2025 Draft Prospects for Packers

[PikeBadger]

Start your premature list of candidates as you come across them.

 

[tynimiller]

Sure here's some early names folks likely should be familiar with at positions GB could or likely will be looking to, Cornerbacks:

Trending to be Day1 Guys

Benjamin Morrison from Notre Dame....I expect he adds a touch to his 186lb frame to meet our 190 typical threshold...and even if we hit on our 7th round steal perhaps this year and Valentine proves not to be a rookie hit wonder...Jaire's contract is growing and nearing its end...Stokes will need a contract and could prove to be too expensive....I strongly think we dip back into a top 100 pick at CB next year at a likelihood of around 65% IMO. Morrison has played incredibly well for the Irish since he arrived and has posted 118th best of 917 CBs PFF grade in 2022 and 104Th best of 852 CBs in 2023. Solid outside corner for a high level program since his first snap as a freshman. His hips are above average, his speed looks game wise to be in the sub 4.4 or close range and he plays the ball very well and has to with just a 6 foot frame. His arm length I don't think is incredibly long, but I bet is typical. Out the gate against Ohio State his first game ever he allowed just one completion for 12 yards and had a PBU. His freshman year he had 6 INTs and allowed 22 receptions on 51 targets for just 296 yards and 1 TD. 2023 he arguably got better, as he had 3 INTs but 8 credited PBUs on 51 targets allowing 25 receptions and only 279 yards (3 TDs). What is promising in his first two years he has NEVER played terrible against top flight teams...his worst game was Duke 2023 but otherwise he truly seems to play his best in big games.
Morrison has an early Day1 tag on him on my VERY EARLY board.

Will Johnson from Michigan....another Day 1 guy that honestly is everything Morrison above is, just two inches taller and I believe is longer too. He might not be as fast in the forty, but his footwork is step above Morrison I'd argue right this moment. Both he and Johnson are vying for first round easily...and could be battling to be first CB by the end of the 2024 season. Only Ohio State in 2023 arguably could say they got the better of Johnson in his two years...and like Morrison he is again an outside only type CB.

Denzel Burke from Ohio State....if you asked me name a potential top 50 CB that is the most GB type it would likely be Burke, just from pedigree, build and all that. Arguably had the best 2023 season of these first three listed - he however has had some growing pains at Ohio State in his first two seasons relative to Morrison and Johnson...that doesn't necessarily mean anything other than he has fought and is now one of the best CBs in collegiate football. 6'1' 193lbs he quite likely is a blend of the above two when it comes to speed, agility, hips and feet....I don't see the hands on him like I do in Morrison or Johnson but then again we are talking about CB not WR.

A name that many will learn about either in the season or predraft process that likely you don't know now:

Cobee Bryant from Kansas....I'm telling you right now it blows my mind how many folks have no clue who this back to back First Team All Big12 corner is in his first two seasons in college. He caught my eye in 2022, but needed to grossly improve in his technique and his tackling.....2023 season CHECK. The ONLY hurdle Bryant has is his own physical make up. He is a slender build and last I heard when I got information this summer was that he was nearing his goal of 180lbs by the season as he has played closer to 170 the last two seasons. Listed at 6 foot...I see more a guy in that upper 5'11' range but the fight and dog this dude has in him is special and isn't something which could be taught. I think if he can get his weight up to that 183 or more range and stay sub 4.45 he could be my FAVORITE CB in this upcoming draft to go outside the first three or so. Not too mention it would be pretty cool to hear the stadium after an INT or PBU yelling "Cobeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"


Older guy not to overlook:

Jahdae Barron from Texas.....many folks like me thought he'd come out last year, but he is part of that group hoping to make 2024 their year. I put him here because many folks push aside the older guys....the reason I won't do that so quickly with Barron is he plays a HIGH HIGH level slot corner and I still hate that Javon Bullard is the only guy I would say plays better slot corner on the Packers roster right now other than Jaire...draft Barron if Nixon again proves to be average at best...solve the slot woes immediately IMO and overlook the fact he'll be a fifth year type guy - likely a Day2 pick due to this truthfully and worth it.

 

[tynimiller]

I know I highlighted CBs above...but I just got done watching some more film on Morrison and the safety that is in town with him Xavier Watts. Notre Dame's secondary could compete to be one of the most complete secondary groups in college football this next year with those two as the tip of the spear.

