It is fair to say that there are no gaping holes on the Green Bay Packers' roster as it stands today.
However, the upgrade of talent they could add at many positions via the first round of the NFL Draft cannot be understated. There is no obvious selection for the Packers, who hold the 23rd overall pick, with options such as wide receiver, cornerback, and edge-rusher likely on the table.
As Green Bay hosts the event just outside the legendary Lambeau Field, there will be plenty of the Packers faithful present and waiting to see who will wear green and gold in 2025.
Packers could be spoiled for choice when they hit the clock at No. 23 overall
Wide receiver
It would not be the NFL Draft if the Packers drafting a receiver in the first round had not been discussed. They haven't done so since selecting Javon Walker in 2002.
The Packers' receiving corps certainly could use a boost after an underwhelming season from the group as a whole, including crucial drops. Top talent in this draft class, such as Travis Hunter and Tetairoa McMillan, will likely be gone well before No. 23. There is additional talent in the first round, such as Matthew Golden and Luther Burden, but if the Packers were to draft one, Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka is the most intriguing.
At just over six feet and 200 pounds, Egbuka can play both in the slot and on the perimeter. The 22-year-old ran a 4.48 40-yard dash and earned a 9.72 Relative Athletic Score, scaled from 1-10. In 2024, Egbuka caught 81 passes for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns en route to winning the national championship with the Buckeyes.
The Packers brought Egbuka in for a pre-draft visit, indicating that there is at least some interest.
Cornerback
With Jaire Alexander's future still in question, drafting a first-round corner is on the table. Even with Alexander in a Packers uniform in 2025, they could use another piece to help bolster the secondary alongside cornerbacks Nate Hobbs, Carrington Valentine, and Keisean Nixon. Only two corners should truly be in consideration for the Packers' first-round selection: Michigan's Will Johnson and Texas' Jahdae Barron.
Johnson was a sure thing for a top-10 selection not too long ago. However, recent injury concerns and a refusal to run the 40-yard dash have made selecting Johnson a more complex choice. Johnson doesn't have top speed, but his 6-foot-2 frame and highly intelligent play style give him Pro Bowl potential.
The Michigan star is excellent in zone coverage due to his high intelligence, and he always works hard to fight through blocks, which the Packers value. With many projecting that Johnson could drop into the mid-to-late first round, Johnson falling into the Packers' lap is not out of the question.
Barron is another player with excellent football IQ who can play anywhere in the secondary, which the Packers value. At Texas, Barron played primarily in the slot in 2022 and 2023 before playing more on the outside in 2024.
He ran a 4.39 40-yard dash and is known for having excellent hands for deflecting passes, along with sharp footwork to match receivers' routes. Barron is also a great run-supporter and is a sure tackler who is not afraid to get physical. Barron is a complete player with fewer question marks than Johnson, which is why Barron may jump Johnson on teams' draft boards. Barron's versatility would add a lot to Green Bay's secondary and make the back-end that much more threatening.
Edge-rusher
This is a deep class for edge rushers. Green Bay desperately needed additional pass rush late into last season, with players like Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, and Kingsley Enagbare not doing enough overall. The importance of a quality pass-rusher cannot be overstated, and adding another piece to the front seven would take a lot of pressure off the Packers' talented secondary.
This class is highlighted by Penn State's Abdul Carter, Georgia's Jalon Walker, and Marshall's Mike Green, who should all be off the board long before pick 23.
A few notable edge-rushers that Green Bay could target include Georgia's Mykel Williams, Texas A&M's Shemar Stewart, Tennessee's James Pearce Jr., and Boston College's Donovan Ezeiruaku.
With so many notable edge-rushers projected to go in the mid-to-late first round, Green Bay could be spoiled for choice. The Packers are no strangers to taking pass-rush talent in the first round, having drafted Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness with top picks in recent years. In an NFC North division with some quality offensive lines, it would come as no surprise to see the Packers add to their front seven yet again.