The Packers as soon as once more loved a powerful 12 months below head coach Matt LaFleur as they went 11-6 and made the playoffs in 2024. Slightly impressively, they managed to win 11 video games all whereas competing in the very best division in all of soccer alongside the Lions (15-2) and Vikings (14-3).
Ending with an offense and protection ranked inside the highest 10, it’ll be fascinating to see the place the Packers find yourself going with their first-round decide. They’ve the franchise quarterback, a younger core of ability gamers, and a few notable gamers on either side of the trenches.
Nevertheless, one class within the field rating was missing from the Packers this previous season and that’s the sacks class. Solely two gamers managed to document no less than 5 sacks in 2024 and the crew chief was Rashan Gary with simply 7.5. The Packers could have gained much more video games final 12 months if they may have managed to carry the quarterback down a bit extra often so this is likely to be a superb space to speculate on this offseason.
So with out additional ado, with the twenty third decide within the SB Nation Group Mock Draft, Justis Mosqueda of Acme Packing Firm is deciding on Shamar Stewart, the freakishly athletic edge rusher from Texas A&M.
23.) Inexperienced Bay Packers: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
Mosqueda: We needed to run up this draft decide. Some groups have been serious about buying and selling up, however there was no approach I used to be going to let a expertise like Shemar Stewart slip via the Inexperienced Bay Packers’ arms. Not solely have the Packers already had Stewart in on a pre-draft go to this offseason, which traditionally has been a powerful sign that the crew is serious about really taking the participant within the draft, however Stewart — an all-time athlete — would assist clear up Inexperienced Bay’s largest weak point: their restricted four-man pass-rush. Hopefully, the Packers can develop Stewart higher than they did with Lukas Van Ness, the crew’s 2023 first-round choice.
Evaluation: The Packers find yourself being the franchise to take the chance on the uber-athletic, not-so-uber-productive Stewart who recorded simply 4.5 sacks throughout his three-year profession at Texas A&M. On the NFL Mix, Stewart examined in the identical realm as Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, each of whom went first general of their respective draft courses. So this merely begs the query: Why did Stewart fail to place up numbers he so clearly was able to?
That’s one thing the Packers should reply in the event that they hope to unlock each ounce of Stewart’s huge potential. Inexperienced Bay may have gone with rather more productive gamers who have been nonetheless on the board (James Pearce Jr., Donovan Ezeiruaku) however neither at present possess the upside that Stewart has ought to all of it pan out.
Fortunately for Inexperienced Bay, Stewart doesn’t need to be a starter in Yr 1 with former first-round picks Lukas Van Ness and Gary at present penciled in because the crew’s beginning EDGE duo.
Prime 5 remaining gamers:
- James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
- Luther Burden, WR, Missouri
- Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston School
- Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
- Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
The Packers went with an edge rusher but it surely was not one among our high two remaining in our greatest gamers accessible. Stewart is the extra uncooked, unpredictable prospect versus Pearce and Ezeiruaku, however that’s normally what NFL groups do. They usually can’t assist however decide the shiny, extra intriguing participant regardless of the plain purple flags that come together with them.
The Texans are up subsequent and have a giant query mark about what their beginning offensive line will look in like in 2025. May we lastly see Kelvin Banks Jr. come off the board to a home-state crew?