Crews work to construct NFL draft theater on April 11 in the parking lot outside Lambeau Field. Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

17 Players Invited to NFL Draft; Will Packers Select One?

Originally posted on Green Bay Packers on SI
By Bill Huber | Last updated Apr 14, 2025 7:18 PM ET

The NFL announced on Monday evening that 17 prospects have accepted their invitation to attend the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay.

Three are quarterbacks, including presumptive No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward of Miami. The Green Bay Packers aren’t going to draft a quarterback in the first round, but a half-dozen players who will be in Green Bay could be in play when they’re on the clock at No. 23 overall.

Three receivers will be in attendance, including receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter of Colorado. The others are Texas’ Matthew Golden and Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, both of whom could be options for Green Bay. The Packers, of course, haven’t drafted a receiver in the first round since 2002. Golden and McMillan were born in 2003.

Golden had a predraft visit with the Packers and general manager Brian Gutekunst attended McMillan’s individual pro day.

Three edge defenders will be in Green Bay, including Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart and Georgia’s Mykel Williams. Both players were in Green Bay last month for predraft visits with Gutekunst and the coaches.

At FanDuel Sportsbook, defensive line/edge is the betting favorite to be the position for the Packers’ first-pick. McMillan is the favorite to be the first receiver.

Will Johnson will be the only cornerback (other than Hunter) in Green Bay. Johnson was a second-team All-American in 2023 who wore Charles Woodson’s No. 2 at Michigan. Injuries limited him to only six games in 2024 and prevented him from working out for scouts at Michigan’s pro day last month. He had an individual pro day on Monday but didn’t run a 40-yard dash, meaning the big question about Johnson – his long speed – will not be answered before the draft.

Todd McShay, formerly of ESPN who now has his own draft newsletter, explained why.

“Considered a top-20 pick by zone-heavy defensive teams,” he posted on X. “A sniper with his eyes forward and playing the ball in front of him. But limited when back is turned to the QB (lacks recovery speed and struggles to track the ball down field). He’s reportedly been running in the high-4.5’s in training, which explains not running a 40. Damn good football player in the right scheme!”

The Packers run a zone-heavy scheme and could be looking to make a big splash at corner after adding Nate Hobbs in free agency.

Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons, who also had a predraft visit with the Packers, will return to Green Bay for the draft. He allowed just one pressure in six games before a season-ending knee injury. He should be ready to go long in advance of training camp.

“Simmons is the most talented tackle in the class – and it’s not close,” McShay wrote in his newsletter that was e-mailed on Monday morning. “But there is big-time boom-or-bust potential here. Multiple NFL sources have warned me about immaturity and concerning work habits.”

Those issues, McShay continued, could impact Simmons’ development and ability “to become a high-level blindside protector in the NFL.”

The most interesting name on the list is Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. While he has not been deemed one of the top quarterback prospects in this year’s draft, the league presumably would not invite him without the strong belief that he will be picked in the first round.

“I'm cool with being underrated,” he said at the Scouting Combine. “I play in the hardest conference in the country. I played against the No. 1 team in the country, the No. 1 defense in the country. The people that surround me, they understand how much I love football and how much I’m looking to grow as a player.”