Green Bay is hosting the 2025 NFL Draft, which could add additional pressure on the Packers' front office to make a splash in front of the home crowd. The Packers have plenty of needs on the offensive side as they look to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2011.
Wide receiver is one of the biggest needs for this team, especially due to Christian Watson's injury leaving the team without a consistent downfield threat. Green Bay has not taken a receiver in the first round for over 20 years but did bolster its offensive line by selecting Jordan Morgan last year. The Packers could certainly look to add to their line, especially on the right side, where Sean Rhyan has been good, not great.
One on the other side of the coin, Green Bay is pretty set at quarterback, running back, and tight end.
Who could the team select with their first pick?
Possible Packers targets on offense if they trade in first round (or stay at No. 23)
Trade up: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Tetairoa McMillan is the top receiver prospect in the class, according to many draft experts' rankings. He stands at 6-foot-5 and ran a 4.55 40-yard dash at his pro day. McMillan was a high-volume receiver at Arizona, hauling in 84 receptions for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns in his final season with the Wildcats.
The Packers have shown interest but would likely need to trade up to have a shot at selecting him. Some mock drafts have McMillan going in the top 10, others in the 10-20 range. Brian Gutekunst was the only NFL GM at his private workout, and the team hosted the wideout on a Top 30 visit this week.
There is a chance McMillan will fall to Green Bay at 23, as many of the top pass-catchers in this draft are slot receivers and may be better fits for teams ahead of the Packers. That said, regardless of how it could happen, McMillan would be the perfect fit for Green Bay.
Stay put at No. 23: Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
Assuming McMillan is off the board, the Packers likely won't go receiver in the first round. The top receiving prospects outside of McMillan are mostly slot receivers, which Green Bay is pretty set on. After signing Aaron Banks to play left guard and moving Elgton Jenkins to center, the Packers could potentially upgrade at right guard.
This would make Grey Zabel a potential option for Green Bay at No. 23. Zabel spent time at four of the five offensive line spots in college at North Dakota State. Zabel's versatility would fit what Green Bay tends to look for in draft picks. He works best in pass sets and is great at passing off blocks, perfect for the zone-blocking scheme the Packers run.
Trade down: Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
Green Bay is not afraid to trade down, as we have seen many times in the past. Depending on how the board falls, the Packers may not be in love with any one player at No. 23 and try to acquire capital either late in the round or early in the second. This can save the team money on the rookie contract.
The Packers have done well with second-round receivers, with names like Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Christian Watson coming to mind.
If Green Bay trades down or perhaps goes defense in the first round, Elic Ayomanor could be the team's first offensive pick of the draft.
Ayomanor is a 6-foot-2 receiver out of Stanford who ran a 4.44-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He is coming off a redshirt sophomore season where he caught 63 passes for 831 yards and six touchdowns. He is one of the better pure route-runners in the draft class, with great hands and a proven ability to catch in traffic.
While Ayomanor may not have a great initial burst of speed, make no mistake, he is a downfield threat, much like Jordy Nelson. He is also a willing and proven run blocker, something the Packers highly value in their prospects.