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[Green Bay Packers]

Packers Mock Draft 4.0 Voting: 3rd Round

Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

Green Bay goes wide receiver Jayden Higgins in the second round of our community mock

In general, it feels like Green Bay Packers fans know how they want the first two picks to play out on draft day. Through four mock drafts, three featured the team going with a defensive tackle in the first round and a receiver in the second round. The only exception was in our 1.0 mock, where the Packers still went defensive tackle in the first but waited until the third round for a receiver.

This time, the second-round receiver was Jayden Higgins of Iowa State, who makes a lot of sense as a Packers target. As we wrote in our scouting report on the receiver last month, he — along with Stanford’s Alic Ayomanor — is one of the few big-body outside receivers who also has field-stretching ability, something Green Bay desperately needs with Christian Watson likely to be missing from the lineup until December.

If you want a little recap on how people have voted so far, here’s the track record:

APC Mock Draft 1.0​

• 1st: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
• 2nd: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
• 3rd: Savion Williams, WR, TCU

APC Mock Draft 2.0​

• 1st: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
• 2nd: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
• 3rd: Charles Grant, OL, William & Mary

APC Mock Draft 3.0​

• 1st: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
• 2nd: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
• 3rd: Charles Grant, OL, William & Mary

APC Mock Draft 4.0​

• 1st: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
• 2nd: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State

We’re using the NFL Draft Buzz simulator for this mock draft, and the following players are the highest-ranked prospects available for the Packers’ third-round pick:

Best Players Available​

• #81 Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
• #82 Devin Neal, RB, Kansas
• #84 Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas
• #87 Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma
• #88 Sebastian Castro, S, Iowa
• #90 Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas
• #91 Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary
• #92 Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
• #94 Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo
• #95 Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
• #97 Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State
• #98 Zy Alexander, CB, LSU
• #99 Tai Felton, WR, Maryland
• #100 Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon

Will the trends buck here, or will Green Bay go tackle Charles Grant for the third straight mock draft? It’s time for you all to decide.

The player who receives the comment with the most “rec”s in the comment section below will be awarded to the Packers. You can sign up for our comment section with THIS link.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...ackers-2025-mock-draft-4-0-voting-third-round

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Harold Fannin Jr. may run like a duck, but it works

Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

(And super fun. Like, hilarious.)

(Note: This post references SiYAA and WROBA. For definitions, please see here and here.)

---

(Sits down)

“Oh, The Beast is out! You know, I was just going to get to work on tight ends. I wonder what Dane Brugler thinks. Hmm, yes, Warren’s huge, fine, Loveland, Taylor three? Man, I don’t care for that guy at all. I like Arroyo pretty well, need to do some more work on Ferguson. Oh, I wonder what he thinks of Fannin!”

(Scrolls down.)

(Reads)

“Duck-footed — often runs with feet often pointed outwards, which dulls route breaks”

“Wait. What?”

“Duck-footed — often runs with feet often pointed outwards, which dulls route breaks”

“Is…is that true?”

(Fires up the Youtube)

Well I’ll be damned.

---

Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green​

2024 Stats: 117 Receptions (led college football), 1555 yards (also led college football), 13.3 yards per reception, 10 TDs, 1 rushing TD.

I am, as my Bluesky profile reads, a “numbers guy at Acme Packing Company” and so I look the numbers (college production, combine metrics) before I ever get to tape on these guys. For Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr., you don’t really need any fancypants advanced metrics to become interested. Fannin set all sorts of Bowling Green records in 2024 with his 117 catch, 1555 yard, 10 TD season. He was the focal point of the offense with an insane 38% target share, a number that was only eclipsed by UNLV’s Ricky White and Troy’s Devonte Ross among qualifying receivers or tight ends. However, while Ross and White were strictly average in terms of production with their insane volume, Fannin was truly great. Generally as volume goes up, efficiency goes down, at least a bit, but Fannin was simply a monster.

In fact, using my brand new SiYAA metric, (which rewards volume AND efficiency) since 2018, the only tight ends to put up a better combination of efficiency and volume in any one season were Isaiah Likely (450 SiYAA in 2021), Brock Bowers (413 also in 2021), Gerrit Prince (413 for UAB in 2021) and Kyle Pitts (407 in 2020). Fannin is an easy fifth at 351, 26 yards clear of sixth place Elijah Arroyo, who is also available in this draft.

Fannin actually finished 14th among all qualifying pass catchers this season, not just tight ends, ahead of guys like Tet McMillan, Emeka Egbuka, and Jayden Higgins. That said, Fannin is, even by the numbers, hardly a perfect prospect. His strength of schedule in the MAC was underwhelming (though he played an excellent game at Penn State), and his RAS is merely fine at 7.77, with his size dragging the rest of a decent profile down.

Brugler has him as a 3rd round talent which seems about right. Consensus boards have him between 84th and 95th. I’m not here to tell you that Fannin is some hidden generational prospect at TE. I’m not here to tell you that he’s overrated or underrated according to SiYAA or WROBA. No no, I’m here to tell you that once you read about how Fannin walks like a duck, and when you read this additional paragraph from Brugler, Fannin’s tape suddenly becomes hilarious:

“Overall, Fannin is somewhat of an unconventional prospect. He is awkwardly athletic with stiff, restricting movements, but he plays with straight-line explosiveness, outstanding trac”king skills and threatening run-after-catch ability.”

This is must see TV of the highest order. Once you see the feet, you can’t un-see them.

And it’s amazing. Watch it.

Now, I’m also not here to rip Fannin for this idiosyncrasy. To the contrary, I’m here to celebrate it, and I’d even go so far as to say it may be a slight competitive advantage. Before we get into that, please do note that many of my compatriots in the APC Slack Chat expressed concern that running like this long term may “cause your knees to explode.” One person said, “The longer I watch that gif, the more my knees hurt.” Another added, “I can feel the cartilage aching.” Fair enough, but also, I mean, this is just good TV. And so far, it’s working.

Not everything in sports has to follow the ideal platonic form for the activity. Sometimes Phillip Rivers’ delivery works even better than a conventional delivery. Sometimes Reggie Miller is a better shooter than everyone else with their “superior” form. And I think Fannin’s toes-out style actually makes it harder for DBs to tell where the man is going. Even against Penn State, their secondary seemed to have issues squaring the big man up.

And then there’s this madness against Texas A&M.

Like a pigeon-toed Barry Sanders.

When I read the line about awkward athleticism, I had no idea what that could possibly mean, but upon watching tape it’s very clear, and Dane Brugler could not have described him better. If you think about a guy like Davante Adams and his silky-smooth release off the line, it’s clear why it works. The defender has no idea where Davante is going because it’s so well disguised, but I want to focus on the way it’s disguised. With Davante, it’s all about having no signals as to where he’s about to go. With Fannin, it’s the opposite as there are a million signals about where he’s about to go, but they all disagree! He loves this little stutter step to create separation before he’s tackled, which basically just allows him to drag a guy further. He LOVES hurdling people.

His moves aren’t smooth at all, they’re telegraphed to an absurd degree, but the moves, plus the feet not pointing the right way, plus the possibility of going vertical leaves every would-be tackler incredibly confused.

I mentioned the pedestrian RAS before, but it’s worth noting that even with outward-flared toes, Fannin ran a 6.97 three-cone, an elite number for a tight end, and when you see him out there you really start to appreciate his agility and body control.

Again, I’m not saying he’s some super secret great prospect. I don’t think he blocks well enough for an every day standard tight end, and he’s not a burner. But goodness is he fun. Look how this play finishes.

