Three hidden draft gems for the Packers who could end up becoming major contributors if Green Bay finds them at the right time

   

Three hidden draft gems for the Packers who could end up becoming major contributors if Green Bay finds them at the right time

The draft in Green Bay will be special for Packers fans. Not only because of the first round, though. It's a full three-day experience with 257 total picks, eight of which belong to the Green Bay Packers at this moment.

Draft discussions are centered around top prospects, but general manager Brian Gutekunst has a strong track record of finding talent in later rounds.

Last year, we did a similar exercise at A to Z Sports. And from the three names mentioned, one in particular will catch the attention of Packers fans: It was safety Evan Williams. The second one was Brandon Coleman, who ended up going in the third round and started at left tackle for the Washington Commanders as a rookie. The last one was Elijah Jones, drafted by the Arizona Cardinals but who missed his first season because of an injury.

The first edition was successful, so let's try to build upon it.

EDGE Josaiah Stewart, Michigan

This one might not be a perfect prospect for the Packers because he's undersized at 6-1, 249 pounds, and he didn't do athletic tests in the pre-draft process. But the tape and production are undeniable, and particularly enticing for the 74th prospect on the consensus big board.

Over four college seasons (two at Coastal Carolina, two at Michigan), Steward had 30 sacks, including 8.5 last year. He had a monster 27.7% pass rush win rate, and his run defense ability is almost as good as his pass rush productivity.

There's always a debate about stats versus physical tools, but Stewart's film confirms what the underlying numbers indicate.

Travis May's analysis: Josaiah Stewart may be undersized, but he makes up for it by converting speed into power. His first step off the line causes problems for offensive tackles as he then uses his surprisingly long arms (for his height) to control leverage as he bends around the edge to opposing quarterbacks. He had one of the highest pass rush win and pressure rates among edge rushers last year, which shouldn't surprise those who have seen him play extensively. Stewart will likely be a pass rush specialist that performs best in odd-front looks, but he's going to make some NFL happy in the middle rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.

T Chase Lundt, UConn

Lundt is the 159th player on the consensus big board, so it's unfair to expect a starter from the get go. But he has all the tools to be a player the Packers will fall in love with, especially as one of the best run blockers in this class—if not the best. A four-year starter at right tackle, he played more than 3,000 college snaps. Last year, he had an 87.1 run block grade, and he was especially good at zone concepts. He will be 25 by Week 1, so his ceiling may be a little limited, but he can turn out to be an extremely solid NFL player.

One problem for the Packers might be his height. He's actually too tall at 6-7, and the Packers usually prefer shorter guys to move them inside if needed. But Green Bay did play Travis Glover (6-6) and Kadeem Telfort (6-7) at guard this past season, so it's not an absurd thought.

Travis May's analysis: Chase Lundt has a bit of a strange build. He's extremely tall (nearly 6'8) and lean, but he has shorter arms for a tackle prospect. That atypical build has some second-guessing Lundt, but he brings all the skills an offensive lineman needs to succeed. He's strong enough to control the line of scrimmage in both pass and run blocking situations with sufficient mobility to get to the second level of defenses. It may take a team a while to find his best fit (at guard or tackle), but his 3,000 snaps of experience and physicality should help him stick in the NFL for a long time.

WR Ja'Corey Brooks, Louisville

Brooks is a late bloomer. After three somewhat quiet seasons at Alabama, he transferred to Louisville and had a big season with 61 catches, 1,013 yards, and nine touchdown receptions. This is probably the reason why he's perceived as a seventh-round prospect at best, and the 240th player on the consensus big board.

But the tape shows he can be much better than that. He's tall, lean, and the production is solid with 2.57 yards per route run. He also had an impressive contested catch rate (69.6%), even if his drop rate was also a little higher than you would like—in his defense, drops tend to be volatile. He is mostly an outside receiver, but also showed some versatility to play in the slot if needed. The good part is that most of his flaws are coachable, except that he doesn't have blazing speed.

Curiosly enough, A to Z Sports College Football and NFL Draft analyst Ryan Roberts compared him to Romeo Doubs.

Travis May's analysis: Ja'Corey Brooks might be the most underrated wide receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft. He began his career as a consensus five star wide receiver recruit who earned a role early on playing for Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. By the end of the 2022 season, he was Bryce Young's go-to WR1 weapon who flashed in some massive games. An injury-riddled 2023 led to his eventual transfer to Louisville, but he dominated with a fresh opportunity for the Cardinals last year. His ball-tracking, natural separation, and savvy to find gaps in zone made him an easy target for Tyler Shough last season. If he drops very far on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft, that will be a mistake.