Green Bay Packers Must Fill Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst speaks to media after trading quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets on April 25, 2023, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. © Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK

Green Bay Packers Must Fill 'Glaring Weakness' During the NFL Draft

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated Apr 11, 2025 3:21 PM ET

The Green Bay Packers have spent significant draft capital in recent years building a young and ascending supporting cast of weapons around young and ascending quarterback Jordan love.

However, as the 2025 NFL Draft nears, the time might be now for general manager Brian Gutekunst and the Packers could deploy the same strategy to fortifying coordinator Jeff Hafley’s defense.

One year removed from signing safety Xavier McKinney, who became an All-Pro in 2024, and months after inking a deal with veteran cornerback Nate Hobbs–filling a pressing need, the Packers might be primed to add a pass rusher in a deep class at the position.

Green Bay Packers’ Biggest Position of Need Revealed Ahead of the NFL Draft

Pro Football Focus’ Bradley Locker put together a list of the state of each franchise, and their respective biggest need in the draft, including urging the Packers to take an edge rusher.

“The Packers invested heavily in only two players this offseason,” Locker points out for PFF . “Guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs. Yet, the team’s glaring weakness is at edge rusher. No Packers starting edge defender reached even a 12.5% pass-rush win rate last season, and the team must give Rashan Gary a running mate.”

While signing Hobbs could help the pass rush, because of his ability to play lockdown coverage in the secondary, adding an edge rusher opposite Gary might be the second-biggest need on the roster, other than cornerback.

Fortunately for Green Bay, there could be as many as six edge rushers to go off the board in the first round and several could still be available when the Packers go on the clock with the No. 23 overall pick.

If the Packers look to add a pass rusher to Hafley’s defense, and don’t trade up to do it, the likes of Tennessee’s James Pearce, Georgia’s Mykel Williams, or Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart could be ideal fits and potentially immediate contributors up front.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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