Continuing on my journey to look ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft for the Green Bay Packers as early as possible, we come to a head with 10 names to keep an eye on during the upcoming college football season.
Pro Football Focus recently reviewed all 11 positions and selected the top 10 draft prospects from each. Here’s who they chose in Edge Rusher. For more information on each player, click Here.
James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
Abdul Carter of Pennsylvania
Jack Sawyer at Ohio State
JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss
Mykel Williams, Georgia
Patrick Payton, Florida State
Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina
At least where we stand right now, it doesn’t look like the Packers will need an edge rusher much in 2025, considering the top five players in that position group are under contract through at least next season.
Rashan Gary’s contract runs through the 2027 season. Lukas Van Ness’ contract runs through 2026, and the Packers have a team option through the 2027 season. Preston Smith’s contract also runs through 2026, while Kingsley Enagbare and Brenton Cox have contracts through 2025 r.
A potential wildcard that could change the calculation of this equation is that Smith will have a cap hit of $17.5 million in 2025, and if released, the Packers would save $7.626 million in cap space.
However, in this scenario, Smith still leaves behind a cap hit of almost $10 million. Until we see otherwise, I expect him to return next season with two years remaining on his contract, and as someone who has been extremely sturdy, will continue to be productive and a leader in the locker room.
We know this is a position that GM Brian Gutekunst values extremely highly. This is also a game under recent defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley where depth is essential given this group’s offensive style of play and the high turnover we expect each week.
These factors, combined with the fact that Enagbare and Cox will be in the final year of their contracts in 2025, could leave the door open to additions, but for now, I don’t see the Packers spending their first-round picks on the edge. next April.
The Packers currently have seven official picks in next year’s draft, one in each round, and are projected to receive a pick to compensate for the loss of Yosh Nijman in free agency, which would give them a total of eight picks.
