CB Micah Robinson, OT John Williams look to be next 7th round contributors for Packers

Paul Bretl | 4/27/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — NFL teams aren’t going to bank on their seventh-round selections being starters at key positions one day. However, the Packers have two examples on their current roster of how a prospect’s draft status can take a back seat when a team brings in a player who is the right fit for what they want to accomplish on and off the field.

Rasheed Walker, the 249th overall pick in 2022, has started 32 games at left tackle for the Packers over the last two seasons. Then there is Carrington Valentine, the 232nd overall pick in 2023, who has appeared in 32 games over the last two years, which includes 19 starts at cornerback.

Tulane cornerback Micah Robinson, the 237th pick overall in this year’s draft, and Cincinnati offensive tackle John Williams, the 250th overall pick, begin their journey in Green Bay and hope to find themselves on similar paths as Walker and Valentine.

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“I am familiar,” said Williams about Walker’s path. “That was one thing I really loved about Green Bay was how they like to develop players. That was a big thing for me when I visited.”

At just under 5-11 and weighing 183 pounds, Robinson doesn’t have the size and length that we often see from Packers’ cornerbacks. But as GM Brian Gutekunst described after the NFL draft, Robinson’s footwork, ability to play off-man coverage, and his speed–he ran a 4.38–is why the Packers were comfortable selecting him.

“He’s got great feet, he can play off-man coverage, which is one of the harder things to do,” Gutekunst said. “He took up a step from Furman to Tulane, and really played really, really well in his first season there. So I think as he gets more reps against really better competition, I think he’s going ot continue to improve. He doesn’t have elite size, but I thought his speed and his ability as an athlete to stay with guys, particularly from playing off coverage which is so hard, and he’s got great ball skills.”

Robinson spent his first four college seasons playing at the FCS level with Furman. He then transferred to Tulane for the 2024 season. Now up against FBS competition, Robinson had a career year in many respects. According to PFF, he allowed a completion rate of just 47% on 47 targets and held opponents to a modest 11.5 yards per catch lining up on the boundary.

Throughout his career, he’s had strong ball production as well, with seven interceptions and 15 pass breakups over the last three years.

“I can play any position,” Robinson said on a conference call. “I can play nickel. I can play corner. I can play safety as well as special teams. I’m physical at the line of scrimmage. I feel good playing off-man coverage. I also come up and I travel, I’ll hit.”

Robinson may end up having as good of a chance as any seventh-round pick to make the 53-man roster in Green Bay. At cornerback, there is the uncertainty around Jaire Alexander’s future, and then on the depth chart beyond Valentine, Nate Hobbs, and Keisean Nixon, there is almost no NFL experience.

Williams, meanwhile, comes to Green Bay after starting at left tackle for Cincinnati the last two seasons. From Year 1 to Year 2 as a starter, Williams made massive strides. He went from allowing 14 pressures and two sacks in 2023 to just eight pressures and one sack in 2024. In fact, among all FBS tackles, Williams finished last season ranked fifth in pass-blocking efficiency.

“I think my pass protection has grown an immeasurable amount in these last–honestly in just this last year,” Williams said. “If you just watch the tape from 2023 to 2024 it’s like a completely different player, and I think that’s really what’s going to translate. Our O-line coach Nic Cardwell has done such a great job implementing an NFL style system for all of our pass protections and it’s just paid off in, I don’t even know how to describe how much.”

Williams measured in at 6-4 and weighed 322 pounds. All of his snaps at the college level have come at the tackle position, but not surprisingly, the Packers believe he has the skill set–and intelligence as an Aerospace engineering major–to move inside to play guard.

“He’s got great length, exceptionally bright,” said Gutekunst of Williams. “Really, really, really smart. He’s got the versatility to play left tackle and guard. He probably could play center because he’s smart enough to, he’s one of the few guys who can really play with full extension with his hands, and is moving his feet at the same time.

“We were down there in the seventh round, and it’s unusual for a guy who can tackle and guard, play four spots for you, to be down there at that spot.”

Adding Williams to the mix along the Packers’ offensive line will improve the depth of this unit, something that was needed after what we saw in Green Bay’s playoff loss to Philadelphia. As Gutekunst has mentioned, you never want to overreact to one game, but the data also tells us that having seven-plus offensive linemen that can be counted on is a near necessity.

Williams’ presence in 2025 can raise the level of competition on the middle to back-end portion of the Packers’ offensive line depth chart, and have them better prepared for 2026, when Walker, Sean Rhyan, and Zach Tom are all set to be free agents.

IDL Warren Brinson bringing ‘juice’ and versatility to Packers’ pass rush

Paul Bretl | 4/27/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — For the fifth consecutive year, the Packers selected a Georgia Bulldog in the NFL draft. This year, it was interior defensive lineman Warren Brinson in the sixth round.

There’s obviously a reason that GM Brian Gutekunst has an affinity for Georgia players, specifically on the defensive side of the ball. But as it pertains to Brinson and the defensive front, in Georgia’s pro-style defensive scheme, defenders are asked to handle a variety of responsibilities and fill a number of roles–as is often the case in the NFL.

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“At Georgia, they expect you to do multiple things,” Brinson told local media members after being drafted. “Coach Scott has a saying, he doesn’t want anybody to be a one-trick pony and he wants you to be able to play any position on the defensive line.

“So I had Nazir Stackhouse next to me, helping me push the pocket, I will take double teams, he’ll take on double teams and when a 1-on-1 comes our way, the goal is to win our 1-on-1.”

Brinson measured in at 6-5 – 315 pounds during the pre-draft process and recorded a Relative Athletic Score of 9.10, which featured a 31-inch vertical and 9-07 foot broad jump, highlighting his explosiveness, which is obviously an important trait as an interior defender.

If you look at the stat sheet, Brinson’s numbers aren’t going to leap off the page. Over the last three seasons at Georgia, he tallied 42 combined pressures with three sacks during that span. However, that doesn’t exactly tell the whole story either.