Watts IMO could have went pro this last year and likely pushed for a Day2 picking....but if he does in 2024 what he did in 2023 he's a lock for a Top50 level type pick IMO. Last year Watts took home the Bronko Nagurski Trophy - given to the best defensive player in college football...putting up 7 INTs / 4 PDs / 52 Tackles (3TFLs) and boasting a 37.8 passer rating allowed when targeted (eighth best in Power Five).

A guy who came to ND originally to compete at WR...switched to safety his third year and showed immense chops and then this past year was one of the best in the business at safety. 6'0' 201lb frame that I know from his camp he wants to add another 4-5 lbs of muscle without impeding any production/performance - and if he can illustrate better tackling and run support this year he is going to catch eyes as one of the best safeties available come April of next year. He isn't a speed demon but he is already sub 4.5 and is pushing to be in that mid 4.5 range by April hopefully.

While I said his tackling could use some growth it is less about his ability to hit and wrap and more about run recognition and choosing the right angle...he is a million mile a minute attacker given his LB past and loves to fly around pushing the limit which is one reason why he is a massive playmaker.

Want a player comp? Extremely raw version of a Bob Sanders....

 

[tynimiller]

So I want to just put in writing my VERY early thoughts on one of the most intriguing athletic offensive skill position players I've seen in a while.

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This cat I'm telling you right now is special...last year due to injury stole a chance of him going into the draft and I think, we may be looking at the second coming of an elite Jimmy Graham or Travis Kelce type TE with a touch more grit to him.

The crazy thing is he is as at home split out detached from the OL and standing in the slot as he is with his hand in the dirt tucked inline. When detached from the line, his size + footwork+release+hips make you think of guys like AJ Brown or Mike Evans....when he is inline you'd swear you're watching a young Jimmy Graham or a prime Kelce type guy. He is not as swift as Musgrave, but if Luke continues to in my opinion be less of a TE than Kraft - I think there is a world where a pick like Gadsen in the 2025 draft makes a TON of sense...

- The bottleneck of contracts coming for the WRs AND Kraft and Musgrave running on same contract schedule make you think of creative ways to mitigate potential weapon losses when you have to decide to sign Watson or Doubs...or let them both walk if Reed and Wicks and company show that as an option...
- We have never had a guy with this pure of ability as a WR and as a TE...Musgrave is the closest type of guy we've had, but his routes rely more on his speed than his footwork, hips or route tree...Gadsen is a true route runner with feet of a WR and a body of a TE...and while a guy NOT purely one or the other likely not being a top 10 pick....I could easily see a world where Gadsen sneaks in as a late first round pick which is where we hope to be.

For those wondering on his history....2022 was his big breakout year, that sophomore year Gadsen put up 61 receptions / 975 yards (16.0 Avg) / 6 TDs...last year was stolen by injury but he has hit the ground running already just two games in amassing 13 receptions / 201 yards (15.5 avg) / 3 TDs. He is a redzone threat of all redzone threats without the factor defenses have no clue where he is going to be, playing a factor in their personnel decisions...

This season he has 45 snaps Inline and 54 in the slot and even 5 out wide...
In 2022 his big season he saw 82 inline / 501 in the slot / 148 out wide / 18 in the backfield

When you hear prospects talked about that are that TE that can slot out....it isn't a normal thing. For Gadsen he is a WR that can be slid inline as a TE and he is a TE that can be shifted out to the slot or wide truly.


I predicted a 75 catch / 1,100 yards / 12 TDs season.....and everyone noticing him in a big way...he hasn't disappointed at all through two weeks.

 

[tynimiller]

I'm going to do something I rarely do this early and for a prospect which is injured to boot....

Shavon Revel CB East Carolina - Is his year's Quinyon Mitchell - but sadly won't get to showcase it like Mitchell did
6'3' 193lb
East Carolina's, by way of JUCO transfer from Louisburg College), has evolved into an absolute physical unicorn at his position yet plays with a hip sink, fluid hips, always on his toes and agility of his smaller counterparts. His pathway to recognition has not been easy, low recruited prospect he went to the JUCO Louisburg but struggled to keep his grades up while also working at an Amazon warehouse....with a 2.2 GPA he headed to a ECU prospect camp and blew everyone out of the water with at his size running a 4.4 forty and jumping 11 feet in the broad...the staff told him if he got his grades up they would most definitely have a spot for him.