Lol. LMAO.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...ect-profile-runs-like-a-duck-bowling-green-te

 

[Green Bay Packers]

2025 NFL Draft: Anthony Belton scouting report

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The projected Day 2 selection has 18 visits lined up, including one with the Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers have gotten heavier on the offensive line over recent seasons. Gone are the days when the Packers had 6’4”, 300-pounders across the board up front. At the moment, their left tackle and left guard combo, Rasheed Walker and Aaron Banks, measure in at 6’6” and 324 pounds and 6’5” and 325 pounds, respectively.

As far as pre-draft visits go, the offensive line makes up 6 of the team’s 16 total reported visits so far this offseason. Almost all of those players are in the 320-pound range.

By all accounts, it appears that the Packers are changing their offensive line mentality. Gone are the days of the Mike McCarthy era's undersized mid-round pass protectors. Moving forward with head coach Matt LaFleur, especially after the team was pushed around against the Philadelphia Eagles in the postseason, size is going to be more of a premium for Green Bay.

So we’re going to dive into one of those offensive linemen that the Packers very well might select in a couple of weeks, North Carolina State’s Anthony Belton — who has already visited Green Bay.

Anthony Belton Scouting Report​

Originally a basketball player, Anthony Belton didn’t take football seriously as a career path until midway through his prep career. At the college level, he played virtually every snap of his career at left tackle — with the exceptions being unbalanced sets where he played right tackle, the normal right tackle played tight end and the normal tight end lining up in a left tackle position. With the Wolfpack, he was a three-year starter on the blindside.

Belton seems to be rising up draft boards, as he was drafted in the second round in ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft. The Packers are just 1 of 18 teams who will have Belton in their facility before the draft, which has to be a near-record-breaking amount of visits for a prospect. Considering that teams are limited to just 30 visits per offseason, there’s a high amount of late interest in the NC State product who went by the name “Escalade” in the program.

At 6’6” and 336 pounds, Belton sure earned his Escalade nickname. While he didn’t have the strongest combine performance, his best drill being a 29.5” vertical jump, Belton’s numbers are still decent on the sliding scale of a player of his mass.

Anthony Belton is a OT prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 7.73 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 344 out of 1508 OT from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/7IhUXxXkt6 pic.twitter.com/2kb3uE1sMt

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 10, 2025​

The big question to me, after watching Belton’s film, is whether he has the athleticism to stick at tackle or not. There are plenty of times where he simply isn’t polished enough in his kick slides to warrant the tag of a potential left tackle of the future. The video below is an example of a less-than-smooth path he took to a pass rusher.

pic.twitter.com/jrQ03uaIoC

— Justis Mosqueda (@JuMosq) April 9, 2025​

With that being said, he didn’t have too many “true pass block attempts” in college, because of NC State’s scheme. NC State plays with really tight splits in their zone-based run game. They’re so focused on making everything look like run first that often times Belton is put in bad positions to protect the quarterback from, because he’s taking the same steps as he would on a run play for the first two to three steps of the play.

pic.twitter.com/oGVEADHIzf

— Justis Mosqueda (@JuMosq) April 9, 2025​

In the play above, he’s taking a backside hinge block, trying to sell the defense on a run going to the opposite side of the formation. Due to those steps, he’s not in a great position to protect the passer. While it’s not entirely his fault that his man got the sack on that play — as he was put in a disadvantageous position on the quarterback’s blindside and the passer held onto the ball — he also doesn’t show enough athleticism on these plays to make you think that he can be a “set it and forget it” left tackle in the protection game, either.

Ideally, you’d think that if the Packers spent a pick on Belton to be a left tackle, over the options of paying Rasheed Walker an extension or giving 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan a chance to play the position, the replacement would be a polished pass-protector. Belton simply isn’t that right now, in part because of his athletic ceiling.

That’s why I, ideally, would like to see Belton play the guard position, potentially the long-term right guard for the Packers — a position that is up for grabs — despite him being all of 6’6”. While his feet aren’t great, one thing that shows up consistently on film is the strength that frequently leaves defenders on the ground. In the two plays below, you get a sense of the force that Belton can deliver on pass-rushing stunts or when he’s looking for work, something he’d get more reps at in the guard position than at the tackle position.

pic.twitter.com/X7fFLOW8ay

— Justis Mosqueda (@JuMosq) April 9, 2025​

pic.twitter.com/Alt0hyczm6

— Justis Mosqueda (@JuMosq) April 9, 2025​

If you want some clips of him digging out players in the run game with the same strength, it’s out there, too.

Had Belton played in a full-time guard role, I think he would be thought of similarly to Alabama’s Tyler Booker, another strong and punishing blocker who isn’t athletic enough to stick on an island at tackle. It’s quite possible that teams considering Belton a guard, not a tackle, led to the late surge of interest in him as a prospect, as more coaches got involved in the process.

The Packers try almost all of their rookie offensive linemen as tackles until they can’t prove they can play the position, but I believe that Belton’s best position at the next level will be on the interior, where his quickness and strength will be highlighted more than his kick-slide and footwork. At guard, he certainly looks the part of the Day 2 selection that he’s currently being projected as per the consensus draft board.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...report-north-carolina-state-offensive-lineman

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Revisiting the trade that landed Javon Walker in Green Bay

Craig Melvin-Imagn Images

It took some work for the Packers’ last first-round wide receiver to land in Green Bay.

Did you know the Packers haven’t drafted a wide receiver in the first round since 2002? If not, let me extend you a warm handshake and welcome you to your first day on the internet. I’m happy you chose to make this fine website one of your first stops.

But even if you did know, some of the ins and outs of the deal may have been lost to time — like the fact that the Packers didn’t just draft Javon Walker in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft, they traded up to get him.

The 2002 NFL Draft was technically Mike Sherman’s first. He’d been named the Packers’ general manager well ahead of the 2001 NFL Draft, but outgoing Ron Wolf handled the player selection process. By 2002, though, Sherman was fully in control, and he was clearly ready to put his personal stamp on the Packers.

About five weeks prior to the 2002 Draft, Sherman made his first bold move, sending a fourth-round pick for the upcoming draft and a conditional pick for the next year to New England for wide receiver Terry Glenn. That wouldn’t be his last big swing at wide receiver, though, because Sherman would soon add another.

On the first day of what was then just a two-day draft, Sherman traded the 28th and 60th picks to the Seattle Seahawks for the 20th and 156th picks, nabbing Florida State wide receiver Javon Walker with the first of his two acquisitions. On day two, Sherman added Iowa defensive end Aaron Kampman with pick 156.

Two factors in the trade can serve as lessons for us today.

The first is the picks themselves. By just about any calculator you can find, Sherman lost this trade, and pretty badly too. Using the modern version of the Jimmy Johnson trade value chart available at Pro Football Reference — which I’m guessing is the closest to what Sherman would have used at the time — he surrendered about 81 points of surplus value to Seattle in the exchange. That’s a pretty big gap. If someone made a similar trade today, they’d be excoriated by take-havers all over the internet. For what amounted to a general manager playing the high stakes game that is the NFL Draft for the first time, he’d been robbed.

But that’s not even half the equation. Draft value doesn’t win games, players do. And Sherman came out of the 2002 Draft in really good shape.

Though his time in Green Bay came to a bad end, Javon Walker was a plus player during his time with the Packers. He increased his yardage total each of his first three years, culminating with the magnificent 2003 season (89 catches, 1,382 yards, 12 touchdowns) that sparked the contract dispute that eventually sent him out of Green Bay. And even on his way out the door, Walker netted the Packers a second-round pick for new general manager Ted Thompson, which he turned into Greg Jennings.

Aaron Kampman, meanwhile, started more than 100 games during his Packers tenure, logging 54 career sacks over eight seasons and earning two second-team All-Pro bids and two trips to the Pro Bowl. That’s a pretty nice return for pick 156.

