The Green Bay Packers have the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, which begins Thursday night from Green Bay. Who will general manager Brian Gutekunst pick in Round 1?

We know Gutekunst and the Packers like young and highly athletic prospects in the first round. His seven-year draft history is quite clear. So, who is next?

The staff at Packers Wire each picked their three best fits for the Packers in the first round of the 2025 draft:

Zach Kruse

DL Derrick Harmon, Oregon: An ascending and consistently disruptive player who can emphatically check the “need” box at defensive tackle for the Packers. He can win one-on-ones and shoot gaps as a three-technique, and he’s big enough (313) and strong enough to play some on the nose — not unlike Kenny Clark, who is turning 30 this year and coming off a poor season. Harmon, who led all defensive tackles in pressures last year, could play snaps right away up front for Jeff Hafley’s defense. The Packers need more disruption from the front-four, and Harmon is one of the most disruptive players in the class.

DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M: He missed far too many tackles and lacked big-time production, but Stewart has the athleticism, effort and unrealized potential of a future star, and the Packers almost certainly love his size and movement ability at a premium position. No one would be surprised if he became a top-5 player in this class. How could the Packers pass him up if he’s there at 23? Young, insanely athletic, from a power program and playing one of the most valuable positions on the field, Stewart checks all the boxes for the Packers.

WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona: I debated putting Emeka Egbuka, who is far more likely to be available at 23, or Kenneth Grant, another great fit along the defensive line, as my third player. But McMillan is an incredible fit, and him dropping into the Packers’ range would be both fortunate and an opportunity the Packers could not let pass. McMillan was a big-time producer across all three of his seasons at Arizona and has a Tee Higgins-like size, athleticism and play style profile. Getting a ball-winner like McMillan — a pass-catcher ready to play right away — could help elevate Jordan Love into the elite tier at quarterback and push the Packers passing game to a truly dangerous level as early as 2025.

Brandon Carwile

DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M: There’s no denying Shemar Stewart’s athleticism or the upside it brings. His production at Texas A&M was underwhelming, but that hasn’t stopped the Packers from targeting high-ceiling edge rushers before. Neither Rashan Gary nor Lukas Van Ness put up elite sack numbers in college, but both possessed the traits Green Bay covets. Stewart fits that mold perfectly. He may take time to develop, but the long-term payoff could be massive.

WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State: If the Packers are ready to finally break their first-round wide receiver drought, Emeka Egbuka would make a ton of sense. He checks all the boxes—size, speed, inside-outside versatility, and a willingness to block. Receiver is an obvious need in Green Bay, and they need someone who can consistently create separation and make plays all over the field. That’s exactly what Egbuka brings.

DL Walter Nolen, Ole Miss: I’ve been infatuated with Walter Nolen for a while. Disruption comes naturally to him—he’s shown flashes of dominance against the run and as a pass rusher. With Kenny Clark coming off a down year and Devonte Wyatt entering the final season of his rookie deal (unless they pick up the fifth-year option), there are questions about the future of the interior defensive line. Nolen’s three-down potential and alignment versatility make him a compelling candidate to eventually succeed Clark.

Brennen Rupp

DL Derrick Harmon, Oregon: If Derrick Harmon is on the board when the Packers are on the clock in the first round, I’d be stunned if he wasn’t the pick. He’s an active interior presence who led defensive tackles in pressures last season (55). The Michigan State transfer is also stout against the run and makes plays behind the line of scrimmage.

DE Mykel Williams, Georgia: The jokes will be flying if Gutekunst selects another Georgia Bulldog defensive player in the first round. Williams doesn’t joke around when it comes to playing the run. He’s a ready-made run defender who embraces the physical side of the game and sets a firm edge. With his frame, strength, and quickness, Williams has all the tools in the shed to develop into a force off the edge.

OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas: Banks finished his career as a Longhorn with 42 career starts at left tackle and could be a candidate to kick inside. Banks may be one of the most athletic offensive tackles in the 2025 draft class. Banks is ideally built and has agile feet. Banks checks all the boxes. He just turned 22, he’s a gifted athlete and well-put-together.

Mark Oldacres

CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky: Hairston is lighter than Green Bay usually draft at corner, but hits their most consistent and important first-round principle: truly elite athleticism. The Packers will draft a corner early and even with his lack of weight, Hairston is the cleanest fit, as long as he passes the character test.

DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M: His lack of production will make even the traits-loving Packers nervous, and could cause them to pass if they even have a chance at Stewart at 23 overall, but he has the rare size and athleticism they covet in pass rushers.

DL Kenneth Grant, Michigan: Grant does not have the elite testing Green Bay chases, but is still a well-above-average athlete and is one of the very few ideal fits for them in terms of nose tackles in this draft, with the ability to become a three-down presence against the run and the pass.