The 2025 NFL Draft will be here in a little more than a week. The Packers are excited to be hosting the draft for the first time. As of now, the Green Bay Packers have the 23rd overall pick in the first round and eight picks overall. This is the first in a series of articles looking at players the Packers may be interested in selecting in the early rounds of this year’s draft. The only players listed here are realistic possibilities for the Packers GM Brian Gutekunst to pick in the first or second round of the draft or who fill specific needs for the team right now. Today we will examine defensive ends. Here are five defensive ends the Packers could select in the early rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The State of the Packers Defensive Ends Entering the 2025 NFL Draft
The Packers starters are currently Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare. Gary led the team with 7.5 sacks. The next players in the rotation are Brenton Cox and former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness. The Packers are hopeful Cox and Van Ness can take a step forward this season.
Enagbare enters the final year of his contract and can become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
So here is a list of possible defensive ends the Packers may take early in the 2025 draft. They are not listed in any particular order. These are not the best available players but are players the Packers could take if they use the 23rd pick or trade up grab them a bit sooner.
Defensive Ends the Packers Could Select in the Early Rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, Number One: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Donovan Ezeiruaku represents the opposite of what the Packers have typically done under Gutekunst. He has been exceptionally productive in college but possesses good but not elite athletic traits. He recorded 16.5 sacks for Boston College last season in 12 games.
At 6’2” and 248 pounds, he is lighter than the Packers typically prefer in their defensive ends. He may be best utilized as a passing down specialist, especially early in his career as his lack of size makes him vulnerable against the run.
Ezeiruaku possesses a variety of moves and should add juice to any team’s pass rush fairly quickly.
Most scouts project him as a late first or early second round selection so he would fit in well if he’s still on the board when the Packers pick at 23.
Number Two: James Pearce, Tennessee
The good news is that James Pearce possesses the athletic skills the Packers covet. He has an RAS of 9.4. He ran a 4.47 in the 40-yard dash and recorded 7.5 sacks last season for the Vols.
Pearce plays the run well although he may need to learn to shed blockers better at the NFL level. He’s 6’5” but weighs just 243 which again makes him lighter than the Packers typically prefer. While Pearce has elite athletic ability, he needs to develop more moves and improve his technique to reach his potential in the NFL.
Pearce has some character concerns that the Packers need to consider.
Talent-wise, he is a first-round player, but some teams may be removing him from their draft boards.
Defensive Ends the Packers Could Select in the Early Rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, Number Three: Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Shemar Stewart has an RAS of 10.0, an elite score. He also has more bulk, at 6’4”, 280-pounds than the previous two players on this list.
Because he has elite athletic tools, Stewart needs to work on his technique a bit more. In college, he could win with his raw athleticism. He will need more than that to consistently rush the passer in the NFL. The traits are there, but Stewart didn’t have great productivity in college. He managed only 5.5 sacks last season for Texas A&M.
Stewart loves to knock down passes and plays the run well. He has a great motor and never stops hustling. Stewart also possesses the versatility the Packers love and can play several positions along the defensive line.
Scouts compare Stewart to Rashan Gary which means he represents the kind of talent the Packers typically value. The Packers may have to trade up a bit to get him.
Number Four: Landon Jackson, Arkansas
Most scouts view Landon Jackson as a second-round pick but he could also go late in the first round. At 6’5” and 271 pounds, he has good size and strength for the position. Jackon’s strength is the power rush.
Jackson has a 9.78 RAS, which puts him where the Packers like their edge rushers. He recorded 6.5 sacks in each of his last two seasons in college.
His height can work against him when blockers gain leverage by getting under his pads. He does a good job of reading plays in the backfield and getting into the right position to make plays.
Jackson should play as a rookie and carve out a solid roll, but he may need time to become a strong pass rusher in the NFL.
Defensive Ends the Packers Could Select in the Early Rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, Number Five: Mykel Williams, Georgia
Mykel Williams hasn’t tested enough to have an RAS, but 6’5”, 265-pound Georgia star may be the top defensive end on the board. He is only 20 years old, making him one of the youngest prospects eligible for this year’s draft.
Williams has outstanding athleticism and size and never stops hustling. Recorded five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss last season for the Bulldogs. He possesses multiple moves that can beat blockers but has yet to use them properly to set up blockers.
Williams’ lack of productivity in college has to be a concern, but the tools are all there for him to be an elite NFL edge rusher.
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