And that’s the real lesson here: Sherman took a big swing, one for which he should rightly have been criticized if it didn’t work out. But it did work out, and that’s the bottom line. In a game where it’s hardly a given that teams will bring home even one good player, Sherman netted two with a big, bold move. The process may not have been analytically sound, but it worked. Sometimes that’s all it takes.

Of course, Sherman made a bunch of other moves that didn’t quite pan out, and that probably says more about the value of his process than anything else. But for the 2002 Draft, at least, it paid dividends.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...e-trade-that-landed-javon-walker-in-green-bay

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Former Packers 2nd-round pick re-signs with Atlanta Falcons

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Kevin King is still in the NFL, if you can believe it

After being out of the league for two full seasons, it was a surprise that former Green Bay Packers cornerback Kevin King, a 2017 second-round pick, resurfaced with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024. Many believed that the cornerback was going to be a camp body, but King actually ended up sticking on the Falcons’ roster on his $1.13 million veteran minimum salary last year.

In total, he played 15 games and made one start on defense. While he only played 71 total defensive snaps last year — good for just seven percent of the Falcons’ total defensive snaps — he reinvented himself as a special teamer. For perspective, King played at least 48 percent of the defensive snaps in all five years that he spent in Green Bay, according to Pro Football Reference.

Meanwhile, King played 161 special teams reps, which nearly matches how many special teams reps he played for the Packers over five years (176). According to Pro Football Reference, he played 74 snaps of kickoff coverage (vs. 79 in his time in Green Bay), 43 punt return reps (vs. 67), 35 field goal block snaps (vs. 40) and contributed on the kickoff return team for the first time in his NFL career.

For his 2024 season, King received an 89.2 special teams grade by PFF. He never had cracked more than 64.2 in his Packers career. It’s safe to say that the Falcons considered him a special teams ace, a role he never played under former Packers special teams coordinators Maurice Drayton, Shawn Mennenga or Ron Zook.

On Friday, the Falcons announced that they have re-signed King for the 2025 season. At the moment, contract details have yet to be announced, but the assumption is that the special teamer came back on another short, cheap contract.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...news-kevin-king-re-signs-atlanta-falcons-2025

 

[Green Bay Packers]

2025 NFL Draft: T.J. Sanders scouting report

Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images

Sanders would be a three-technique under tackle in the Packers’ 4-3 defense

The Green Bay Packers’ outlook at the defensive tackle position, long-term, is uncertain. T.J. Slaton, the team’s “starting” nose tackle last year signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency after playing run downs for the team in 2024. Kenny Clark, who previously played nose tackle for the team, was a three-technique under tackle on run downs in 2024 and kicked to the nose on passing downs. There, he had a disappointing season coming off of his three-year, $64 million extension. Going into 2026, the Packers could save north of $14 million in cap space with a release of Clark, which puts his future in jeopardy.

On top of that, 2021 first-round pick Devonte Wyatt, who primarily saw the field as a passing-downs three-technique in 2024, is on the final year of his rookie contract. His fifth-year option is not expected to be picked up this offseason. Despite being one of the more productive interior pressure players in the league, his playing time actually dropped from 50 percent in 2023 to 41 percent in 2024 among the games he played. He also made no starts in 2024 in the 4-3 defense after recording five in 2023 in the team’s 3-4 defense.

The good news: This defensive tackle crop in the 2025 NFL Draft is very strong. It shouldn’t shock anyone if the team selected one in the first round, but there are plenty of starting-caliber players who are going to be available on Day 2, too.

One of those players is T.J. Sanders of South Carolina, who the Packers brought in on a pre-draft visit. Let’s take a look at the type of player he is.

T.J. Sanders Scouting Report​

Sanders is a former basketball player who initially believed that hoops would be his primary sport until mid-way through high school. Sanders, an in-state product, ended up committing to the Gamecocks and playing there for four years. Last season, he earned All-SEC honors.

At 6’4” and 297 pounds, you’d expect Sanders to be an Arik Armstead type of base 3-4 end, but he’s more of an under tackle than anything. This means a selection of him would likely lead to Clark moving to nose tackle full-time and the end of any idea of an extension for Wyatt.

His calling card is his ability to penetrate. Usually, he played in a three-technique position for South Carolina, but he’s often moved to a head-up nose tackle position on passing downs. In limited reps, he even has walked up over the center as a stand up “spinner,” like in the play below against the Oklahoma Sooners.

pic.twitter.com/x5ySMJbOeL

— Justis Mosqueda (@JuMosq) April 12, 2025​

One thing South Carolina didn’t do is just line up and play football. Their front was based on a lot of movement, which allowed Sanders’ athleticism to flash. If defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley wants to live in the slanting, stunting and simulated pressure world, Sanders would be a huge addition for his scheme.

It’s not uncommon for Sanders to make a play several gaps away from where he lined up pre-snap, either by design from slants and stunts or by “backdooring” run plays — where a player ends up playing behind his assigned gap to make an aggressive play. If a player isn’t athletic enough to “backdoor” at the NFL level, the run game can get gashed quickly, as safeties and linebackers aren’t on the same page of the gambler. But with a sub-5-second 40-yard dash, Sanders is right more often than he’s wrong.

The three clips below highlight Sanders making plays several gaps over, be it on backdoors or not.

pic.twitter.com/yRyLkgDZea

— Justis Mosqueda (@JuMosq) April 12, 2025​

pic.twitter.com/H3AEliKeOK

— Justis Mosqueda (@JuMosq) April 12, 2025​

pic.twitter.com/JvVYiSGVaw

— Justis Mosqueda (@JuMosq) April 12, 2025​

In the run game, Sanders can play with too high of pad level, something he’ll need to work on when he’s playing a non-stunting assignment at the NFL level. That can be coached, though, and it’s something that is more inconsistent than an every-down issue. The clip below shows Sanders playing a textbook stack and shed versus Ole Miss, which ends with a violent shed and a tackle.

pic.twitter.com/Ss0fMP2Mx6

— Justis Mosqueda (@JuMosq) April 12, 2025​

So while he might not be ready to be an every-down player in the NFL immediately, in part because of his run defending, there is more juice to squeeze out of him. For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus graded him as an ascending player over the past couple of seasons. In 2022, he was graded with a 54.2 run grade. Those numbers jumped to 69.6 in 2023 and 77.0 in 2024. In each of those seasons, too, his pass-rushing grades were better than his run-stopping grades.

Ultimately, Sanders is a highly athletic defensive tackle who would thrive in a defense where he’s able to move laterally like he did at South Carolina. He’s going to need to do a better job of holding his gap at the point of attack, something that will come with improved pad level. Still, he’s trending in a positive direction over the past couple of years, and there’s no reason why he couldn’t continue that progress with a professional coaching staff. His current ranking on the consensus draft board is the 60th player overall, behind just six other defensive tackles in this class. That checks out on film, as he could easily be a second-round target for the Packers if they choose not to take a defensive tackle on the first day of the draft.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...outing-report-south-carolina-defensive-tackle

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Packers Athletic Thresholds Board: Offensive Skill Players

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Which running backs and receivers meet the Packers' typical athletic thresholds?

It is that time of year once again. With the combine and pro days now in the rearview mirror, the Green Bay Packers’ athletic thresholds big board can ride once again. This year, it will be broken down into individual articles with more explanations provided. The time period used to generate the thresholds begins when Ted Thompson took over for the Packers back in 2005 and runs through the entirety of Brian Gutekunst’s tenure. Despite being part of the same tree, Ron Wolf’s tenure is not included, as athletic testing data from the 1990s is much more sparse.