In 2023 his season caught the eyes of a TON of programs...NIL offers poured into Revel...some reaching as high as six figures. What did Revel do? Stayed with ECU.

"I love the game of football. Three years ago, there wasn't no NIL, I stuck to my word. I love the atmosphere at ECU and my teammates." A school that took a chance on him, was now getting repaid in him sticking with them.

Third game of the year...Shavon hit the turf with a significant injury....and was later confirmed ACL tear.

What does this mean for his draft stock?

Unless some news comes out of his camp of rehab issues - this young man was a first round prospect in my books, and STILL IS. When you have a corner that is as fast as he is, as agile as he is, with a sink and hip flip like his, explosive vertically as he is and as good of a tackler as he is......YOU DON'T OVERTHINK IT...and he is all that plus a 6'3' long armed frame to boot. He will remain in my Top5 CBs for this draft despite this injury...healthy biasness may take him out of my Top3 where he currently is but again - barring setbacks, there is not a single other CB that can check as many boxes as he seems to (some may be slightly better in certain things...but not as many can check as many boxes).

Why he makes sense for GB?

Stokes and Ballentine contracts expire after this season....Carrington Valentine if needed has shown capable of playing that CB2 position, but you gotta have three corners minimum in this league...drafting a high level guy like Revel who should be fully healthy by the start of his rookie year (if not very close) is not something a team likely drafting when we do should normally have a shot at a guy, his injury changes that. He could still go top 15....or there is a chance I'm screaming bloody murder when the Chiefs late or a team in the early second round somehow gets this bloke.

We, GB, also don't have a corner built like him. Hafley could slide him around and even use his size as a small box type defender similar to what some are calling for with Evan Williams at times. Revel has that dog in him and attacks the ball carrier with violence and unless it is a high end TE or OL, wideouts and backs will not be able to block this joker in space - he is too strong and too quick and has too much fight in him.

If next April, in GREEN FREAKING BAY, the name you hear us call on Day 1 is Shavon Revel - rest assured of one thing, you just got a young man that has seen adversity in the mirror multiple times in life - and has come out the other side after smashing it time and time again.

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[tynimiller]

There isn’t a guy I dislike in our defensive front but I am also strongly in the mindset we have to surge competition both on edge and down in the trenches as well.

Landon Jackson from Arkansas is a 6’7’ 280 pound phenom along the edge. Excellent at setting an edge and pressuring the pocket. I personally think he is playing his way to a first round grade but likely a Top 50 prospect to all.

 

[PikeBadger]

There isn’t a guy I dislike in our defensive front but I am also strongly in the mindset we have to surge competition both on edge and down in the trenches as well.

Landon Jackson from Arkansas is a 6’7’ 280 pound phenom along the edge. Excellent at setting an edge and pressuring the pocket. I personally think he is playing his way to a first round grade but likely a Top 50 prospect to all.

This guy is an absolute beast. I don't know if he'll ever be quick enough to be a great edge, but he's a very large, strong football player.

 

[tynimiller]

I'm going to jinx us further into not likely drafting a single CB and discuss another one of my favorites:

Tacario Davis - Arizona - 6'4' 195lbs (Junior)

So Tacario is a dude that caught my eye when I was watching Arizona tape (focused on Morgan) last year but didn't want to share any future draft thoughts then. I had Tacario on my early favorite 10 CBs list for this year's draft. There is a chance he could decide to not declare and circle back, but I STRONGLY think Davis is going to play and likely test his way into a Top 50 pick this year and will declare. With the likes of Benjamin Morrison and Shavon Revel both getting hurt the CB2 slot after current CB1 (Will Johnson) is to some up for grabs potentially (me personally those are my top 3 regardless of injury)....but Davis is one of the guys mentioned fighting to be considered.

He is a slighter built guy but that 6'4' frame weighs more than it looks at 195lbs.

His instincts and reads are elite level, BUT his best reps always come in zone snaps - if he can build his man coverage grades the second half of the college season and illustrate improvement perhaps at the Senior Bowl against elite WRs - Davis for sure could be a guy that hears GB call his name in the 1st or 2nd.

Put on his reps/film from last year against Washington and UCLA for some of his best work.

