The Green Bay Packers hold the 25th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Throughout the franchise’s history, they have selected in that spot three times in the first round and the results have been quite mixed. Here is a look back at the Packers history with the 25th overall pick in the first round and how each of those players panned out in the NFL. We will also mention one player selected 25th who was not a first-round pick. Picks are listed in chronological order starting with the most recent.
Packers History with the 25th Overall Pick Number One: 2004, DB Ahmad Carroll
The Packers selected defensive back Ahmad Carroll with the 25th overall pick in 2004. The team was looking for help in the secondary and his 4.34 speed made him an intriguing candidate for coach/GM Mike Sherman.
Carroll earned a spot in the lineup in his first NFL season, starting 11 games in his rookie campaign. He even made his first career interception off the Rams Marc Bulgar in the Packers Week 12 win over St. Louis. In that same game, Carroll also scooped up a fumble and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown which gave the Pack an early 7-0 lead.
Unfortunately, Carroll struggled with consistency and he was often flagged for interference and illegal contact penalties. The Packers let him go four games into the 2006 season after he gave up two touchdown passes and was called for three penalties in a bad Week 4 loss to the Eagles.
Carroll later played for the Jaguars and Jets and in Canada, but he never became a consistent player in the NFL.
Number Two: 1999 DB Antuan Edwards
The Packers selected three consecutive defensive backs in the first three rounds of the 1999 NFL Draft and the first of these was safety Antuan Edwards.
The former Clemson star spent five seasons with the Packers but didn’t become a full-time starter until his final season with the team in 2003 when he started 10 games.
Edwards had his moments with the Packers even if he never became a star. He scored a crucial pick six against the Vikings in his third career NFL game. Edwards intercepted Minnesota’s Randall Cunningham and returned it 26 yards for a score in the second quarter. That gave the Pack a 10-7 lead in a game they won 23-20. He had two interceptions in that game.
A knee injury cost Edwards most of the 2001 season and he only played three games that year. Injuries also cut short his 2003 campaign.
Edwards signed with Miami after the 2003 season and later played for the Rams and Falcons. He started 32 games in his seven seasons in the NFL and intercepted seven passes, all with the Packers.
Packers History with the 25th Overall Pick Number Three: 1967, QB Don Horn
With Bart Starr’s career winding down, head coach and GM Vince Lombardi selected San Diego State’s Don Horn to be the Packers heir apparent at quarterback. The Pack figured they would give Horn a few years to develop behind Starr and have the youngster take over when Starr’s career was finished.
Horn only saw action in four games during his first two NFL seasons but one of them denied the Bears a chance to win the division title in 1968.
His best game came in the 1969 season finale against the St. Louis Cardinals. Horn completed 22-of-31 passes for 410 yards and five touchdowns as the Packers crushed the Cards 45-28. He threw two touchdown passes to Boyd Dowler and two to Carroll Dale in the game.
Horn struggled in 1970, throwing just two touchdown passes and 10 interceptions in seven games. During the ensuing offseason, the Packers traded Horn to Denver. The trade worked well for the Packers. They acquired defensive end Alden Roche and the draft pick swap netted them running back John Brockington.
Horn played for Denver, Cleveland, and San Diego before finishing his career with the Portland Thunder of the World Football League. He started 15 games in his eight-year NFL career.
Bonus 25th Pick: 1959 WR Boyd Dowler
While this wasn’t a first-round pick, the Packers did add wide receiver Boyd Dowler with the 25th overall pick in the 1959 NFL Draft. That pick came in the third round.
Dowler earned AP Rookie of the Year honors in 1959 after averaging 17.2 yards per catch in his first NFL campaign.
The former Colorado star made two Pro Bowls and was a member of the NFL’s All-1960s Team. He played 11 seasons with the Packers and one with Washington. Dowler finished his career with 474 catches for 7,270 yards and 40 touchdowns. He was also a key contributor to all five of the Packers Lombardi Era championships.
Dowler was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1978. He later served as an assistant coach and a scout before retiring in 2007.
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