2025 NFL Draft: Ranking the Packers' picks by potential for Year 1 impact
The Packers selected eight players in the 2025 NFL Draft. Some of those picks have an easier road to contributing on the field than others.
In the NFL, it typically takes years to gain the perspective necessary to fully judge a draft class. Teams select prospects primarily on the basis of their long-term outlook, and often that potential doesn't manifest on the field during a player's rookie season.
However, for the 2025 Green Bay Packers, first-year contributions from their rookie class will matter in at least a few crucial spots. After devoting the entire first two days of the draft to offense, the Packers clearly envision significant changes occurring in the passing game. And while the defense saw more of a makeover a year ago when Jeff Hafley took over as coordinator, opportunities exist for rookies on that side of the ball as well.
The Leap's past attempts to project Year 1 rookie contributions have some misfires, but the track record looks strong overall. Readers can review those efforts here:
Accounting for all those factors -- though not for future injuries given the unpredictable nature of player health -- here's a subjective ranking of the Packers' newly minted draft picks in terms of likeliness to play a meaningful role this season.
8. John Williams
Though the last pick doesn't necessarily have to land in the last spot here, Cincinnati's John Williams does seem the furthest removed from a meaningful role in Green Bay. Not only did the Packers select another offensive lineman before him, but Williams also joins a unit that returns all but one starter from a year ago, added a high-priced starter, and features three current backups who either started games in 2024 or saw action during the playoffs. General manager Brian Gutekunst and his personnel department likely view Williams as a developmental piece who could easily spend the upcoming year on the practice squad.
7. Micah Robinson
Cornerback looked like one of the most interesting position groups on the Packers' roster a week ago and, with the draft now in the rearview mirror, remains just as fascinating. At time of writing, the team has yet to move Jaire Alexander and the latest reporting suggests that a once-unlikely reconciliation between the two sides could come to pass after all. With Alexander plausibly back in the fold for 2025, Nate Hobbs joining the group, and both Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine coming off their best seasons, a rookie like Micah Robinson doesn't have a clear path to a regular defensive role. He'll likely need to prove his worth on special teams -- and possibly beat out 2024 draft pick Kalen King -- to earn a roster spot.
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