And we start today with the offensive skill players: running backs and wide receivers. Tight ends are excluded this year, firstly because Green Bay doesn’t really show much of a requirement aside from running a sub 4.75 forty-yard dash, and also the position is of little need in either 2025 or 2026, given Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave’s presence on the roster. If Green Bay looks to add to the room, it will likely be late in the draft, and more so, an in-line Y tight end and special teams snaps player will replace the combination of Ben Sims and John Fitzpatrick.

Running Back Criteria​

The Packers are not overly restrictive when it comes to running backs, drafting many different styles and body types from Eddie Lacy to Aaron Jones. Despite likely spending much of his career below this weight, Jones weighing in at 205 pounds provides us a floor. The thresholds in the forty-yard dash and three-cone are 4.55 and 7.15 seconds, respectively. A big issue that we run into more and more each year is a lack of prospects completing the three-cone. Of combine invitee running backs this year, only four running backs completed the three-cone at either the combine or their pro day. For comparison, fifteen of them completed the short shuttle. We may be back to the drawing board with the shuttle in future years as the three-cone is going extinct across positions, likely because it is one of the most difficult and exposing drills. With that said, here are the running backs who did not disqualify themselves tiered on the consensus board as of this week.

NOTE: Green highlighting means they met all criteria, yellow means they narrowly missed on one or were trending towards completion but did not complete all the necessary drills, white means they did not complete enough testing to indicate one way or another

The biggest eliminator for players this year was weight, with me even fudging things a little bit to get TreyVeon Henderson on the board at just 202 pounds. The only combine invitee that checked every box was Tahj Brooks out of Texas Tech, who is currently ranked at 216th on the consensus board. Running back is not a 2025 need with the entire room back from 2024, but the position is one with routinely high turnover year-to-year, and the Packers room in 2026 may look quite a bit different from the room we see this fall.

Notable Prospects Failing: Cam Skattebo (forty), Dylan Sampson (weight), DJ Giddens (three-cone)

Wide Receiver Criteria​

The Packers are generally pretty narrow on the type of wide receivers they look for, though they did make an exception from that general rule of thumb for Jayden Reed, who, along with Randall Cobb, is a distinct break from the type of 6-foot-plus, 200-pound-plus wide receivers they generally target. For that reason, the criteria expands down to 5107 (five foot, ten and seven-eighths inches tall) and 191 pounds. Note that because Jayden Reed is already on the roster, and Green Bay seems reticent to have more than one “small” on the field at any time, their thresholds this year may be higher, but I generally like my board to be more inclusive than not. On the athletic testing side of things, we’re looking for receivers that run sub-4.58 in the forty and a three-cone under 7.1. Plenty more receivers ran the three cone, so that allows us to fill our board up more confidently this year, though some players like Jack Bech did everything but run the forty.

Next to the players' names are their likely position. X receivers are generally going to be more static (less motion) and run a more limited route tree of nines, posts, curls, slants, comebacks, and digs. Z receivers typically have more wiggle to them, will generally be played off the line-of-scrimmage, and have a more diverse route tree. F is the typical designation for slot receivers in most offenses. To give you some context in Green Bay, Romeo Doubs spends most of his snaps at the X, Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks spend most of their time at the Z, and Jayden Reed spends almost every snap as an F.

Only four receivers in the top 200 check all of the boxes: Jayden Higgins, Jalen Royals, Isaac TeSlaa, and Nick Nash. However, there are plenty of options that check most of the boxes, and even some, like Emeka Egbuka, who scored well in the other agility drill.

Given the Packers' particular need for speed or man-beaters, guys like McMillan, Golden, Higgins, Royals, and Horton may be of particular focus there. The Packers have had Egbuka, considered generally to be a pretty clean prospect evaluation, in on a two-day visit, suggesting serious interest. Matthew Golden has also been to Green Bay for a visit as well.

NOTE: Savion Williams is not given a positional designation because no one really seems to know what to do with him. He’s a phenomenal athlete, but he may end up as a gadget player/returner/runningback type, ala Cordarelle Patterson.

Notable Prospects Failing: Travis Hunter (weight), Jaylin Noel (height), Isaiah Bond (height, weight), Kyle Williams (height, weight)

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...thresholds-board-running-backs-wide-receivers

 

[Green Bay Packers]

2025 NFL Draft: Josh Simmons scouting report

Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Packers visitor tore his patellar tendon in 2024

What the Green Bay Packers will do with their left tackle position moving forward will be one of the defining decisions of the Jordan Love era. At the moment, the starting left tackle is Rasheed Walker, a former seventh-round pick who has been the team’s starter for the last two seasons. Walker is about a league-average tackle, players who now sign contracts in the $20 million per year ballpark, and he’s going into the final year of his rookie deal.

The Packers also drafted Jordan Morgan, who mostly played right guard in 2024, in the first round last year. Morgan had played exclusively at left tackle at the college level, and the front office still claims that Morgan is in the mix to be the team’s starting left tackle. With that being said, Morgan was only able to start one game as a rookie and ended up on the injured reserve with a nagging shoulder injury. Maybe Morgan will overtake Walker, but that seems less than likely in 2025.

That’s why it’s interesting that the Packers have brought in Ohio State’s Josh Simmons — the former Buckeye left tackle — on a pre-draft visit. As of now, Simmons is one of only two draftable offensive linemen, along with North Carolina State’s Anthony Belton, who has reportedly made the trip to Green Bay this offseason.

So who is Simmons, and what could he bring to the Packers? Let’s get into it.

Josh Simmons Scouting Report​

Simmons is from the San Diego era and last played for Helix High School, a local powerhouse that produced the likes of running back Reggie Bush and quarterback Alex Smith. Despite holding offers to programs like USC, Oregon (where he previously had committed), Penn State, Oklahoma, Michigan, Miami and Georgia, Simmons committed to San Diego State to remain in the area. Part of that decision boiled down to his ill grandmother, who passed away during his freshman season with the Aztecs.

As a redshirt freshman, he started at right tackle with SDSU. Following that season, he entered the transfer portal and landed with Ohio State in 2023. Over two years with the Buckeyes, he was the team’s starting left tackle.

On paper, Simmons projects to be the best true left tackle in the 2025 draft. Armand Membou of Missouri played right tackle at the college level. There are real questions about whether or not Will Campbell of LSU or Kelvin Banks of Texas will stick at tackle or have to move inside to guard at the NFL level because of their length.

Here’s the kicker, though: Simmons suffered a patella tendon tear — which was initially reported as an ACL tear — against the Oregon Ducks last year. It was not until the combine that an accurate diagnosis of Simmons’ injury became public.

Josh Simmons, five months removed from tearing his patellar tendon, did a brief workout at Ohio State’s pro day. pic.twitter.com/I5I4W6vbU6

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) March 26, 2025​

While a patella tendon tear is a serious injury, the good news is that Simmons was able to do some on-field workouts at Ohio State’s pro day earlier this offseason. He didn’t test, but he was able to do some offensive line drills without wearing a brace. Even a decade ago, this injury could have derailed a superstar’s career, but medical advancements have progressed, allowing players who suffered this injury to extend their careers. For what it’s worth, the Packers gave a heavy investment to a player who had a patellar tendon tear in the past before: tight end Jimmy Graham.

As far as the recovery process goes, Simmons should receive some family help, too. His brother is currently the head strength and conditioning coach for the Phoenix Suns, an NBA team with a deep history of being at the forefront of knee injuries. That sure couldn’t hurt.

The injury took up most of the scouting report here, which is going to mirror the conversations that NFL teams will have about Simmons in draft rooms. As an athlete, at least pre-injury, Simmons moved extremely well laterally, which was highlighted on pin-and-pull run plays and when he was asked to reach block defensive ends on outside zone run plays. He’s clearly a well-prepared player, as he understands how to pass off stunts and knows how to use his hands well.