For one, within the Georgia defense, the defensive line is rotated heavily throughout the course of a game. For example, last season, Brinson’s 180 pass rush snaps were the most of his career.

But Brinson made the most of those opportunities and showcased his ability to win his pass rush reps, ranking 37th out of 200 eligible defensive tackles in PFF’s pass rush win rate. For what it’s worth, Brinson would also grade out well as a run defender by PFF’s metrics.

“Georgia, we have a multiple defense,” Brinson said. “We play a lot of different scheme and we had a lot of guys that deserved to play on our team so our coach was doing the best thing possible, just keeping fresh bodies in. And my role in the defense was a lot of pass rush. First-, second-down, third-down pass rush. So it was everything for the team, honestly. Whatever they needed me to do, I did it.”

Gutekunst mentioned that Brinson is a more natural pass rusher than run defender, but what the Packers see is an interior defender who has size, is athletic, can get after the quarterback, and can line up across multiple gaps.

“I think Brinson coming out probably has a little more pass rush naturally,” Gutekunst said. “But again a really big man that can do a lot of things. I think the coaching staff and I know I believe he can play up and down the line. He’s not just a one position player on the defensive line. So that was one of the thongs that attracted us to him.”

Gutekunst continues to insist that the Packers have what they need on the roster already to be a productive pass rush unit this upcoming season. However, he’s also acknowledged that more consistency from that four-man front is a need as well. Both things can be true.

The addition of Brinson to the interior defensive line will strengthen the rotation and add some competition as well. And when there is competition, hopefully the level of urgency is raised, and therefore the level of play as a result of that.

“In pass rush, just interior juice and when a big play is needed, I’m going to bring a big play, honestly,” Brinson said of his game. “And just being an athletic three-technique big, and getting some pocket push, it’s all over.”

Packers add a new and unique skill set to front 7 with Collin Oliver pick

Paul Bretl | 4/27/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — In the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft, the Packers added a different to their defensive front seven when they selected Oklahoma State’s Collin Oliver.

Oliver is a unique prospect, given his usage in college. During his 2023 season, Oliver played 349 snaps as an edge rusher, getting after the quarterback, and another 371 snaps in the box as an off-ball linebacker. In fact, Oklahoma State’s head coach Mike Gundy would compare Oliver to San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey because of the do-it-all presence he brings to a defense.

“Whatever the defensive coordinator wants me to play,” Oliver said of his versatility. “It does not matter where I fit in at. To me, I feel like I can be a linebacker, edge rusher. I can be both. It’s whatever the defensive coordinator sees me fit. I want to play that, whatever that position is, to the best of my ability. Whether it’s linebacker or edge, whether it’s punt returner, kick returner, the quarterback, running back, whatever it is, I’m going to play it to the best of my ability.”

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When asked to get after the quarterback, whether that be as a blitzer or pass rusher, Oliver recorded 37 pressures and seven sacks, according to PFF. He was off to a fast start in 2024 as a pass rusher, totaling 14 pressures through not even two games before a foot injury ultimately ended Oliver’s season.

Oliver would mention that he was fully healed from the Jones fracture by December, and that allowed him to compete in the Senior Bowl, where, as is often the case, the Packers took notice.

“When you go back to the ’23 tape,” said Packers Director of Football Operations Milt Hendrickson, “you turn the tape on him and you can see he’s got a twitch and explosiveness off the edge that brings a little bit more of a unique skill set that way. He’s also got some versatility that’s going to allow him to potentially play some stack and then he brings incredible special teams value with his whole skill set.”

Beyond Oliver’s versatility, his size relative to the other Packers edge rushers is different as well. We all know that GM Brian Gutekunst has an affinity for bigger-bodied edge defenders, as it allows them to better hold up in the run game. Oliver, however, measured in at only 240 pounds, when typically, 255 pounds has been the line in the sand at the defensive end position for Green Bay.

As Oliver described when speaking with the local media after being selected, at that size, he wins with speed, but that isn’t all he can do. Power is also a part of Oliver’s game and works hand-in-hand with the speed element, which can often set him up to use strength to keep blockers off guard.

“It’s always speed with me,” Oliver said. “That’s what I pride myself on is my get-off and how fast I can attack the corner. And also just to do it off of that with my power makes my speed rushes that much more effective, and it also makes my power-rush moves that much more effective.”

When we look at the rest of the Packers pass rush room, not that there isn’t speed isn’t a part of that of that equation, but at 240 pounds, Oliver, if we can speak in baseball terms for a second, is going to provide a change-up. After dealing with Rashan Gary’s power on back-to-back snaps, a blocker suddenly having to handle Oliver’s speed can be a quick change to deal with in the middle of a game.

In today’s NFL, where the quick passing game often dominates, the ability to win right away, and speed is frequently a part of that, has become a premium.

“The game has evolved, especially in the last five to 10 years, where the ball gets out so quickly that you have to have guys that can win in different ways,” said Hendrickson. “And you need guys that are more than power rushers, and I think we’ve got some of those guys, too. But I think we’ve got a good group of just edge guys right now.”

Along with Gutekunst wanting his defensive ends to be able to be on the field for all three downs if that’s what is required, drafting a pass rusher who can only win one way comes with risks. Specifically, if injuries strike and that player has to see the field more, their limitations could be exposed.

Given Oliver’s size, he could be viewed as a situational pass rusher, where he’s on the field during obvious passing situations so he can just use his speed to get the quarterback. Perhaps, as a rookie, that is how he first sees playing time. But what gave the Packers the confidence to go off-script with this selection was the multi-faceted alignments he allows for up front, his ability to help out at linebacker, and the Packers see him as someone who can contribute on special teams right away.

“The niche is that he’s a really good football player,” Hendrickson said. “If you say the old-school DPR (designated pass rusher) situational pass rusher, if you want to put a tag on him right now I’d say that’s probably if you were to put him in a position that would be it. But we took him with the idea that the things coach Hafley wants to do, he’s going to allow some multi alignments that just increased his value in our eyes.”

