, and unlike many of our recent pass rusher selections, he actually has college production. In 2023, while playing at Purdue, Scourton was nearly unblockable as he racked up 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. His sack production took a bit of a dip after transferring to Texas A&M in 2024, finishing the season with five sacks, but his run defense stayed strong with 14 more tackles for loss.
I know he had a bit of a down year in 2024, but I'm all-in on Nic Scourton.
Love his array of pass rush moves and he's strong against the run.
He had 15 sacks and 29 TFLs over the past two seasons. pic.twitter.com/PMwq0UH7AG
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) February 17, 2025
He has the prototypical size that the Packers like in their edge rushers while also offering some real burst and explosiveness. Some may see it as a reach at 23rd overall, but I wouldn't be thinking twice about this pick, assuming Mike Green is no longer available.
****Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Expect to hear a lot about Ezeiruaku as we get closer to the draft. Between his elite pass rush skills and his Boston College connection with Jeff Hafley, I think he will be a popular name to pair with the Packers. My only concern with Ezeiruaku in relation to the Packers is his height and weight coming in a bit smaller than we'd generally go for, but not by enough that I think we're writing him off.
I feel like BC's Donovan Ezeiruaku wins every pass rush rep pic.twitter.com/FHAUiQgJ9p
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) March 13, 2025
Ezeiruaku played 47 games during his time at Boston College and had 47 tackles for loss, with 21 of those coming in just 12 games this past season. That is absurd. Did I mention the sacks? He had 16.5 of them last year. My favorite part about his game is that he can win in more ways than one. He has an elite bag of pass rush moves, none better than his swim move, leaving tackles in his dust. I'm hoping Jeff Hafley can convince Gutey to overlook his minor size limitations and just bet on the talent.
****Landon Jackson, Arkansas
Landon Jackson is just a badass. Felt like I needed to lead with that. I wrote about Jackson after attending the Senior Bowl and I couldn't stop myself from doing it again today. Jackson is one of the best edge setting, run defending edge players in this class which is something I know Gutey values. Over the past two seasons at Arkansas, Jackson had 24 tackles for loss and finished 2024 as the 3rd highest-graded edge rusher against the run according to PFF.
It appears the #Packers are set on addressing their need for pass rush through the draft.
There will be other guys who are more ready to contribute out of the gate, but I think Arkansas Edge Landon Jackson would be a great addition.
He put on a show against Alabama in 2023. pic.twitter.com/M1x6p4VJNY
— Brandon Carwile (@BCarwile_NFL) March 18, 2025
Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about the sacks. He's had 6.5 in each of the past two seasons. Jackson wins more with speed and technique than pure strength, which I look at as a positive. Many times, you will see a college pass rusher just bull-rush over and over and may find some success with that against college-level tackles, but that isn't going to fly in the NFL. You need to have some variety and finesse in your game as well, and that is something Jackson has in spades.
Elijah Roberts, SMU
Elijah Roberts is quickly becoming one of my favorite Day 2 options at edge for the Packers. This guy is like a tensed-up ball of muscle just waiting to run through a tackle's face. Roberts can beat you with pure strength, but also has the speed and bend to beat larger tackles, which is a huge reason why I'm such a big fan. When I first started watching his tape, it felt like a lot of bull rushing without much of a plan, but you saw him add to his bag throughout his time at SMU. His ability to convert speed to power is as elite as it gets.
#SMU Elijah Roberts, a versatile defensive linemen to played on the edge and as a 3 technique, has a top 30 visit scheduled with the #Eagles, per Joseph. He’s the 5th know visit, and first defensive player. Love his power profile.
pic.twitter.com/cTF1lxdqGV https://t.co/R7M9Ejd0HA
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) March 24, 2025
In 27 games over the past two seasons, Roberts totaled 17.5 sacks, 24 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles. As you can tell from this list, I'm primarily looking at players with above-average college production because I, strangely enough, like players who show they can be successful in college BEFORE drafting them to the NFL. Crazy stuff.
JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
Of all the players on this list, Tuimoloau feels like the most classic Packers pick of any of them. He hits virtually every threshold that we look for, AND has college production. On second thought, the college production part might actually scare Gutey away… But in all seriousness, Tuimoloau is a damn good football player who plays with speed and power but most notably discipline. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time and rarely gets caught out of position.
Ohio State EDGE JT Tuimoloau
6'4, 265. 33 3/4" arms. Excellent power rusher and pocket collapser -- will be valuable opposite an elite speed rusher in NFL.
Watch him close the distance quietly before the sudden stab *through* the RT's chest. Shrinks Ewers' throwing platform. pic.twitter.com/JDOAWvLan0
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) March 25, 2025
Last year at Ohio State, he had 12.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss. Much like Landon Jackson, you can always rely on Tuimoloau to set the edge and force ball carriers into disadvantageous situations. He would be a great complement to Rashan Gary, who gets plenty of criticism as a pass rusher but is quietly a very good run defender. We saw the Packers' run defense, as a whole, take a major step last year, and I don't want to see a backslide in 2025. Drafting Tuimoloau, or nearly anyone on this list, would be a terrific step in ensuring the run defense only continues to improve.