 

[tynimiller]

Okay, let's look at some of my quick favorite BIGGUNS along the front of the defense.

Look Mason Graham is a stud, but likely unrealistic he falls to where we are even if we end up middish. Kenneth Grant the other Michigan guy is good...but I want to bring forth some names of guys I really think either should be/could be day one guys or should be names you know for Day2 especially with Kenny Clark perhaps finally getting worn down and Slaton with no contract into next year...

Derrick Harmon, Oregon - I officially locked in a first round grade for this dude two weeks back. I just cannot ignore what he seems to be able to do and the fact he's still young...but this 6'5' 310lb stud moves pockets at times single handedly and even crazier is he moves with a quickness and first step of that of an OLB or edge guy. He is a stellar run defender and even with double teams on him this year has found that technique to lock down and hold positioning against it. In stunts and slant rush/assignments his speed is way more than what a lot of lineman can handle. The one knock you'll see in him is longer possessions his pad level rises and can cost him but his Football IQ against diagnosing the play design is stellar and when he's attacking his freak athleticism for his size is something I think will do very well at the next level. Day 1 worthy IMO.

Dontay Corleone, Cinci - Everyone remembers me bringing him up last year. I had a top 100 grade on him for last year, and this year I'm at that point of where if a team calls his name at the end of the first round I can easily understand it. Does he have the lateral mobility to come off of the nose position he plays so well for the Hafley system....that is the question for the GB brass to decide. Dude plays the run incredibly well, his arm strength is incredible....this is a guy I'm very curious what his arm length comes in at and his RAS...if he can illustrate he's a 7.5 RAS or higher guy with adaquate (doesn't need incredible length) arm length - he 100% should be a target for GB possibly Day2 but I could see a team nab him first day.

Deone Walker, Kentucky - High intensity, high motor...this cat explodes in plays and it costs him sometimes with overplaying or getting too high too quickly and getting wiped, but there may not be a iDL with more "highlight plays" than him. At 6'6' 350lbs...you are shocked to learn he carries that much weight after watching how he moves. KY does odd things on defense but this dude is lining up everywhere from A Gap / B Gap clear out to outside tackle during games and doing well. He's not getting the disruption or pressures this year as he did last year however this year they have used him to control the middle more with majority of his alignments being a and b gap - where last year his majority was b or over tackle and outside. I know it isn't common to see brought up but, Walker's hands and his hand fighting technique is likely one of the best in this draft - he often times can get a OL off base quickly just with his hand engagement style. If you see Gute call Walker's name know that we just got a massive athletic big guy that can absolutely hold or wreck the middle...think BJ Raji or Clark prime type player potentially. Day 1 worthy IMO

Walter Nolan, Ole Miss - This cat is a fun one and truthfully is a guy I've been excited to see if his hype (HIGHLY RANKED RECRUIT back in the day) was going to live to be true or not. 6'4' 290lbs. This guy truthfully IMO is my #2 ranked iDL and SHOULD potentially be off the board for any team beyond 25 on the draft board...but a lot of that can change depending on the QBs that go, run on skill positions...often times we see a DL or LB fall farther than they should due to other positional runs. Nolan is just an INCREDIBLY violent handed, strong first step DL that showcases insane discipline in his game in almost every asset or trait. While KY is just an odd defensive front and Walker does line up everywhere...Nolan truly can and I could see lining up anywhere in the NFL...I could see say Hafley getting him and he never sees hardly any snaps outside at DE....but I could see just as likely he gets pushed out there to be that big athletic DE that we all hoped LVN would be (and still might be as he's only in second year). Day 1 Worthy

TJ Sanders, South Carolina - I'll end here because my time to sit down and write this up is ending. He's a prototypically sized interior DL whose motor never stops and truthfully is one of his best traits for me - never out of a play and never willing to be done often leads to him cleaning up broken plays or even tackling ball carriers on cut back moves after a gain. 6'4' 290lbs - he may end up with one of the more attractive length to size ratios in the bunch...but the reason why many will overlook him is he isn't a refined pass rusher yet from the inside. He'll absolutely ruin run game attacks and can and does impact the passer on extended drop back plays sheerly due to his athleticism being too much for blockers, but he's got to build up his technique on pass rushing snaps to attack those with the same motor he has to diagnose and attack ball carriers. TOP of Day 2 worthy