Paul Bretl | 1/27/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — It’s Senior Bowl week, an event that has played an important role in the pre-draft process for the Packers under general manager Brian Gutekunst. In fact, if history continues, there’s a good chance that not just one, but multiple future Packers are in Mobile, Alabama this week.
“It’s very important for us,” said Brian Gutekunst following the 2024 draft about the Senior Bowl. “We put a lot of time into it, and like I said, their staff down there in Mobile, they do such a good job getting us to spots where we can really evaluate these guys. We’re very appreciative of that. It’s certainly not by design, but I know we’ve taken a lot of Senior Bowl guys over the years.”
The Senior Bowl is an All-Star college football event held each year in Mobile, Alabama, and is invitation only. At the Senior Bowl, top draft prospects are able to showcase their talents against high-level competition during a week of practices followed by an All-Star game, which this year takes place on Saturday, February 1st.
The event attracts general managers and scouts from all 32 NFL teams and has traditionally been for seniors or fourth-year juniors who have graduated. However, for the first time in 2024, underclassmen were eligible to participate if they received an invite.
Beyond the on-field component of the event, the Senior Bowl provides the opportunity for teams to meet with prospects as well, perhaps providing the organizations their first chance to get to know each player.
“Certainly, for some of us, it’s the first time we get the chance to set our eyes on some of these players,” Gutekunst said of the Senior Bowl. “Seeing them physically move around and compete, it’s such a big deal to see the competition live.
“And to meet them, in the beginning phase of getting to know these guys as people, I think is just a huge part of our process. Then, having it in Mobile and the professional way that they roll that thing out for us, and make it so easy, it’s a very, very important part of our process.”
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Since 2022, so over the last three draft classes, the Packers have made 35 selections in total. Of those picks, 18 of them–so over half–have participated in the Senior Bowl.
Some of the members of the Packers’ 2022 draft class who were apart of the Senior Bowl include Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, JJ Enagbare, and Devote Wyatt. From the 2023 class are Karl Brooks, Jayden Reed, Luke Musgrave, and Dontayvion Wicks. Also of note, Jordan Love was a participant in the 2020 Senior Bowl as well.
Altogether, there were 10 Packers’ draft picks between 2022 and 2023 that were Senior Bowl invitees. This past draft, however, blew even those impressive numbers out of the water. Of Green Bay’s 11 selections in 2024, a whopping eight of them played in the Senior Bowl. At that rate, it’s easier to list the draftees who didn’t participate in the event, which were Ty’Ron Hopper, Jacob Monk, and Edgerrin Cooper.
“Not by design,” said Gutekunst about selecting so many Senior Bowl participants, “but I will say that Jim Nagy and his staff do such an amazing job of access and allowing us to scout those guys that go there. And it’s a such a really positive experience for the players. Not only the competition on the field, seeing really good players go against really good players in drills, but our ability to talk to them, interview them and be around them in that competitive environment, there’s really not a much better evaluation phase for us.”
With the Senior Bowl being an All-Star game, it’s going to attract the top draft talent, but in addition to that, Gutekunst is a fan of the willingness of these prospects to compete throughout the week and also the unscripted nature of the event. The week of practices isn’t about game-planning for the big game on Saturday that concludes the week. Instead, it’s a lot of one-on-one reps and good-on-good competition with a lot of eyes on them.
Throughout the draft, Gutekunst and other members of the personnel department will meet with local media members to discuss the Packers’ selections. Last year specifically, the Senior Bowl was referenced on a few occasions as having an important role in the Packers evaluation process.
Last April, Gutekunst would say that Travis Glover’s performance at the Senior Bowl against Power-5 opponents helped put him on the Packers’ radar. VP of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan mentioned that seeing how Evan Williams moved in space at the Senior Bowl gave the Packers confidence that he could play in the nickel as they looked to fill that do-it-all safety role.
Also of note, Williams was voted the Defensive Specialist of the Week for the American Team and Javon Bullard was the Defensive Specialist of the Week for the National Team.
“Absolutely,” said Gutekunst about the unscripted environment at the Senior Bowl, “and I also think the willingness to compete and put themselves in that environment. That’s not an easy thing to walk out onto that Senior Bowl practice field with all these NFL people judging you. That’s not an easy thing to a) choose to do that and b) compete at a high level when you’re out there. None of that’s going to phase you, that says something to me.”