He’s more of a pass protector than a people mover, which shouldn’t be a shock for a prospect who is considered to be a pure left tackle in the NFL. The questions the Packers have to solve for now are: 1) How badly does the team believe they need another option to be their left tackle of the future, and 2) whether or not Simmons’ medicals are clean enough to keep him on their draft board. If both of those answers draw them closer to Simmons, it shouldn’t be a surprise if they spend the 23rd pick of the draft on him — if he’s even available.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...e-offensive-left-tackle-lineman-injury-update

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Free agent S/LB Isaiah Simmons visiting Packers on Monday, per report

Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images

The team is probably looking at the five-year NFL veteran as a primary special teams contributor.

The Green Bay Packers have already made one free agent move at linebacker, but on Monday with 10 days to go before the 2025 NFL Draft, they are looking into another veteran player who has experience at that position.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Packers are hosting free agent Isaiah Simmons on a visit on Monday. Simmons most recently played for the New York Giants, starting five games at safety over the past two years.

Simmons entered the league playing linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals, suiting up for them for three years after they made him the 8th overall draft pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. That was a position switch for him, as he was an All-American safety in college at Clemson. The Cardinals then traded Simmons to the Giants for a 7th-round draft pick in August of 2023 after declining his 5th-year option. He then returned to the Giants on a one-year, $2 million deal last season.

An impressive athlete, Simmons ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds at the 2020 Combine while measuring in at 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds. However, he has never quite fit in on defense at the NFL level. Although he started 27 games for the Cardinals, their willingness to move on from him in exchange for a negligible draft pick shows his lack of impact as a starting linebacker.

The Giants, meanwhile, moved him back to safety and used him extensively on special teams, giving him more than 350 teams snaps combined over the past two years. Simmons did earn NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the Giants’ 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks in week 5 last season, almost entirely thanks to him leaping over the line of scrimmage and blocking a would-be game-tying field goal that a Giants teammate then returned for a touchdown.

If Simmons were to sign in Green Bay, it would likely be for a veteran minimum or veteran salary benefit contract. Simmons would not be in line for a starting job, instead likely putting his impressive athleticism to use as a special teams contributor for coordinator Rich Bisaccia. There would also be an open question as to which position he would be assigned to on defense as well.

The Packers just signed linebacker Kristian Welch to a similar low-level free agent contract, likely counting on him to be a reserve linebacker and core special teams player. If Simmons does sign with the Packers, he may end up on a comparable deal and could give Welch competition on teams as well as push him for a backup linebacker spot.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...simmons-visiting-packers-on-monday-per-report

 

[Green Bay Packers]

NFL announces 2025 Draft attendees for Green Bay

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Miami quarterback Cam Ward, the assumed first overall pick, will be in Green Bay for the draft

FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz reported earlier this offseason that the NFL only planned on bringing 8-10 prospects to the draft in Green Bay. That was clearly bad information, as the NFL announced their full slate of players on Monday, which featured 17 total players and 12 of the 20 top-ranked players on the consensus draft board.

The 17 prospects that will attend next week’s NFL Draft in Green Bay: pic.twitter.com/dYV9sfVZNt

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 14, 2025​

Below are the players who the league is sending to Green Bay, including their current rank on the consensus draft board:

Players attending the draft in Green Bay​

• Cam Ward, QB, Miami (#1 on consensus board)
• Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State (#2)
• Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado (#3)
• Mason Graham, iDL, Michigan (#5)
• Will Campbell, OL, LSU (#6)
• Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State (#7)
• Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona (#11)
• Will Johnson, CB, Michigan (#12)
• Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia (#15)
• Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M (#16)
• Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama (#19)
• Matthew Golden, WR, Texas (#20)
• Malaki Starks, S, Georgia (#21)
• Josh Simmons, OL, Ohio State (#24)
• Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss (#27)
• Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama (#30)
• Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama (#41)

The biggest surprise, by far, is Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, the only player who is not a projected top-30 player in the class. If a team doesn’t bite on Milroe earlier than expected, expect to see him receive a lot of air time in the green room as he waits out a call.

Among the invites are Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan, a player who held a private workout that was only visited by one sitting NFL general manager — the Packers’ Brian Gutekunst. Green Bay also brought in Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams, Texas A&M defensive end Shemar Stewart, Texas receiver Matthew Golden and Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons on pre-draft visits, so there will be some familiarity with these players, too.

Below are the top-ranked players who won’t be coming to Green Bay next week:

Notable players who won’t be in Green Bay for the draft​

• Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (#4)
• Armand Membou, OL, Missouri (#8)
• Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (#9)
• Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia (#10)
• Kelvin Banks, OL, Texas (#13)
• Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas (#14)
• Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall (#17)
• Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan (#18)

The story of the draft is going to be where Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders goes. Instead of attending, though, we’ll have to catch glimpses of him in Boulder, where he plans to have a private draft party. His teammate, Travis Hunter, the Heisman winner who very well might be the top non-quarterback off of the board, will be in Green Bay. As far as we know, with 21 of the Packers’ 30 visits reported, none of these players had pre-draft visits with Green Bay this offseason.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...-news-green-bay-travis-hunter-shedeur-sanders

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Packers bring in NFL Draft’s top receiver for visit

Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Green Bay hasn’t drafted a 1st-round receiver since Javon Walker in 2002

According to CheeseheadTV’s Aaron Nagler, the Green Bay Packers brought in Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan for a pre-draft visit on Tuesday. This isn’t the first time that the Packers have been linked to McMillan, who held a private workout on the campus of Arizona last month, which was attended by just one NFL general manager — Green Bay’s Brian Gutekunst.

At the moment, McMillan is the 11th-ranked overall prospect on the consensus board, a fall from his peak of the number five spot. He’s ranked ahead of Texas’ Matthew Golden (20th) and Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka (33rd) as the top receiver at the position. Like McMillan, both Golden and Egbuka also took pre-draft visits with the Packers this offseason.

So how realistic is it that McMillan is even on the board when Green Bay is on the clock with the 23rd overall pick? It depends on who you ask. Generally, McMillan still hovers around the top 10 selections of the 2025 draft in mock drafts, but some respected analysts — like NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah — have him ranked around the 20th-best player in the class following offseason workouts.

While McMillan didn’t put up poor numbers in workouts, he didn’t record eye-popping numbers that players like Golden did during the pre-draft process, either. At 6’4” and 219 pounds, McMillan ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. While 2022 eighth overall pick Drake London never ran a 40-yard dash during his pre-draft process, the 6’4”, 219-pounder was ballparked in that range. For what it’s worth, Davante Adams ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash at 6’1” and 212 pounds and turned out fine in the NFL.

So while some teams might be spooked by McMillan’s top-end speed, the Packers do not appear to be one of them. This shouldn’t be a surprise, considering that Green Bay has put a lot more value into size than speed under head coach Matt LaFleur. When you need receivers who are 210-ish pounds to play in a run-first offense, you can sacrifice a little bit of speed.

McMillan was a 2024 All-American and has been named an all-conference player in both the Pac-12 and Big 12 over the last two seasons. Despite only playing college football for three seasons, he recorded 213 receptions for 3,423 yards and 26 touchdowns in his career with the Wildcats.

If the Packers draft McMillan in the first round, it will be the first receiver they’ve taken in the first since Javon Walker all the way back in the 2002 draft. Before then, Sterling Sharpe in 1988 was the team’s last first-round receiver.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...an-visit-nfl-draft-2025-arizona-wide-receiver

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Packers Athletic Thresholds Board: Linebackers and Corners

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

With depth needed in the back seven, who matches up to Green Bay’s typical preferences?

