The Packers Will Have Many Former Players Participating in the 2025 NFL Draft

The Green Bay Packers are hosting the 2025 NFL Draft for the first time. The league used to hold the event in New York City every year. Over the last decade, the NFL has rotated host cities. This week, the league’s smallest market, Green Bay, Wisconsin, will host the biggest event of the offseason. The Packers will have many former players participating in the 2025 NFL Draft and adding a Green Bay flavor to the event.

The Packers Will Have Many Former Players at the 2025 NFL Draft: Mason Crosby

The highest-rated day of the draft is Thursday night when the first round takes place. This is where headlines are made and the players that are most anticipated to be selected are assigned to NFL teams.

The Packers have announced that several prominent players who were with the team in the 2000s will be there to participate in the first round. These players will help NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during the early part of the draft.

Recently retired kicker Mason Crosby will be there. He was with the Packers from 2007, the year he was drafted in the sixth round. He remained the Packers kicker through the 2022 season. Crosby is the Packers all-time leading scorer by a large margin with 1,918 career points.

Ahman Green

Running back Ahman Green started his NFL career after being selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round in 1998.

He joined the Packers in 2000 and remained with the team through 2006. He returned briefly to the Packers in 2009, but the 160 yards he gained was enough to make him the team’s all-time leading rusher, passing Jim Taylor.

His 1,883 yards rushing in 2003 remains the Packers single-season record.

The Packers Will Have Many Former Players at the 2025 NFL Draft: James Jones

Like Green, James Jones had two stints with the Packers. His first started in 2007 when the Packers selected him in the third round of the NFL Draft. He spent seven years with Green Bay, one year with the Raiders and then returned to the Packers in 2015 for his final season. In 2012, Jones led the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions.

Since retiring as a player, Jones has enjoyed a successful broadcasting career.

Clay Matthews

The Packers selected Clay Matthews with their second pick in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He earned Pro Bowl honors six times in his 10 seasons with the Packers and recorded 83.5 sacks for the Pack.

Matthews came up with a key turnover when he forced a fumble in the fourth quarter of the Packers win in Super Bowl XLV. He showed his unselfishness by moving to ILB when injuries struck and there was a need at the position. Those two seasons at ILB certainly cost him sacks.

Matthews was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 2024.

The Packers Will Have Many Former Players at the 2025 NFL Draft: Jordy Nelson

Wide receiver Jordy Nelson joined the Packers after they selected him in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

By 2010, Nelson became a go-to receiver, and he played a big role in the team’s win in Super Bowl XLV.

Nelson’s best season came in 2014 when he caught 98 passes for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns. After missing all of 2015 due to a preseason injury, he returned to lead the NFL in touchdown catches with 14 in 2016.

Nelson finished his career with the Raiders in 2018. He was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 2023.

Jerry Kramer

Guard Jerry Kramer has always represented the Lombardi Era Packers due to the role he played as a pulling guard on those great teams and the books he wrote about them.

Kramer was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018. He made the most famous block in NFL history when he and Ken Bowman led Bart Starr into the end zone in the closing seconds of “The Ice Bowl.”

Kramer will be there to announce some picks on day two of the draft.

The Packers Will Have Many Former Players at the 2025 NFL Draft: Dave Robinson

Dave Robinson will also help on day two of the draft on Friday. The Penn State alum played linebacker for the Packers from 1963 through 1972 before finishing his career with two seasons in Washington.

Robinson was a smart and athletic linebacker who came up with some big plays in clutch situation including forcing the game-clinching interception in the 1966 NFL Championship Game.

Robinson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

These former great Packers will give the 2025 NFL Draft a unique Packers flavor.