For now, as Oliver makes the transition to the Packers’ defensive scheme and the big jump from the college to NFL level, Hendrickson said he would anticipate that Oliver starts out in the defensive end room. Then as he adjusts and get acclimated, they can potentially explore adding more to his plate, such as some linebacker responsibilities.

Savion Williams brings different element to Packers’ WR position

Paul Bretl | 4/26/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — After taking Matthew Golden in Round 1, the Packers were not done adding to the wide receiver position on Day 2, selecting TCU’s Savion Williams.

The Packers’ decision to add two wide receivers early on in the draft will increase competition, and also better prepare them for the 2026 offseason when Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are both set to be free agents. However, as GM Brian Gutekunst mentioned following Day 2, more than anything, the board is what led the Packers to making these picks.

“You’re aware of it but I don’t think when we go into the draft we try to put much emphasis on that,” Gutekunst said of the Packers’ contract situations at wide receiver. “We’re really trying to build the board with the right values and letting it come to us and follow the board. I think if you get in there and try to make decisions in the draft based too much of that stuff, you can get yourself in trouble and take the wrong guy.

“So we try to get the values right vertically and horizontally and then as the draft goes, there’s a lot of uncontrollables in the draft, you try to follow the board as best you can and that’s what we did tonight and that’s how it shook out.”

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While listed as a wide receiver, and that’s what he will play with the Packers, Williams brings a very different skill set to this offense compared to his fellow wideouts. Williams has terrific size, measuring in at 6-4 – 222 pounds and is fast, running a 4.48-second 40 during the pre-draft process.

That combination of size, straight line speed, and lateral quickness allowed Williams to fill a variety of roles within the TCU offense.

In addition to being a key cog in the TCU passing game, the last two seasons, which included 147 targets during that span, Williams also carried the ball 51 times last season, averaging an impressive 6.3 yards per rush as a wildcat quarterback in that offense.

“His ability with the ball in his hands. Obviously, size as well. He’s a huge man, but his determination, his ability, his elusiveness, his power, his ability to break tackles, I just thought those were the first things that stuck out to you.”

Williams’ presence can add a different dimension to Matt LaFleur’s offense. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com picked Cordarrell Patterson as Williams’ NFL comp. When Gutekunst was discussing Williams and what he adds to the offense, he referenced Tyler Ervin, who filled a gadget-type role in LaFleur’s offense a few seasons ago.

There are a variety of ways that Williams can get the ball in his hands, whether that be out of the backfield, on jet sweeps, or designed touches in space, where his YAC and playmaking abilities can be on display. According to PFF, Williams averaged nearly 7.0 yards after the catch in 2024.

He can also be a decoy as a motion man, which can cause some chaos for a defense, possibly forcing them to make a last-second adjustment, or get them flowing one way, which can open up opportunities elsewhere.

“Everything that my team needs me to do, that’s what I’m doing because that’s what I did my last year at TCU,” Williams said when speaking with reporters. “They needed me. Our running game wasn’t the best, so they put me back there in Wildcat and ran me and, shoot, that’s what I did to help my team. Whatever I need to do for my team, that’s what I need to do.”

However, as Gutekunst said, the Packers view Williams as a wide receiver. As highlighted, there are certainly creative ways to get him involved on offense, but Gutekunst likes his ability to create separation as well, specifically when stressing a defense vertically.

“They moved him all around in different ways, I thought there was a little bit of a rawness to his game as far as the polish as a route-runner, and things like that,” Gutekunst said. “But his ability to create separation and get behind guys vertically and catch the football, all those things I think, he just really seemed to fit what we’re trying to do.”

Williams’ presence on the roster will only add to the competition within the wide receiver room. Between him and Golden, with fewer roster spots available, less snaps to be had, and not as many targets to go around, I imagine that part of the hope internally is that then raises the level of urgency within the room from top to bottom, and therefore the level of play.

In an offense where versatility was already prioritized, Williams’ do-it-all presence will add a different element, giving Matt LaFleur even more options each week as he builds out his game plans.

“He is a unique body type,” Gutekunst said. “But he is one of those guys that I think just fits Matt’s offense to a T, because you guys know how we use our receivers in the blocking game. When scouts set out looking at receivers, we don’t watch blocking first, I can promise you that. He can do a lot of that stuff that Matt asks of our guys to do. And then, again, just the ability with the ball in his hands after the catch, I think is really elite.”

Packers again prioritize OL, drafting Anthony Belton in Round 2, adding more size up front

Paul Bretl | 4/26/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — After addressing wide receiver in the first round, the Packers didn’t choose to bolster their pass rush as they searched consistently in Round 2, nor did they add competition at cornerback. Instead, and as GM Brian Gutekunst often has, he prioritized the offensive line, selecting NC State offensive tackle Anthony Belton.

“He’s a professional kid. He’s quiet, he’s about his business,” said Packers VP of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan. “I think when you talk to the people there at NC State, we talked about his growth over the years there. Football’s important to him. He’ll fit great in the locker room. He’s one of the guys. He’s humble, there’s humility but, again, a lot like Matthew Golden, being a good football player is very important to him.”

Even for an NFL offensive lineman, Belton is big, measuring in at 6-6 and weighing 336 pounds during the pre-draft process. As Gutekunst mentioned during his press conference after Day 2 of the draft, the Packers have always tried to prioritize size along the offensive line, searching for players who can “move people off their spot.”

But to go along with that size Belton possesses, is athleticism, quick feet, and the ability to operate in space. That combination is how Belton was given the nickname ‘Escalade.’

“I got that from my strength coach, Coach Thunder (Dantonio Burnette),” Belton said of his nickname. “When I first got there, we had team runs, agility stuff and he seen I could move good. He drives an Escalade himself so that’s what he always told me – how smooth I could move be like an Escalade so that’s what that was.”