It is that time of year once again, with the combine and pro days now in the rearview mirror, the Green Bay Packers athletic thresholds big board can ride once again. This year, it will be broken down into individual articles, with more explanations provided. The time period used to generate the thresholds begins when Ted Thompson took over for the Packers back in 2005 and runs through the entirety of Brian Gutekunst’s tenure. Despite being part of the same tree, Ron Wolf’s tenure is not included as athletic testing data from the 1990s is much more sparse.

We wrap up our series today with the back seven. I’m excluding safeties this year, since I’d be pretty stunned if Green Bay targeted the position in the top 150 given their room is pretty full with three second-year players and Xavier McKinney.

Linebacker Criteria​

Green Bay is not overly picky at linebacker, and has had many different body types. Because the Packers haven’t used prime draft capital on the position until recent years, the historical data is a lot of pretty big guys that move pretty well, which, with Quay Walker and Edgerrin Coope,r became pretty long guys that move extremely well. On the flip side, they’ve also drafted Isaiah McDuffie, who is a traffic barrel, a stout run defender who is much more modest athletically, which we’ve unfortunately seen any time he’s asked to drop back into coverage. We’re looking at a minimum weight of 225 pounds, so no dime backer/basically safeties on this list. A minimum forty-yard dash time of 4.65, and at least passable agilities with a 4.4 or better in the shuttle and 7.3 or better in the three-cone.

NOTE: Green highlighting means they met all criteria, yellow means they narrowly missed on one or were trending towards completion but did not complete all the necessary drills, white means they did not complete enough testing to indicate one way or another

With Edgerrin Cooper looking like a star, and Quay Walker’s play improving in the back half of last season, I wouldn’t expect Green Bay to spend prime draft capital at the position, which means it is a good bet that the depth reinforcements will come on day three. Good news for Green Bay is that a bunch of players meet their typical criteria at that point, with players like Barrett Carter, Jack Kiser, Kobe King, Teddye Buchanan, and Cody Simon checking all of the boxes. Depth and competition for Isaiah McDuffie will most likely come in rounds 4-6, where these players are expected to be taken.

Notable Prospects Failing: Chris Paul Jr (weight, agilities)

Cornerback Criteria​

Green Bay is pretty particular in the defensive backfield as a whole. You can’t be too short, you can’t be too light, you can’t be too slow, and you can’t be too stiff. The Mendoza line for the Packers was Jaire Alexander, measuring in at 5’10 2/8”. The Packers haven’t drafted a corner under 190 pounds since before I was born. They don’t ask for pure speed demons, but no one runs worse than 4.57 in the forty, and most players run sub-4.5. In the three-cone, they’re looking for guys who don’t turn like battleships, so sub-7.1 seconds.

NOTE: Green highlighting means they met all criteria, yellow means they narrowly missed on one or were trending towards completion but did not complete all the necessary drills, white means they did not complete enough testing to indicate one way or another

Like many of the other positions, no one wants to run the three-cone. Only ten three-cones at the cornerback position this year for combine invitees, and only twelve ran the shuttle. Everyone is scared of the agility drills. Because of that, we don’t have many players that check all the boxes. Only Darien Porter, a converted wide receiver with alien measurables, is in the top 100. Nohl Williams and Caleb Ransaw might be options early on day three. This position is defined by injuries, with Will Johnson, Shavon Revel, and Benjamin Morrison all unable to participate in the testing due to injury. This has also allowed Jahdae Barron to slide up boards simply because he’s a healthy corner that isn’t Travis Hunter, despite the fact he’s quite small for an outside corner.

With Green Bay going into the season with some combination of Nate Hobbs, Keisean Nixon, and one of the trio of Jaire Alexander, Carrington Valentine, or Javon Bullard (in the slot) as the starting trio, it is more likely that this position is to either fill in depth behind them or looking ahead to replacing Nixon in 2026, as he is a pending free agent.

Notable Prospects Failing: Travis Hunter (weight), Maxwell Hairston (weight), Azareye’h Thomas (forty), Jacob Parrish (height)

NOTE: Will Johnson had a private workout on April 15th, but we do not have verified numbers at this time

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...etic-thresholds-board-linebackers-and-corners

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Packers Mock Draft 5.0 Voting: 3rd Round

Photo by Luke Lu/Diamond Images via Getty Images

Green Bay takes Iowa State receiver Jayden Higgins in the 2nd round of our 5.0 mock draft

A consensus is starting to build. For the second time in a row, fans here at Acme Packing Company have voted for the Green Bay Packers to take Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen in the first round and Iowa State receiver Jayden Higgins in the second round of a mock draft simulation. It’s hard to argue with the results, considering how much of a scheme fit Higgins would be in Green Bay at 6’4” and 214 pounds with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash. The Packers certainly need speed at receiver, and head coach Matt LaFleur typically likes to play bigger wideouts.

With that said, we’re onto the third round of voting in our 5.0 mock draft. We’re using the Pro Football Network mock draft simulator, so the availability of players will be based on their rankings.

Here’s how previous community mock drafts have played out:

APC Mock Draft 1.0​

• 1st: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
• 2nd: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
• 3rd: Savion Williams, WR, TCU

APC Mock Draft 2.0​

• 1st: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
• 2nd: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
• 3rd: Charles Grant, OL, William & Mary

APC Mock Draft 3.0​

• 1st: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
• 2nd: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
• 3rd: Charles Grant, OL, William & Mary

APC Mock Draft 4.0​

• 1st: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
• 2nd: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
• 3rd: Charles Grant, OL, William & Mary

Below are the top players available, according to PFN, with the Packers on the clock with their original third-round selection:

Top Players Available​

• #63: T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina
• #81: Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville
• #83: Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M
• #87: Josiah Stewart, DE, Michigan
• #88: Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas
• #90: Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami
• #92: Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon
• #93: Jordan Burch, DE, Oregon
• #94: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
• #95: Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech
• #96: Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon
• #97: Kyle Kennard, DE, South Carolina
• #98: Dylan Fairchild, OL, Georgia
• #100: Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State

Three players who stick out here are South Carolina’s T.J. Sanders, Oregon’s Jordan Burch and Colorado State’s Tory Horton. All are graded as top-100 players according to PFN and were brought in on pre-draft visits for the Packers.

The player who receives the comment with the most “rec”s in the comment section below will be awarded to the Packers. You can sign up for our comment section with THIS link.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...kers-2-25-nfl-mock-draft-5-0-voting-3rd-round

 

[Green Bay Packers]

NFL Draft 2025: Schedule and event details for Draft Weekend in Green Bay

Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The NFL has released details for the events surrounding the upcoming draft.

With the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay now less than two weeks away, football fans planning to attend the event finally have a full schedule of events for the league’s premier offseason event. With Lambeau Field set as the backdrop for the weekend, the city is set to welcome over 100,000 fans for the event.

Around the actual selections themselves, there is a massive batch of other events and experiences for football fans to enjoy.

Here is the complete schedule of official events taking place during Draft Week around Green Bay. (Note: all listed times are Central Time.)

NFL Draft 2025 Schedule​

Thursday, April 24​

Round 1
Start time: 7:00 PM

Friday, April 25​

Rounds 2-3
Start time: 6:00 PM

Saturday, April 26​

Rounds 4-7
Start time: 11:00 AM

Note: All days of the draft will be televised live on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, and NFL+.

