As fewer teams around the NFL compete for a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at Caesars Superdome, more teams around the league are honing in on making the right first selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. With the draft approaching in three months, the event hosts are one of those teams looking to improve in many different departments. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper believes that the stud out of Marshall could be what the Packers’ defense is missing.
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Mike Green’s Career
Green’s college football career began in 2021 with Virginia, where he saw limited snaps as one of 14 true freshmen to see playing time. In 2022, Green was listed on the active roster for UVA but did not see the field for the entirety of the season.
In 2023, the outside linebacker transferred to Marshall University where he stepped into a much larger role, recording 43 total tackles and 4.5 sacks in 13 games. Green exploded onto the scene in 2024 as he nearly doubled his total tackles from 2023 and almost quadrupled his sack total. On top of 81 tackles and 17 sacks, he also forced 3 fumbles in 13 games and was named a 2024 Walter Camp First Team All-American.
Green was the driving force for Marshall in the Sun Belt Conference as the team improved from 3-5 in conference play in 2023 to 7-1 in 2024, beating Louisiana in the Sun Belt Championship.
Should the Packers Draft Him?
As far as talent is concerned, Mike Green has it all. He is a fast and elusive outside linebacker who can get to the quarterback quickly. He has the stats and accolades to show that he can be a powerful threat to the Packers’ defense.
On the other hand, Packers fans are foaming at the mouth to take care of two positions that they believe should be addressed in the first couple of rounds of the draft. Wide receiver and cornerback are also popular routes to go with this pick, especially with the potential departure of Jaire Alexander from the Packers’ defense and the absence of Christian Watson for most of the year. While Gutekunst has stated that he wants to stick with his current receiving core, it is tough to say the same about that area of the secondary.
However, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst is keen on building a competitive unit of pass rushers and a pick spent on Green would be far from a pick wasted. The Packers were among the lower ranks in the league in pressure rate and pass rush win rate, which Green would have an immediate and positive impact on.
While it is evident that the Packers’ defense desperately needs to address their cornerback situation amidst the drama around Alexander, they can do so in later rounds. The last time Green Bay used their first-round pick on a cornerback was with Eric Stokes, who has yet to record a pass breakup and will likely explore free agency. Simply put, Mel Kiper is right that Green would not be a bad pick.