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Belton is an experienced player coming out of NC State, with over 2,200 career snaps on offense, including three years as a starter. From the 2023 season to this most recent year, Belton took a big step forward. According to PFF’s metrics, he went from allowing 22 pressures in 2023 to just 12 this past season over 438 pass-blocking reps. Out of 131 eligible tackles, Belton ranked tied for 32nd in pass-blocking efficiency.

“I think you can really see what you needed to see in terms of the twitch to play out there on the edge whether it be left tackle, right tackle when we were down there in Mobile (at the Senior Bowl), his ability to get out of his stance and match speed on the edge, it’s in there,” said Sullivan.

With Josh Jacobs at running back last season for the Packers, we saw a shift in how Green Bay ran the ball. There was less of the outside zone running scheme that we had grown accustomed to seeing under Matt LaFleur, and more power, gap running between the tackles. As Sullivan mentioned, having a number of blockers up front who possess that people-moving play-style, adds flexibility for Matt LaFleur as he builds out his game plans each week.

The addition of Belton is another example of the Packers wanting to lean into that running and blocking style. Both Sullivan and Gutekunst when discussing Belton referenced his ability to move defenders off their spot. Along with Belton’s improved play in pass protection, he made a big jump as a run-blocker as well last season, according to PFF’s metrics.

“I learned a lot about myself to the approach to the game, just mentally,” Belton said of his improved play. “As I got older I was able to do things to help myself out. Got better at film study, did stuff like that, that kind of helped me anticipate things pre-snap. Throughout my time cleaned up some technical stuff, just with my little things like hands forward, pad level, stuff like that. Over time I’ve progressively got better at that and that’s stuff I want to continue to grow at as well.”

Every one of Belton’s snaps at the college level came at the tackle position, specifically left tackle. However, the Packers believe he has the ability to not only be a swing tackle and play either the left or right side, but they view him as someone who can step in and play guard as well.

The Packers haven’t determined yet where Belton will begin his NFL career, and as always, that will remain fluid, as we possibly see him bounced around the offensive line throughout training camp.

‘Absolutely he can play guard,” Sullivan said. “One, the size, the girth and his ability to move people. When he gets on you, he can thick on you in a hurry and kind of road grade you out of the way. I think the ability to play against big people inside and hold up in the pass game, vs. power, you’re not going to see him in the quarterback’s lap too often. He can do those things.

“Again, I think he’s got all the athleticism and length to play on the edge, or outside at tackle, right or left if need be, and I think you can kick him in to guard and you can a really good player there, too.”

Even with the addition of Aaron Banks in free agency, addressing the offensive line depth was very much still a need for the Packers. The league-wide attrition rate among offensive line units last season was very high, and statistically speaking–and as we saw in the Packers’ playoff loss to Philadelphia–have six or seven capable linemen to lean on can be vital.

Perhaps Belton can step in and carve out a role on this Packers team right away, competing at right guard with Sean Rhyan for playing time. But this was a selection on Green Bay’s part that very much felt like they had their eye on the future, specifically 2026.

As of now, Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, and Rhyan are all set to hit free agency, and I believe the only thing we can anticipate right now is that Tom will be back, but the other two, I’m not so sure. Gutekunst did confirm that the addition of Belton won’t change the team’s plans with Jordan Morgan, he will still be competing at left tackle with Walker this summer.

Belton has size, athleticism, and the Packers believe he can play both guard and tackle spots. That’s a very Packers-esque selection, especially at a position we know they covet and have prioritized adding to heavily during Gutekunst’s tenure. In the short-term, Belton boosts competition and depth, in the long-run, he’s a probable starter.

“I’m pretty comfortable with that,” Belton said of playing guard. “Just my mindset and I was telling them,  pretty much everything is my mindset, I’m a competitor and I’m a ball  player. I want to put myself in a position where I’m out there being one of the five out there. If it’s at guard, I’ going to figure out how to be the best version of myself at guard. My mindset, I’m going in there as a competitor, I just want to play ball, and I want to be in a position to be out there on that field.”

Packers finally get their Round 1 WR, pick Texas’ Matthew Golden, a terrific fit for LaFleur’s offense

Paul Bretl | 4/24/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Well, it happened. For the first time in 23 years, the Packers selected a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL draft, picking Texas’ Matthew Golden at 23rd overall.

As we all know, before this pick, the last receiver taken in the first round was Javon Walker out of Florida State in 2002.

“Definitely a lot of emotions, man,” said Golden of being drafted by the Packers. “It all goes back to wanting to be drafted in the first round. I knew it was an opportunity each team. When the Packers came, I had a feeling that they was going to come to get me. Once I got the call, I answered it and they told me they was picking me, so it was a lot of excitement.”

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Although wide receiver obviously hasn’t been a common selection for the Packers at this stage of the draft, Golden to Green Bay always made plenty of sense, which is why he was one of the five players listed on my shortlist of Round 1 options.

While not the typical big-bodied presence we’ve seen the Packers covet, he does meet the size requirements that organization has typically preferred, measuring in at 5-11 and weighing 191 pounds.

On the field, he brings much-needed speed to the passing game, running a blazing 4.29-second 40 at the NFL combine–the fastest of any wide out. Without Christian Watson, the Packers are going to need that vertical presence.

This ability not only creates explosive play opportunities for the receiver, but offenses need defenses to respect that element. This can then create more spacing and open up windows for others over the middle, on underneath routes, and even help out the running game if a defense is going to sit in a Cover-2 look to protect against the deep ball.

Last season, 22 of Goldens’ 83 targets came 20-plus yards downfield. That isn’t an overwhelming amount, but he caught 13 of them, which was tied for the eighth-most among receivers.

“You watch him, we thought arguably he had some of the best hands in the draft,” GM Brian Gutekunst said. “Not only coming back to him and running through it but when he tracks it over his shoulder and stuff too. He’s a strong athlete. He’s really versatile, he’s going to do a lot of things, but we certainly felt that he could play outside and that would work for us.”