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NFL Draft Experience​

The area immediately surrounding Lambeau Field, the Titletown District, and the Draft Theater will be referred to as the NFL Draft Experience and will be open throughout all three days of the draft. Here is the description from the NFL’s press release:

The NFL Draft Experience offers an exciting, immersive festival featuring interactive activations such as high jump challenges, the 40-yard dash, and more, alongside NFL Hall of Fame exhibits. Fans can meet NFL stars and Legends, including Packers players, and capture unforgettable moments with the Vince Lombardi Trophy and all 58 Super Bowl rings. The Play 60 Zone and Titletown will host NFL FLAG drills, skills challenges, and football clinics for younger fans. With activities for all ages, the NFL Draft Experience is the ultimate celebration of football, culture, and community.

Fans can enjoy a variety of food options throughout the NFL Draft Experience, with local food trucks and restaurants set to provide guests with a taste of Wisconsin’s vibrant culinary and “supper club” scene throughout.

The NFL Draft Experience will open at 12:00 Noon on Thursday and Friday and at 9:00 AM on Saturday. Fans attending the draft must register in advance at NFL.com/draftaccess or the NFL OnePass app. Entry and attendance is free.

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Draft Schedule Details​

Thursday, April 24​

NFL Draft Red Carpet: 4:00 PM​

Prospects in attendance will make their televised entrances to the green room down the Red Carpet, which will be placed inside Lambeau Field itself. Viewing of the Red Carpet entrance will be available from the stands inside the stadium.

Other Pre-Draft Events​

The following events will take place at the Draft stage ahead of the start of round one:

• A Wisconsin-based youth choir will perform the hymn “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
• National Anthem performance by singer-songwriter Stephen Wilson, Jr.
• Flyover by the Wisconsin Army National Guard
• Current and former Packers players will join Commissioner Roger Goodell to formally open the draft

Thursday Draft Schedule: Round 1​

• Begins at 7:00 PM
• 10 minutes per selection

Friday, April 25​

Friday Draft Schedule: Rounds 2-3​

• Begins at 6:00 PM
• Round 2: 7 minutes per selection
• Round 3: 5 minutes per selection

Post-Draft Activities​

A drone show will light up the Green Bay sky after the conclusion of round three on Friday night.

Saturday, April 26​

Pre-Draft Activities​

• Bike Parade (8:00 AM — 9:00 AM) — Young fans can participate in the Packers’ training camp tradition by riding their bikes around the NFL Draft Experience grounds before gates open.
• NFL Farmer’s Market (8:00 AM — 11:00 AM): More than 60 vendors from across the state of Wisconsin will be set up along South Washington Street in downtown Green Bay.

Saturday Draft Schedule: Rounds 4-7​

• Begins at 11:00 AM
• Rounds 4 through 6: 5 minutes per selection
• Round 7: 4 minutes per selection

Highlights during Saturday of the draft include:

• Wisconsin Humane Society puppy adoptions on-stage
• Military enlistment ceremony
• Oneida Smoke Dancers performance
• University of Wisconsin Marching Band performances
• Polka Band and Dance Group performance
• Cheese Carving demonstrations
• Packers legends available
• Surprise celebrity guests

Post-Draft​

Following the conclusion of the draft on Saturday, the NFL will host a concert at the Draft Theater, headlined by country artist Brad Paisley.

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Locations of Events​

Entry to the NFL Draft Experience and Draft Theater​

• Fan Entry #1: Located to the West of the site at the top of Titletown off Lombardi Ave by the U.S. Venture Center.
• Fan Entry #2: Located to the south of the site at the intersection of South Ridge Road & Valley View Road. Directly across the street from Kroll’s West and Packers Lot 10.

Draft Site Plan​

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...-event-details-for-draft-weekend-in-green-bay

 

[Green Bay Packers]

NFL Draft: Every prospect who the Packers coached this offseason

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images

Texas A&M DE Shemar Stewart was taught by a Packers coach at the Senior Bowl

Since the 2025 NFL Draft is only a week away now, and we have a better grasp on where players are expected to come off of the board, I figured it would be a good time to revisit the players that the Green Bay Packers’ coaching staff got their hands on during the all-star games. In total, four Packers coaches were able to coach in the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl, giving Green Bay unique insight into how dozens of players work with NFL coaching.

We’re going to break down which coaches coached which prospects, the coaches’ backgrounds, notable players under their tutelage and include every player’s ranking on the consensus draft board.

Jason Vrable, Offensive Coordinator - Senior Bowl (National)​

Vrable has been in Green Bay since 2019, when he started off as an offensive assistant for the Packers. Since then, he’s worked up to the titles of wide receiver coach before earning the passing game coordinator tag.

Quarterbacks​

• #75: Tyler Shough, Louisville
• #163: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
• #440: Taylor Elgersma, Wilfrid Laurier (Visit)

Running Backs​

• #118: Damien Martinez, Miami
• #122: Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
• #129: Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
• #209: Jo’Quavious Marks, USC
• #233: Donovan Edwards, Michigan
• #237: LeQuint Allen Jr., Syracuse

Wide Receivers​

• #49: Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
• #63: Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
• #90: Kyle Williams, Washington State
• #108: Tez Johnson, Oregon
• #121: Xavier Restrepo, Miami
• #173: Pat Bryant, Illinois
• #189: Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
• #300: Da’Quan Felton, Virginia Tech

Tight Ends​

• #73: Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
• #97: Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
• #264: Moliki Matavao, UCLA
• #322: Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh

Offensive Linemen​

• #27: Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
• #35: Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
• #48: Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
• #71: Marcus Mbow, Purdue
• #78: Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
• #85: Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College
• #98: Anthony Belton, North Carolina State (Visit)
• #136: Caleb Rogers, Texas Tech
• #152: Jalen Rivers, Miami
• #153: Jalen Travis, Iowa State
• #444: Jonah Monheim, USC

In the context of the Packers’ draft needs, it should be noted that Vrable got to work with three receivers who are projected to go in the top-100 of next week’s draft and seven offensive linemen. Two of the players he coached, Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma and North Carolina State left tackle Anthony Belton, were brought in on pre-draft visits with Green Bay.

Wendel Davis, Linebacker/Edge Coach - Senior Bowl (American)​

The linebackers/edge coach for the team that played Vrable’s squad in the Senior Bowl is current Packers quality control coach Wendel Davis, who served as a graduate assistant at Georgia from 2016 to 2018. His time with the Bulldogs overlapped with future Packers in Mecole Hardman, John FitzPatrick, Brenton Cox Jr., Devonte Wyatt, Quay Walker and Eric Stokes.

Edge Defenders​

• #16: Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M (Visit)
• #55: Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss
• #92: Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
• #115: Jared Ivey, Ole Miss
• #120: Sai’vion Jones, LSU
• #154: Barryn Sorrell, Texas
• #232: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Georgia
• #298: R.J. Oben, Notre Dame
• #331: Jaled McLeod, Auburn
• #411: Danny Striggow, Minnesota

Linebackers​

• #65: Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina
• #125: Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia
• #166: Jack Kiser, Notre Dame
• #252: Shemar James, Florida
• #270: Eugene Asante, Auburn

The most interesting prospect, by far, that Davis got to work with was Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart, an all-world athlete who the Packers have brought in on a pre-draft visit. Three other American team defenders earned visits to Green Bay this offseason, though Davis didn’t get to work hands-on with them as they didn’t play the positions he was coaching up in practice: Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen, South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders and Ole Miss safety Trey Amos.

Eddie Gordon, Offensive Line Coach — East-West Shrine Bowl (East)​

Like Davis, Eddie Gordon was another coach who spent time in Georgia, though they never overlapped. Gordon was with the Bulldogs as a quality control coach from 2019 to 2022 before becoming UAB’s offensive line coach in 2023. He was hired to be Green Bay’s assistant offensive line coach in 2024.

