When it comes to wide receivers and the NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers have generally avoided the first round and enjoyed a sweet spot in the second round. Now entering the 2025 draft, Brian Gutekunst and the Packers likely have to dip back into the wide receiver pool to help rebuild the position.
So, who could the Packers target at wide receiver in the second round of this year’s draft?
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Media, in a conference call with reporters, had a few answers to the question — mentioning “a good clump of receivers” with big frames and explosive big-play ability who could be available around pick No. 54 overall in the second round.
“At 54, you’re looking for a big play wide receiver,” Jeremiah said. “Tre Harris is a good all-around receiver at Ole Miss. That’s about the range where you’re going to see this clump here with Tre Harris from Ole Miss, Jayden Higgins from Iowa State, Jack Bech from TCU. All those guys are big. Tre Harris is almost 6-2. Higgins is almost 6-4. Jack Bech, 6-1 and a quarter, 214 pounds. Those guys are all kind of in that range of the draft.”
Jeremiah currently has only four receivers in his top 50 players, including one (Tetairoa McMillian) who is likely out of the Packers’ first-round range and three others in the 20-32 range.
Outside of Harris, Higgins and Bech, Jeremiah had a few other ideas at receiver on Day 2.
“Tory Horton is another one from Colorado State who is going to be around that range,” Jeremiah said. “If they wanted to go with a little more of the compact, explosive player in that mix, which I think they already possess, but to me you look at Jaylin Noel from Iowa State who is going to put on a show at the combine. He is really, really explosive. He can play inside. I think even as an undersized player, he could play outside. Then Jalen Royals from Utah State, who has a real compact, 210 pounds. Actually kind of looks like Randall Cobb to go back in the old school there.”
The Packers’ history of selecting high-performing receivers in the second round includes Cobb, but also others like Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson.
In 2025, the Packers may need to replace the production and impact of Christian Watson — the team’s second-round pick in 2022 — who will be out much of next season after suffering a significant knee injury in the season finale.
Watson is big and fast and stretches the field vertically. The Packers could target a prospect like Harris, Higgins or Bech to develop in the role — an important one in Matt LaFleur’s passing game.
“All those guys are big,” Jeremiah said. “All those guys can make plays down the field. All those guys are going to work out well in the red zone. They’re going to be point producers. That’s a good clump of wideouts that I think would make some sense.”