However, having said all of that, Golden isn’t just a downfield threat. What truly makes him such a good fit for the Packers’ offense is his ability to attack all levels of the field. According to PFF, along with his 22 targets downfield, he also had 26 targets on passes from 10-19 yards and 26 others on passes from 0-9 yards.

His target distribution across the field was incredibly consistent, and with that, Golden also has experience lining up both from the slot and on the boundary. Although he doesn’t have the typical size and frame that you might expect from a boundary wideout in the Packers’ offense, Gutekunst believes that Golden’s skill set will translate well there at the NFL level.

“I definitely understand the game so well to where I can tempo my routes so where I don’t have to run full speed and I just know where my breaking points need to be, wherever the defender is,” Golden said. “I got a lot in my game. I could play inside, play out. I could also take the top off, so whatever the team needs me to do, I’m definitely that guy they need to do that.”

This interchangeability that Golden brings to the NFL level is precisely what Matt LaFleur wants to have at the receiver position, as it allows him to really customize game plans based on the opponent, and it makes defending this Packers offense more challenging, with there being that level of unpredictability.

Golden would finish his 2024 season at Texas, catching 70% of his 83 targets. As mentioned by Gutekunst, that catch rate was one of the many things about Golden that stood out to him, his hands and overall reliability as he was able to haul in a variety of different passes on varying routes consistently.

In addition to his high catch rate, Golden showcased his big-play ability, averaging a whopping 17.0 yards per catch, which not only included downfield throws, but a steady playmaking presence with the ball in his hands as well.

And of note, when discussing Golden’s 2024 season, his two biggest games came in two of Texas’ biggest games. In the SEC Championship Game against Georgia, Golden went for 162 yards. Then, in Texas’ first College Football Playoff game, Golden went for 149 yards.

“It just goes back to when them lights turn on man, playing on the biggest stage; I always told myself I wanted to do that,” Golden said of those games. “Going to Texas I knew I had the opportunity to play against great opponents (and) play at the highest level. Just knowing when the lights turn on, it’s time to go. That’s the mindset I got.”

The fit is there, the production is there, and also an important part of this evaluation equation during the pre-draft process, is a player’s competitiveness–something Gutekunst discussed during his pre-draft press conference.

After spending two seasons at Houston, where he was a steady part of that offense with over 110 targets during that span, Golden wanted to play for and go against the best. In practice, he regularly went up against Jahdae Barron at cornerback, another first-round pick. He routinely faced NFL competition on a weekly basis in the SEC as well.

Then, in his personal life, Golden has faced and overcome adversity as well.

“Authentic and genuine,” said Gutekunst about Golden. “This guy’s been through some things now in his young life and come out the other side of it. I think he’s very authentic, he knows who he is. He loves football and I think he’s going to be a great teammate around here.”

Like any player making the jump from college to the NFL, as NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein notes, “refinement” is needed as a route runner, but Golden as the “potential to develop into a WR1 in the future.”

Gutekunst mentioned before the draft that the Packers don’t necessarily need their first-round pick to contribute right away, but said after the selection of Golden that he believes he can. But with the Packers already established wide receiver room, of course, the hope is that Golden can make an impact and that his presence can help raise the level of competition and urgency, and therefore the level of play; he doesn’t have to be that WR1 on Day 1 either.

“Guys are coming in and making an impact quicker and I certainly think Matthew has the opportunity to do that,” Gutekunst said. “Now, we’ve got some good players in that room, so he’s not going to have to carry the load that way. But I think he has a chance to contribute, and not only as a receiver, but I think he has some special teams and return ability as well that could help us.”

Gutekunst’s recent draft history suggests that 1 of these 7 prospects will be Packers

Paul Bretl | 4/24/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — There are two parts of the pre-draft process that the Packers have held in high regard during GM Brian Gutekunst’s tenure as general manager, particularly in recent years. That would be the Senior Bowl and official 30 visits.

The Senior Bowl is an invitation-only, All-Star college football event held each year in Mobile, Alabama. 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.

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The event attracts GMs and scouts from across the NFL and has traditionally been for seniors or fourth-year juniors who have graduated, but in 2024 for the first time, underclassmen were eligible to participate if they received an invite.

Over the last three drafts, the Packers have made 35 total selections, and 18 of those players were participants in the Senior Bowl. This includes eight of 11 draft picks from 2024 being a part of the event.

“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.”

When it comes to the official 30 visit, each team is permitted to have 30 draft prospects at the team facility for an official visit. While we often hear these meetings called “top 30 visits,” it does not mean that all of these players are at the top of the Packers’ draft board.

Instead, these visits are often reserved for prospects who the team still has questions about, and these meetings provide an additional opportunity to get to know the prospect, go over film, and do medical checks if needed.

Some teams, like the Jaguars and Rams, don’t host prospects for these visits. Then on the other end of the spectrum, you have the Packers, where there is a strong connection between players who were brought in for these visits and who eventually ends up on the team.

Over the last three pre-draft cycles from 2022 through 2024, the Packers have had 90 players in for 30 visits–like every other team has. Of those 90 visits, 21 have ended up on the Packers roster in some capacity–or nearly 25% of visits–whether that be as a draft pick or signing as an undrafted rookie.

“It’s really just about answering a question maybe that we don’t have an answer to,” said Gutekunst of 30 visits prior to the 2024 NFL draft. “Sometimes that’s a non-combine guy that we need to get medical information on. Sometimes that’s a Combine guy we have, whether it’s a football question, an off-the-field situation or maybe it’s just getting to know him better.”

So we have two separate parts of the pre-draft process that, on their own, at the bare minimum, tell us who is on the Packers’ radar. So when we cross-reference these two lists of prospects, and find players who have participated in both the Senior Bowl and a 30 visit with the Packers, those are going to be names to watch as the draft unfolds.

Last year I did this exercise and of the seven players who were a part of both events, Kitan Oladapo and Ty’Ron Hopper ended up being selected.

So, if I were to make an educated guess, for the reasons already laid out, I would say that there is a good chance one of these prospects ends up as a Green Bay Packer.

