NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah released a first-round mock draft on Saturday. The Green Bay Packers own the 23rd overall pick in 2025, and with the pick, Jeremiah had the Packers selecting Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart.
“The Packers love front-seven players from the SEC with outstanding traits. Stewart fits the mold,” Jeremiah wrote.
Jeremiah’s pick makes sense for multiple reasons. As Jeremiah pointed out, Green Bay has an affliction for taking players out of the SEC. Since Brian Gutekunst took over as the GM in 2018, he has drafted 20 players out of the SEC, encompassing 28 percent of his total selections.
One more couldn’t hurt, right?
Stewart would also help bolster a floundering Packers’ pass rush. Despite finishing tied for 8th with 45 sacks as a team in 2024, Green Bay struggled to get home at a consistent enough rate throughout the season, something Gutekunst acknowledged would need to improve during his season-ending press conference.
“There’s times we kind of broke out, and then there’s times we’d have these lulls where we just we just we weren’t probably playing as well as we would like,” he said.
Stewart could help in that area. At 6-6 and 285 pounds, he has the size and athleticism Green Bay covets in its edge rushers. Stewart will be one of the most physically gifted players in this year’s draft class, checking another one of Green Bay’s boxes.
Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
The biggest drawback against Stewart has been his overall production. In three college seasons, he managed just 4.5 sacks in total.
As a prospect, Stewart compares favorably to 2019 first-rounder Rashan Gary, who had only 10.5 sacks during his collegiate career but showcased elite traits. Gary has developed into the Packers’ top pass rusher, leading the way with 32 sacks over the last four seasons. Gary finished this past year with 7.5 sacks and was much improved in defending the run, earning his first Pro Bowl nod.
However, there wasn’t much production behind Gary, which is why adding an edge rusher in the first makes sense for Green Bay.
Fans may not be thrilled about another developmental project, but the future payoff could be huge. It would be difficult to pass on Stewart’s rare blend of physical tools and extreme upside if he is still available when the Packers are picking in April. Plus, you can never go wrong strengthening the trenches.
“With pass rushers, you can never have enough,” said Gutekunst.