While that’s a look back at the Packers’ recent past with the Senior Bowl, what about this year’s event?
To help us out in that regard with players to watch as this week unfolds, Brennen Rupp of Packers Wire was kind enough to provide us with some prospects to keep our eyes on at the 2025 Senior Bowl. Rupp has a particularly keen eye for not only evaluating draft talent, but which prospects in particular may have the Packers’ attention.
A few members of the Packers’ coaching staff will also get an up-close look at a number of these prospects. Passing game coordinator Jason Vrable will be the National Team’s offensive coordinator, while defensive quality control coach Wendel Davis will coach the linebackers on the American Team.
Cornerbacks
● Trey Amos, Ole Miss
● Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State
● Tommi Hill, Nebraska
● Darien Porter, Iowa State
● Quincy Riley, Louisville
● Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
● Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech
● Bilhal Kone, Western Michigan
“It would not be shocking to see Brian Gutekunst snag two players from this group,” wrote Rupp. “Amos and Thomas are potential targets when the Packers are on the clock for the first time during the 2025 NFL Draft.”
Edge rushers
● Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
● Landon Jackson, Arkansas
● Barryn Sorrell, Texas
● Jah Joyner, Minnesota
● Princely Umanmielen, Edge, Ole Miss
● Jordan Burch, Oregon
● Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
● David Walker, Central Arkansas
“Scourton, Stewart and Jackson are potential targets with the 23rd overall pick,” said Rupp. “If the Packers miss out on the top-end talent, Barryn Sorrell and Jah Joyner could be high on Green Bay’s board when Day 3 kicks off on April 26th.”
Defensive tackles
● Joshua Farmer, Florida State
● T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
● Alfred Collins, Texas
● Darius Alexander, Toledo
● Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
● Ty Hamilton, Ohio State
● Yahya Black, Iowa
● Vernon Broughton, Texas
● Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
“The talent at defensive tackle down in Mobile is outstanding,” Rupp said. “The Packers may need to find a replacement for TJ Slaton, that’s where players like Sanders, Collins, Hamilton, Black and Broughton come in. If they want an explosive, quick-twitch type player, that’s where Alexander, Nolen and Turner enter the chat.”
Linebacker
● Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota
● Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
● Demetrius Knight Jr, South Carolina
● Shemar James, Florida
● Smael Mondon, Georgia
“How early will the Packers take a linebacker after using a pair of Top 100 picks on the position last year? Lindenberg is a player who could be high on Green Bay’s board when Day 3 of the draft rolls around,” said Rupp.
Offensive line
● Caleb Rogers, OL, Texas Tech
● Josh Conerly Jr, OT, Oregon
● Ozzy Trapilo, OL, Boston College
● Armand Membou, OL, Missouri
● Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary
● Jack Nelson, OT, Wisconsin
● Marcus Mbow, OL, Purdue
● Grey Zabel, OL, NDSU
● Jared Wilson, C, Georgia
● Wyatt Milum, OL, West Virginia
● Garrett Dellinger, OL, LSU
● Jackson Slater, OL, Sacramento State
● Jonah Monheim, OL, USC
“After using three picks on the offensive line last year, how many picks will Gutekunst use on the offensive line this year as he looks to bolster the depth of that group? As always, he’s going to put a value on versatility and this year’s group down in Mobile has a ton of players who can play multiple positions across the offensive line,” Rupp said.
Wide receiver
● Jalen Royals, Utah State
● Pat Bryant, Illinois
● Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
● Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
● Bru McCoy, Tennessee
● Jack Bech, TDCU
● Chimere Dike, Florida
● Da’Quan Felton, Virginia Tech
● Kyle Williams, Washington State
“Gutekunst has drafted 10 wide receivers since 2018 and seven of them competed at the Senior Bowl. With the Packers likely in the market for another wide receiver, it’s a safe bet that he’ll take one of the players from this group,” Rupp wrote.
A “heart and soul” type of player and the driver of the ship. Packers center Josh Myers is set to be a free agent.
“I can’t say enough good things about Josh Myers, not only as a player but as a leader”
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— Paul Bretl (@Paul_Bretl) January 24, 2025