The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2025 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers invested significant assets in the safety position last offseason. Brian Gutekunst went out and signed Xavier McKinney in free agency and then drafted Javon Bullard in the second round, traded up for Evan Williams in the fourth round and added Kitan Oladapo in the fifth round. With those four on the roster, the safety position went from liability to strength.
With Zayne Anderson set to hit the open market, the Packers could look to add another body to that room late on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. A potential target is Donovan McMillon. The Pittsburgh Panther safety checks in at No. 94 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A transfer from Florida, McMillon recorded 105 tackles and one tackle for loss during the 2023 season for the Panthers. This past season, McMillon recorded 115 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception and eight pass deflections.
“McMillon was the safety that brought the most stability to Pitt’s defense,” Christopher Carter, the Pitt writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said. “He wasn’t the turnover machine, but he was the player who often picked up the slack and made a key tackle to keep the defense from giving up a score or making the stop to get them off the field.”
McMillon is a physical safety and is at his best playing north to south. He’s an active run defender and makes his presence felt around the line of scrimmage. According to Pro Football Focus, recorded 48 runs stops over the past two seasons. He takes appropriate angles to the football and needs to do a better job of staying balanced when he arrives. He was tagged with 26 missed tackles over the past two seasons.
“McMillon’s primary strengths show up against the run,” Carter said. “He’s a former wrestler who doesn’t fear putting his body on the line to make a big hit or bring down most runners if he meets them in the hole.”
McMillon has loose movement skills and shows good drive time when the ball arrives. The Florida transfer is physical at the catch point. He has the closing speed to cover up short passes to limit them to minimal gains.
“McMillon loves to bump and run in man coverage,” Carter said. “He could use some honing in anticipating routes as an off-ball safety to create more turnovers, but when he’s running with receivers he’s giving them challenges the whole way.”
During his collegiate career, McMillon logged 615 snaps on special teams with 13 special teams tackles.
Fit with the Packers
The Packers are set at the safety position. With McKinney, Williams and Bullard, there won’t be many snaps up for grabs when the defense is on the field.
Enter McMillon.
With his physicality and special teams experience, McMillon could step in from day one and provide instant impact on special teams while providing depth at the safety position.
“McMillon is a good option as a box safety or a dime-linebacker,” Carter said. “If an NFL general manager needs a physically strong safety who plays the run and flies around to make hits, McMillon’s a solid candidate.”
The safety position is likely at the bottom of Gutekunst’s to-do list this offseason. That doesn’t mean they won’t look to replace Anderson on the depth chart if the Packers don’t re-sign him.
McMillon has the makings of a player who could carve out a long career as a core special teams player.