Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst during the NFL combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
GREEN BAY, WI (WSAU) – As the world watched the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense dominate Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX, many teams, including the Packers, may begin looking to replicate the Eagles’ success by building an elite front seven and a young secondary of their own during the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Eagles were ranked toward the bottom of the NFL’s defensive rankings during the 2023-2024 season, mostly due to their inability to defend the pass, but were able to completely change that when they drafted Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean back-to-back during the 2024 NFL Draft and added Georgia pass rushers Jalen Carter and Nolen Smith Jr. the year before that, which played a huge part in the Eagles Super Bowl win, as defensive coordinator Vic Fangio didn’t blitz Patrick Mahomes but was still able to force Mahomes to drop back 42 times with a 52.4% pressure rate due to Jalen Carter, Milton Williams, and Josh Sweat dominating the Chiefs offensive line.
The Packers, of course, passed on DeJean twice, instead selecting offensive lineman Jordan Morgan and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper with the team’s first two picks, but many don’t expect GM Brian Gutekunst to make the same mistake in 2025.
According to the latest mock draft from CBS Sports Mike Renner, Ole Miss defensive lineman Walter Nolen would make the most sense for the Packers at 23 overall, saying, “The Packers love twitched-up defensive linemen, and Nolen fits that mold. He’s got the body type and the first step to be a game-changing three-technique in the NFL.”
Nolen, 21, the 19th ranked overall prospect on Pro Football Focus, met with the Packers during the Senior Bowl last month and has been called the most “slept-on” player in this year’s draft and has the skill set to give Jeff Hafley his own version of Jalen Carter. However, many are wondering if there is a player available this year who can be the next DeJean, with Texas’ cornerback/safety Jahdae Barron and South Carolina safety/linebacker Nick Emmanwori being the closest matches to date.
Emmanwori, who measures 6’3 and 227 lbs., was voted as a 2024 First-Team Associated Press All-American and was a unanimous First-Team All-SEC member. He has all the traits to be this year’s most versatile defensive prospect and had 244 career tackles and six interceptions, returning two for touchdowns during his time with the Gamecocks. Just like DeJean, scouts are torn on what position Emmanwori will play in the NFL, with many believing he’s the best fit to play safety, just like DeJean; however, due to his size, skill set and impressive playmaking ability, including his 4.38 forty-yard dash speed, Emmanwori would make a lot of sense to take over the nickel corner role and also fill in at inside linebacker for the Packers alongside Edgerrin Cooper.
Other first and second-round targets that Gutenkunst is expected to look at during this month’s NFL Combine include Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos, Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant, Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams, Texas wide receiver/kick and punt returner Isiah Bond, Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer, and East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel.
The NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, begins February 27th and runs through March 2nd.
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