The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2025 NFL draft.
Green Bay’s pass rush could use a different flavor. Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare and Brenton Cox Jr are all power-packed pass rushers and that room could use a Clay Matthews-like player.
Enter Donovan Ezeiruaku. The Boston College edge rusher, who has familiarity with Jeff Hafley checks in at No. 93 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A three-star recruit, Ezeiruaku recorded three sacks during his freshman season in 2021. The following season he recorded 61 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. In 2023, he recorded 53 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks.
This past season, Ezeiruaku was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year after he led the conference in tackles for loss (21) and sacks (16.5).
“Ezeiruaku’s burst and explosive first step allow him to turn the corner and beat tackles on the outside track consistently,” Devin Jackson, an NFL Draft writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer said. “His dip and rip move is largely unblockable.”
Other than Abdul Carter and James Pearce Jr, Ezeiruaku arguably has the most explosive first step in this draft class. He’s a natural bender and has outstanding arc acceleration. To go along with his 16.5 sacks, Ezeiruaku recorded 61 pressures. With his quickness and hand usage, Ezeiruaku consistently pesters the quarterback.
“He uses his speed and athleticism to win against tackles, and his smaller frame lends to being more of a speed rusher who can employ ghost pass rush moves and use his ankle flexion to bend the corner against bigger tackles,” Jackson said. “He has a cross-chop pass rush move he can go to as well.”
Ezeiruaku has a relentless motor and is a rangy pursuit player. According to Pro Football Focus the Boston College edge rusher recorded 42 run stops this past season. He’s not powerful at the point of attack, but his first-step quickness allows him to beat offensive linemen off the snap and meet ball carriers in the backfield.
“Ezeiruaku is a solid, but not great run defender,” Jackson said. “He doesn’t have overwhelming pop behind his hands but can be slippery at the point of attack and shoot gaps for tackles for loss.”
Fit with the Packers
Ezeiruaku isn’t higher on this countdown due to his weight. He was listed at 241 pounds before the season and that is historically too light for Green Bay’s liking. However, it’s not out of the question that he checks in at 250 pounds at the combine and Gutekunst bends the thresholds due to Ezeiruaku’s explosiveness.
Green Bay’s pass rush needs a shot in the arm and Ezeiruaku would provide Hafley’s defense with some much-needed juice up front.
“His motor, speed bending the corner, and closing ability make Ezeiruaku so incredibly tough to block, especially in third-down situations,” Jackson said. “If you’re drafting him, it’s to be a designated pass rusher early in his career. He brings big-time juice and was one of the most productive pass rushers of the 2025 draft-eligible players.”
The Packers pass rush was up and down during Hafley’s first season on the job. Adding a player like Ezeiruaku, who is built and moves differently than everybody else in that defensive end group, would provide Hafley with a different chess piece to deploy.
With his first-step quickness and flexibility, Ezeiruaku could focus on one thing and one thing only during his rookie campaign, and that’s to get after the quarterback, which is something he did at a high level during his time at Boston College.
Ezeiruaku plays with relentless energy and would be a solid Day 2 target for the Packers as they look to bolster their pass rush this offseason.