Walter Nolen, IDL, Ole Miss: Nolen was a top run defender by PFF’s metrics in 2024 and totaled a career high 35 pressures and six sacks. As Lance Zierlein noted, Nolen wins with both athleticism and strength.

Jordan Burch, DE, Oregon: In a rotational role, Burch was efficient and effective with his pass rush reps. He also has the ability to line up in multiple gaps, which would fit well in Jeff Hafley’s scheme.

Tai Felton, WR, Maryland: Felton had a whopping 143 targets this past season, lining up both out wide and in the slot. He caught 67% of those passes for 1,119 yards and nine scores.

Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss: A boundary cornerback with terrific ball production. Amos had three interceptions and 10 pass breakups in 2024 alone. Vision on the ball is a trait the Packers want to emphasize at this position due to its importance in Hafley’s defense.

Anthony Belton, OT, NC State: Belton spent most of his career at left tackle and brings the size and length to the position that teams frequently covet. In 438 pass-blocking snaps last season, Belton allowed just three sacks and 12 pressures.

TJ Sanders, IDL, South Carolina: Sanders brings a well-rounded skill-set to the NFL level, able to make an impact as a run defender and pass rusher at South Carolina this past season.

Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M: The knock on Stewart is the lack of production in college, but as Gutekunst described early this week, this evaluation process is about projecting who a player can become. Stewart brings size, elite athleticism, versatility, and the ability to be on the field for all three downs to the NFL.

The caveat to all of this is that these events and the process we just went through are not the be-all-end-all when it comes to who the Packers are going to select. The Senior Bowl and 30 visits are each one part of what is the long and tedious process that is prospect evaluation.

At the end of the day, every aspect is important as the Packers attempt to collect as much data on each player as possible to make an informed decision. And of course, tape is always going to be King.

“It’s all important,” said Gutekunst last offseason of the pre-draft process. “First and foremost, it’s all important, the medical, everything’s important. At the end of the day, and this goes back for as long as I’ve done this, you go back to the tape and how they play the game. I think whenever there’s discrepancies, whenever you’re not sure, you go back to the tape, and that’s going to be your best predictor of future success is what they’ve done on tape, and that’s kind of what we live by.”

However, as we wonder who is on the Packers’ radar, recent history does say that at least one of these players will end up in Green Bay.

This NFL draft is different than the last 2 for the Packers, but will the approach change?

Paul Bretl | 4/23/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — From a roster-building and construction standpoint, this year’s NFL draft looks a bit different for the Packers than it did in 2023 and 2024. So will that alter how GM Brian Gutekunst navigates the next three days?

“No, I don’t think so,” said Gutekunst on Monday when asked if having fewer draft picks will change anything. “I think there’s probably a little strategy difference. You know, as far as you’re going through things, because you just have more ammunition at the top, which is, probably makes things a little bit more flexible. But no, I don’t think there’s anything that changes, you know, how we go about it, building the board, or anything like that.

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Two years ago, as the Packers transitioned to Jordan Love being the starting quarterback, that wasn’t the only shift that took place on the roster. Gutekunst also made a concerted effort to get younger and lean into creating as much competition as he could at every position on the roster.

At the center of that roster shift was the NFL draft, with the Packers holding a hefty 24 selections over those two years. For two seasons now, the Packers have had the youngest roster in the NFL, but still managed to make the playoffs each year as well.

Compared to the rest of the NFL, the Packers have had very little roster turnover this offseason. According to Over the Cap, only 7.7% of the Packers’ total snaps from the 2024 season won’t be returning in 2025. This is the seventh-lowest mark in football. In addition to that, with 72 players currently under contract prior to the draft, only 12 teams have more.

So, given the team’s recent regular season success and the number of key contributors returning, it’s easy to see why Gutekunst is confident in where his roster currently stands.

“I feel really good about our roster right now,” Gutekunst said. “I think that’s one of–that doesn’t happen every year. Every year’s a little bit different, but if we had to go play next week I feel really good about our roster. I feel like we could win and go compete. Really across the board.”

Even at the positions that are deemed as pressing needs for this Packers team to address, it’s not as if they are void of talent there either. Along the defensive front, while an improved pass rush is needed, the Packers still have Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Lukas Van Ness, Devonte Wyatt, and others.

It’s a similar story at wide receiver. Without question, more consistency is required, but there is a solid foundation here as well with Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Christian Watson returning at some point as well.

So for those reasons, this year’s draft for the Packers is different than it was in years past. Of course, there are still needs to be tackled, but the reshaping process that Gutekunst went through in 2023 and 2024 is largely complete. Now it’s about fine-tuning.

In theory, having fewer draft picks and having an overall well-constructed roster could impact how the Packers go about this year’s draft.

In one respect, with relatively few roster spots to fill, perhaps the Packers would be more willing to hone in on one of those aforementioned positions of need, but that logic also defies how Green Bay goes about the draft process.

“Hopefully as this draft unfolds we’re able to just sit back and select the best player that falls to us,” said Gutekunst. “I think that’s something we prepare ourselves to be in. No, I don’t think we look at it really any differently than other years. Certainly if there’s an opportunity to take a player at that position and it makes sense we will do it, but I don’t think we feel like we need to do anything.”

Or maybe the current state of the roster–given the quantity and quality of players–could allow them to be more aggressive and more willing to part with draft capital to trade up to go and get a player that could provide a big boost at a certain position. Although, in doing so, because a second premium pick is being traded away to make that jump up the draft board, you better be right about the kind of instant impact that player can have.

“It’s a two for one,” Gutekunst said about trading up in the first round, “and when you’re talking about premium picks, first, second, third, maybe even fourth round type picks, you’re expecting those guys to be good players. So if you’re going to do it, it’s got to be a player worth that.

“He’s got to be pretty good player, and I think he’s certainly got to fit a vision that we have for him, that could come in right away and be productive. But at the same time, those players do become available, and it’s not like we wouldn’t do it.”