• #185: Joshua Gray, Oregon State
• #261: Xavier Truss, Georgia
• #274: Bryce Cabeldue, Kansas
• #275: Gerad Christian-Lichte, Oregon State
• #291: Joe Huber, Wisconsin
• #350: Jordan Williams, Georgia Tech
• #364: Dalton Cooper, Oklahoma State (Visit)
• #374: Thomas Perry, Middlebury
• #385: Esa Pole, Washington State (Visit)
• #413: Sal Wormley, Penn State
• #415: Gareth Warren, Lindenwood
• #466: Aiden Williams, Minnesota-Duluth

The only player who is considered a draftable player per the consensus draft board in this group is Oregon State’s Joshua Gray, but the Packers bring in two of these players, Oklahoma State’s Dalton Cooper and Washington State’s Esa Pole, on pre-draft visits. Pole is a late riser, a player who didn’t give up a sack last season and never played football at the high school level, despite several family members making it to the college and NFL levels.

Sean Duggan, Linebackers Coach — East-West Shrine Bowl (East)​

Sean Duggan has been attached to Jeff Hafley’s hip for some years now. He served Hafley on his Ohio State and Boston College staffs in the roles of graduate assistant, linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator. He was a defensive assistant in Green Bay in 2024 and was promoted to linebackers coach in 2025 following the loss of Anthony Campanile as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive coordinator. He filled in as the linebackers coach of the East team in the East-West Shrine Bowl.

• #104: Chris Paul Jr., Mississippi
• #257: Kain Medrano, UCLA
• #265: Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky
• #303: Francisco Mauigoa, Miami
• #337: Carson Bruener, Washington
• #487: Deshawn Pace, UCF
• #682: Matt Jones, Baylor

The only notable name that he was able to coach at the game is undersized Ole Miss linebacker Chris Paul Jr., who is expected to be a third- or fourth-round pick. As of now, no defenders on the East team have reportedly been brought into Green Bay for a pre-draft visit.

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Hopefully, the Packers found some hidden gems at these all-star games. Right now, it seems to be worth noting that Green Bay is revisiting Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart, North Carolina State’s Anthony Belton, Oklahoma State’s Dalton Cooper, Washington State’s Esa Pole and Wilfrid Laurier’s Taylor Elgersma late in the draft process. While Cooper, Pole and Taylor could have been brought in on undrafted recruiting visits, Stewart is very much a potential first-round target for the team. Belton has gone as high as the second round in Mel Kiper’s mock drafts.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...ospects-coached-all-star-games-shemar-stewart

 

[Green Bay Packers]

NFL Draft: Attendee list for Green Bay changes again

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

DE Mykel Williams and QB Jaxson Dart are no longer on the list for Green Bay

The NFL’s list of prospects attending the 2025 NFL Draft is more fluid this year than it has been in the past. Usually, when the NFL announces the list of attendees, it’s locked in and final.

Earlier this week, the NFL published a list of 17 players who will be at the event. Since then, it has been reported that Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston was added to the list of players accepting the trip to Green Bay.

In a recent update, the NFL has confirmed the addition of Hairston, but two other players have been left off of their list of attendees: Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart and Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams. Apparently, Dart and Williams had a change of heart.

Below is the updated list of players who are expected to travel to Green Bay for the event:

• Cam Ward, QB, Miami (#1 on consensus board)
• Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State (#2)
• Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado (#3)
• Mason Graham, iDL, Michigan (#5)
• Will Campbell, OL, LSU (#6)
• Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State (#7)
• Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona (#11)
• Will Johnson, CB, Michigan (#12)
• Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M (#16)
• Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama (#19)
• Matthew Golden, WR, Texas (#20)
• Malaki Starks, S, Georgia (#21)
• Josh Simmons, OL, Ohio State (#24)
• Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama (#30)
• Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky (#36)
• Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama (#41)

Top 20 prospects who won’t be going to the draft this year are listed below:

• Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (#4)
• Armand Membou, OL, Missouri (#8)
• Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (#9)
• Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia (#10)
• Kelvin Banks, OL, Texas (#13)
• Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas (#14)
• Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia (#15)
• Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall (#17)
• Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan (#18)

Hopefully, more players don’t drop out of attending. It was previously reported that the NFL only wanted 8-10 players at the event, but the draft day roster is at 16 players now after being at 17 initially.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...ending-update-2025-mykel-williams-jaxson-dart

 

[Green Bay Packers]

Emeka Egbuka Is The Perfect Packer

Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images

The Ohio State Swiss Army Knife would bring needed versatility to a specialized receiving corps.

The single biggest issue with the current crop of Green Bay Packer wide receivers is that they are all confined to specific roles. Christian Watson may never play another down for the team, depending on his recovery from injury, but he’s an outside burner and gadget player more than anything. Romeo Doubs is a solid outside possession receiver. Dontayvion Wicks separates like Davante Adams but can’t hang onto the ball. And Jayden Reed is confined exclusively to slot duty.

This is all extremely against the overall philosophy of both Matt LaFleur, and mentor Kyle Shanahan, who prefer players to flip from diverse pass-catching phenoms to power-run-blocking road-graders.

Enter Emeka Egbuka, surely the strangest and most underrated Ohio State wide receiver of the last five years. Ohio State recruits and develops receivers better than any other university, and almost every receiver who enters the NFL is at worst above average, with stars routine, including Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Marvin Harrison, and current phenom Jeremiah Smith still in school. Outside of Egbuka, every one of these players has served as the primary alpha dog at some point, and his peers have always excelled to an absurd degree. But, while he’s never been the best player on his team, Egbuka has always been there; he’s been instrumental to the success of Ohio State, and at a position that almost demands some level of “alpha-dogness,” Egbuka is perhaps the ultimate standout for his focus on team over personal.

As a freshman on a team with JSN, Wilson, Olave, Harrison, and a host of other great college players, Egbuka (in a small sample size) dominated the lesser competition he faced, catching 9 of his 10 targets for over 21 yards per catch. As a sophomore, called on to be more of a deep threat with CJ Stroud at quarterback, he averaged over 15 yards per catch and scored 10 TDs, second on the team to Marvin Harrison. He was injured off and on for the 2023 season, and missed some time, but in 2024 with Jeremiah Smith dominating outside, he played more of a slot role, gaining over 1000 yards at a higher volume, but lower Y/R.

While Egbuka has never been the star, he has done everything else. He’s played every position a receiver can play in order to highlight the skills of his teammates. He can play a dominant outside game as a deep threat or a possession role making tough grabs over the middle. He can dominate the slot, and at the NFL level, would be one of the biggest and best athletes at the position when playing inside. His blocking could use some work, but it’s hardly a disaster, and he’s willing to get his hands dirty.

The main case against Egbuka seems to center around his selflessness. Most receivers insist upon themselves, and his sidekick role at Ohio State will be seen by many as a weakness. That’s a mistake. While the Packers could, perhaps, use one of the bigger outside receivers like Jayden Higgins or Tet McMillan, Matt LaFleur could also use a Swiss army knife like Egbuka to move around when formations shift without losing effectiveness. The only real dual threat on the Packers at the moment is Tucker Kraft, and adding a player like Egbuka would open all sorts of interesting possibilities. Even his RAS, which adds up to a dominant 9.72 is sort of underwhelming when you go category by category.

Always remember that when scouting receivers, Ohio State doesn’t take B-level guys. Everyone who gets on the field for the Buckeyes is elite. That Egbuka made his role with the team more of a support player to his elite teammates could, in certain circumstances, reflect poorly on his leadership or “alphaness.” But just look at how he succeeded. His counting stats are great, his efficiency stats are great, he’s a champion, and he made all of his teammates better. He’s a late first rounder on the consensus board and Dane Brugler has him as WR 4. He’s underrated, and if he lasts into the second round, every team that passes on him has made a mistake.

Source: https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/...meka-egbuka-wide-receiver-ohio-state-buckeyes