The Green Bay Packers added a highly disruptive and productive edge rusher in Mel Kiper’s first mock draft of the 2025 cycle. In his predictions posted to ESPN on Wednesday, Kiper sent Marshall edge rusher to the Packers at No. 23 overall in the first round of the 2025 draft.
Green, who is listed at 6-4 and just under 250 pounds, led the FBS in both sacks (17.0) and tackles for loss (22.5) in 2024. He created 155 lost yards across his 22.5 tackles for loss and 144 lost yards on 17 sacks. The AP named him a second-team All-American, and he was both the Sun Belt Player of the Year and the Marshall Team MVP.
The Packers have invested heavily in the defensive front through the draft, especially in the first round, but getting a disruptive and explosive edge rusher with legitimate collegiate production could help complete the group and supercharge the pass-rush entering 2025.
From Kiper: “Who knows who was the last first-round pick out of Marshall?You have to go back to 2003, when quarterback Byron Leftwich went No. 7. Leftwich is one of three Marshall first-rounders of the common draft era (since 1967), joining Chad Pennington (2000) and Randy Moss (1998). So it says something that Green could join that group. Green ranked in the top 10 nationally in sacks (17, first), tackles for loss (22, second) and pressure rate (15.5%, ninth). He wins with speed-to-power, and he displays good bend and strong hands. Despite tying for eighth in sacks (45), the Packers were 22nd in
pressure rate (29.8%) and 26th in pass rush win rate (34.8%). This feels like a good fit.”
Four of “my guys” in this draft class. Prospects I’m guessing I’ll be higher on than most (based on the tape):
Armand Membou, OT/G, Missouri
Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas St. pic.twitter.com/dJowALkh5x— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 7, 2025
Green, a transfer from Virginia, set the new Sun Belt record with 17.0 sacks in 2024. He also forced three fumbles and led the nation in total tackles by a defensive lineman. PFF gave Green an elite 92.4 overall grade and credited him with 59 total pressures across 356 pass-rushing snaps. His 59 total pressured ranked ninth among all FBS players, and his pass-rush win rate of 20.1 percent ranked eighth.
From Packers Wire draft analyst Brennen Rupp: “Green would give Green Bay’s pass rush a different flavor. He’s a twitched up edge rusher with an explosive first step. Green led the nation in sacks with 17 and also had 56 pressures. He may be too light for Green Bay’s liking. He started the season at 248 and it will be interesting to see what he checks in at during the Senior Bowl and Combine. There is no doubt though that he’d add immediate juice to Green Bay’s pass rush.”
Edge rusher is going to be a common fit for the Packers in the early rounds of the 2025 draft. Rashan Gary was excellent against the run but failed to be consistently disruptive as a pass-rusher, Lukas Van Ness didn’t take a big second-year jump, Preston Smith was traded for a draft pick at the deadline and other edge rushers such Kingsley Enagbare, Brenton Cox Jr. and Arron Mosby are probably best as rotational options.
The Packers fired defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich, and both Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst suggested the team has enough talent up front to get the job done for Jeff Hafley. But passing on a player at a premium spot like edge rusher might be tough for Gutekunst as he attempts to help the Packers go from good to great in 2025.
Keep an eye on Green as he goes through the draft process. He’ll need to pair his impressive college stats at Marshall with the right combination of measurable athletic traits to land in Green Bay come April.