Gutekunst is right; if the Packers had to suit up this Sunday and play a game, they would probably go out and win most of the time. He’s built a roster with a high floor and one where rookie contributions aren’t a must. That’s a good spot to be in.

While not flashy, the Packers’ disciplined approach to the offseason and the processes that they have established to evaluate players and construct the roster are part of what has made them a franchise that is a perennial playoff contender. And despite the uncertainty that loomed two years ago, Gutekunst has positioned Green Bay to continue being a part of those postseason conversations.

However, while the Packers can win the majority of their games, can they win the ones against the NFC’s best? Last season, they were unable to do that, and as we look ahead to 2025, we know this team is good, but the big question is, how good are they? Is this a competing-for-championships type of team?

That question won’t be answered until actual football begins, but the catalyst behind that outcome will be internal growth from those already on the roster. Of course, the Packers hope that early draft picks can come in, contribute, and help elevate the team, but that isn’t necessarily viewed as a must either.

So, to circle back to our initial question, is the recipe there for the Packers to operate differently in this year’s NFL draft? I believe so. But will that be what happens? I don’t think so. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong or that the Packers can’t get over the playoff hump, but it’s up to Gutekunst to be proven that this is the right approach.

“No, I think you’d love to,” said Gutekunst when asked if first-round picks need to contribute right away. “It’s great when they do, but that’s not always the case. And this is, the transition to the National Football League is tough. It’s not always easy. A lot of times it’s really determined by opportunity. If you take a guy in a particular area that he’s just going to have a lot more opportunity than somebody else, and we try to stay away from that, that drafting for need, and we try to just take the best player available, if that’s possible. But most of the time, a guy’s impact in his rookie year comes down to the opportunities that he had, more than anything.”

Easy decision for Packers with Quay Walker, Devonte Waytt 5th year options looming

Paul Bretl | 4/22/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The deadline for NFL teams to either pick up or decline the fifth-year options for 2022 first-round draft picks is approaching, with those decisions needing to be made by May 1st.

Every player selected in the first round of the NFL draft comes with a fifth-year option that the team can either pick up or decline. The 2022 draft class is entering the final year of their rookie deals, so these decisions that teams have to make are for the 2026 season.

For the Packers specifically, it’s not just one decision they have to make, but rather two, with both Devonte Wyatt and Quay Walker being first-round selections in 2022.

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However, based on what GM Brian Gutekunst had to say on Monday, it doesn’t sound like this is much of a decision at all–the Packers want both players back for the 2026 season and potentially beyond.

“I think we’re pretty close,” said Gutekunst. “We won’t deal with that until after the draft, but I think for both those guys, whatever mechanism we use, we’d like to keep those guys around for ‘26 and beyond.”

From the outside perspective, these fifth-year option decisions that the Packers have to make with Walker and Wyatt certainly don’t appear to be as clear-cut as they would have been with Jaire Alexander or Rashan Gary, as examples. But internally, the Packers liked what they saw from both Walker and Wyatt in 2024 and the trajectories they are on.

As the Mike linebacker in Jeff Hafley’s defense, a role that comes with massive pre-snap responsibilities, as Walker banked more reps, things really began to click for him coming out of the team’s bye week as he navigated that learning curve.

As Walker himself described, as the season progressed, he gained more confidence in what he was being asked to do and the roles of his teammates around him. The results were that from Weeks 12-14, Walker was doing a bit of everything for this Packers’ defense. During that span of three games, Walker generated the second-most quarterback pressures of any linebacker in the NFL. He would also rank 13th, surrendering just 6.9 yards per catch.

In addition to that, his 20 tackles were tied for the fifth-most, and while tackles can sometimes be a misleading stat, the 11 stops that he generated on those tackles–the seventh-most among linebackers during those three games–shows the quality of those plays.

“I think he was progressing at that point also and playing some good football, right about the time he got hurt,” said former linebackers coach Anthony Campanile. “I thought it was a steady progression for him, he made a jump I would say at that point in the year. I think he was just starting to see it really well. In the room, I think he’s done everything he can do. He’s all over it. Answering questions, totally immersed and locked into the game plan.

“That’s something that kind of speaks to the character of the guy, too. Even the games he hasn’t played in, he’s in the room, answering questions, calling it out, playing the plays through on the screen just like he’s out there as he normally would be.”

When it comes to the pass rush, overall, the Packers need more from their four-man front, but Wyatt specifically was the Packers’ most consistent pass rusher from the defensive tackle position, as Gutekunst put it.

To help illustrate that point from Gutekunst, out of all the Packers’ defensive tackles and defensive ends, Wyatt had the highest-pass rush win rate this season, according to PFF.

Among all defensive tackles in the NFL, Wyatt ranked 11th in that category and third in pass-rush productivity, which is an efficiency metric, measuring how often a pass rusher generates pressure relative to the number of snaps they play and it’s more heavily weighted towards sacks.

This past season we also saw Wyatt make a big jump as a run defender, where he ranked sixth among his position group in run-stop rate after ranking 48th in that same category a year ago.

“We’re super fired about both those guys’ seasons this year,” Gutekunst said during his season-ending press conference. “Both of them dealt with some injuries and was really proud of how they attacked those and played through some things this year. But I think both those guys had their best years as pros so far.”

Now, just because the Packers want Wyatt and Walker back for 2026 and beyond, doesn’t mean the team is going to exercise the fifth-year options for both players.

The contract amounts for these fifth-year options are predetermined and based on position played, playing time, and any if any Pro Bowls were made. These are one-year deals that are fully guaranteed.

As of now, Over the Cap is projecting that Walker’s fifth-year option will pay him $14.75 million in 2026, and Wyatt would earn $13.92 million. Since these are one-year deals and fully guaranteed, those figures are also what Walker and Wyatt’s cap hits would be as well.

Particularly with Walker, we could see the Packers take a similar approach with him as they did with Jordan Love, where the two sides agree to a short-term extension. This approach would allow Walker–or Wyatt–to earn more than what they’ve made on their rookie deals on a per-year basis, likely along with some added earning potential through incentives, and it gives them security beyond 2025.

For the Packers, this option allows them more salary cap flexibility with how they structure the contracts.

“Whether that’s through doing the fifth year option on these guys or extending them one way or the other, we’re planning to do that, we’d like to do that,” Gutekunst added on Monday.

The big question the Packers attempt to answer in evaluating NFL draft prospects

Paul Bretl | 4/21/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — As Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said during his end-of-season press conference, it’s time that this team starts competing for championships. He also stressed the importance of urgency.

So, given where this Packers team is currently at and the goals they have, is it mandatory that their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft come in and make an immediate impact? Well, maybe not.

“No, I think you’d love to,” said Gutekunst when meeting with reporters on Monday. “It’s great when they do, but that’s not always the case. And this is, the transition to the National Football League is tough. It’s not always easy. A lot of times it’s really determined by opportunity. If you take a guy in a particular area that he’s just going to have a lot more opportunity than somebody else, and we try to stay away from that, that drafting for need, and we try to just take the best player available, if that’s possible. But most of the time, a guy’s impact in his rookie year comes down to the opportunities that he had, more than anything.”

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One of the first questions that Gutekunst and his scouting department ask themselves when evaluating a prospect is, what is that player going to do in the NFL? Who are they going to be?

That’s the educated prediction that the Packers are attempting to make as they build out their big board ahead of the draft, and it’s those answers that will be essential in determining who they end up selecting.

To get to those answers, there are obviously numerous factors and variables in play, including one of the age-old NFL draft questions of production or potential. Selecting the player who could perhaps help more so right away or the prospect loaded with upside?

To find that answer, it’s about figuring out the why. If the traits appear to be there, then why wasn’t the production? Or if there was a ton of production, can how the prospect accumulated those numbers translate to the NFL level, and then be sustained and improved upon?

“What you’re trying to predict is what they’re going to do in the National Football League,” said Gutekunst. “That’s first and foremost, so, if a player didn’t have the kind of production that you think he should at the college level and just, there’s a lot of discussion about why, why that was and if you think that’s something that as he moves forward and he progresses as a football player, if that’s going to change or not.”

Through that process, it’s about establishing where a player is currently positioned on their learning trajectory, and identifying how much more growth is out there for them if in the right environment at the NFL level.

An important part of that equation is that teams will utilize a player’s measurements and athletic testing figures as a barometer for how high that prospect’s ceiling can be. And in today’s NFL, there is no shortage of information that is out there when it comes to these metrics. As Gutekunst described, even when players opt out of certain drills, while there is more work involved on the team’s part, using GPS tracking data, which most Power 5 schools have, the Packers are able to get the data they need.

“I come from the Ron Wolf, Ted Thompson,” Gutekunst said, “so traits are very very important to us. Testing numbers are important, and that’s part of the changing world in scouting right now. These guys are really picking and choosing what they do. We don’t have universal numbers across the board like we used to, which makes it tough, but there are some new technologies coming into play with GPS data and things like that, that you kind of have to try to make up for it. So the traits are really important to us.”

Even from the outside looking in, there are certain athletic testing metrics and thresholds that have seemingly been established for the Packers at specific position groups. All of that is quantifiable, and the team can determine whether or not the data that they have lines up with what they are seeing on film.

But one of the more difficult aspects of this evaluation process is when the team is attempting to measure those unquantifiable, but important, elements that go into playing the game of football. One example of this is a player’s competitiveness. How much do they love the game of football?

“I think the motivation of why guys play is something we spend a lot of time (on), trying to find out their ‘whys.’ I do think it’s important. This league’s hard. There’s a lot of adversity—for even the best players. And to go out there and compete each and every day to get better takes a lot. There’s a lot of competition in these rooms. So, the motivation for these guys to go to do that better be strong. If it’s not, it’s probably easy to find a way out.”

Another one of those unquantifiable metrics is instincts, which can put a player in the right position over and over again to make plays. You can’t put instincts on a spread sheet and then attempting to identify how one prospect’s instincts compare to another prospect’s high-end athletic traits is a whole new challenge.

“That’s one of the harder things,” said Gutekunst on evaluating instincts. “I think also one of the harder things is where he is in his development with that, because instincts aren’t something you either have or don’t have. I think it’s something that is over time you either gain or don’t, but every player’s at a little bit different part of their process. A lot of that depends on how much playing time they got in college and maybe where they came from in high school.”

When it comes to gathering all of this information and data, the Packers have their own processes for going about doing so and the metrics for evaluating it all. But by Gutekunst’s own admission, with the current state of the college football landscape and many players playing for multiple schools during their college careers, the frequent movement at the college football level has made it difficult at times to evaluate these metrics as the team wants. There’s additional legwork that is now very much a part of the equation to make sure that all the correct information is available to the Packers.

At this stage of the pre-draft process for the Packers, the work is done. Now it’s about trusting all that time that’s been put in and letting the board ultimately do the dictating for the Packers and allowing that to make their decisions.

However, when it comes to those decisions, while immediate help will always be welcomed, as the Packers go through their draft evaluation process, it’s ultimately about determining where a player is in his development and how high his ceiling is if brought into the Packers organization. 

The hope, of course, is that the Packers find instant help and long-term growth potential. That’s the goal. But not to be forgotten in all this is that the draft is about projecting who a player will become down the road, and it’s less about who they are on draft night.

“The unpredictability is real,” said Gutekunst of the draft, “but I think for us, it’s just a matter of, we take a lot of pride in the people that we bring into this locker room. We’re obviously chasing things that are really big around here and we’ve got a very good football team with some really good guys in that locker room, and the guys we bring into this locker room, to me, need to be the kind of guys that are going to fit into that culture and add to it.

“And so every year, this is an opportunity to do that. The culture of your football team comes from your players, and so that’s a big part of what we’re doing.”

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