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All the picks have been made in the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay. Let the judging begin.
Actually, the judging started as soon as the draft did April 24. With it having ended April 26, the national media is starting to grade not just individual picks but each team's overall draft.
The Green Bay Packers selected eight players:
Here's how the national media rates the Packers' draft — some of the grades are for the team and some are for each pick:
Team grade: B-plus, ranked eighth in NFL
"Nice to see them break their 23-year streak of not taking a wideout in Round 1, especially considering what Matthew Golden can bring to this offense in terms of game-changing speed and clutch plays. GM Brian Gutekunst stuck with the TLC theme for the offense, adding OT Anthony Belton in the second round and a nice toy in the third with plus-sized WR Savion Williams (6-4, 220) — the classic “find a way to get the ball into his hands” guy."
Team grade: B-minus, ranked 18th in NFL
"Golden, the fastest offensive player at the combine, ended a 22-year drought of not picking a first-round receiver. Williams doubled the weapons. Sorrell stayed in the draft’s green room until pick No. 124 and had a memorable emotional moment. Belton could be the rookie starting left tackle."
Team grade: C-plus
"Either the Packers didn’t like what they saw from their receivers last season or they really want a crowded receiving corps. It’s going to be on coach Matt LaFleur to form the right rotation for Jordan Love on the field, but players competing for snaps is rarely a bad idea. Green Bay might still lack a legitimate No. 1 wideout, but Golden is a speedy weapon and a friendly target with reliable hands. Williams has received comparisons to Deebo Samuel with his ability to contribute from the backfield. Perhaps the Packers focused too much on the offensive side and waited too long to add another pass rusher."
Team grade: B
"Matthew Golden was a surprise pick for the Packers early in the draft, but for a team that needed an infusion of talent at wide receiver, Golden makes a lot of sense as a big-play threat. He doesn’t quite have the size the Packers look for in their wide receivers, but he’s not so far off that they disqualified him. Anthony Belton is a potential starter at tackle or guard and should give them more flexibility with how they get their best five starting offensive linemen on the field. The late selection of Warren Brinson was a nice way to get some nose tackle depth that they needed to add in a big way."
Team grade: C, ranked 29th in NFL
"For the first time in two decades, the Packers took a first-round wideout. All it took was one of 2025's most complete prospects to fall into their laps. Matthew Golden may or may not be the WR1 Green Bay needs, but his versatility means the rest of a stacked receiving corps can fall into more defined roles and create new pages in head coach Matt LaFleur's playbook. The rest of Green Bay's draft was slightly weird, leaning into offensive positions of strength. But hey, Savion Williams in LaFleur's offense should be fun!"
Team grade: B-minus
"The Packers have the most crowded receiver room in the NFL given the additions of Golden and Williams, who couldn't be more different stylistically. Belton was picked too early because of his technical deficiencies, but I do like the landing spot given Green Bay's long history of developing blockers picked outside of Round 1. Sorrell and Oliver are solid, yet I have doubts about their long-term potential, and Brinson at No. 198 is my favorite selection of all of these Packers picks. He's long, athletic, powerful and plays with a non-stop motor."
Barryn Sorrell: B-minus
Collin Oliver: B-minus
Warren Brinson: B-plus
Micah Robinson: C-plus
John Williams: A-minus
Barryn Sorrell, B: "Sorrell has good size at 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds and has shown flashes with his hand usage in 2024. He gets pressure often and offers a high motor in run defense. His athleticism may limit his ceiling but he's a hard worker who should be a rotational edge for the Packers."
Collin Oliver, B-minus: "Oliver is an explosive runner at linebacker standing 6-foot-1 and 238 pounds but was a tweener in college. He doesn't have the size to stay at edge in the NFL nor the coverage chops to be a full-time off-ball linebacker immediately. He has great tools and that makes him a player worth developing over time."
Warren Brinson, B-minus: "Brinson only played in a part-time role at Georgia due to their rotational tendencies on the defensive line. He's shown flashes of potential in a 6-foot-5, 316-pound frame with good arm length. He'll be a good depth piece for a Green Bay defensive line looking for more difference-makers."
Micah Robinson, D: "This feels like a reach for who would likely be a free agent cornerback after the draft. Robinson stands 5-foot-10 and 187 pounds with short arms but has shown some speed with a 4.42-second 40 yard dash."
John Williams, B-minus: "Williams feels like a perfect late-round swing for the Packers. He played tackle in college with the measurements to stay there at 6-foot-4, 322 pounds and 34½-inch long arms. But he may end up best on the interior as a depth piece at guard due to strength concerns."
Barryn Sorrell, B: "His tenacity and leadership skills seen at Texas, as well as his patience to hear his name called, speak volumes about the person and player the Packers are getting. Plus, he has some legitimate upside as a pass-rusher."
Collin Oliver, C: "The Green Bay Packers listed Oliver as a linebacker. He’s an edge-defender. Oliver played in only two games last season because of an injury. However, he posted 16 tackles for loss and six sacks in 2023. The former Cowboy even posted 11.5 sacks during the 2021 campaign. The Packers are taking a shot on that previous version showing up and getting after quarterbacks."
Warren Brinson, C: "Surprisingly, the Green Bay Packers waited into the sixth round to address the defensive line despite losing TJ Slaton in free agency and uncertainty surrounding former first-round picks Devonte Wyatt and Lukas Van Ness. Georgia’s Warren Brinson isn’t necessarily a replacement for Slaton since he’s at his best when he’s able to shoot gaps and reestablish the line of scrimmage."
Micah Robinson, C: "The Green Bay Packers found a strong nickel option last season in rookie Javon Bullard. The additon of Tulane’s Micah Robinson is interesting because he primarily plays over the slot as well. However, the seventh-round draft pick may carve a role for himself in dime packages."
John Williams, B: "The Green Bay Packers organization loves to draft collegiate left tackles and convert them to different positions. Case in point, the team announced the seventh-round selection of John Williams as a guard. It's easy to be overlooked as a prospect when you don't play for a Power Four program, even after starting 24 straight games at left tackle. It's even easier when you share the same name as the most famous composer in cinematic history. But invites to the Shrine Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine helped the 6'4", 322-pound Williams get recognized."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What are Green Bay Packers' draft grades for the 2025 NFL Draft?
Continue reading...
Actually, the judging started as soon as the draft did April 24. With it having ended April 26, the national media is starting to grade not just individual picks but each team's overall draft.
The Green Bay Packers selected eight players:
- Round 1: No. 23 overall: Matthew Golden, receiver, Texas
- Round 2: No. 54 overall: Anthony Belton, tackle, North Carolina State
- Round 3: No. 87 overall: Savion Williams, receiver, Texas Christian
- Round 4: No. 124 overall: Barryn Sorrell, edge rusher, Texas
- Round 5: No. 159 overall: Collin Oliver, edge rusher, Oklahoma State
- Round 6: No. 198 overall: Warren Brinson, defensive tackle, Georgia
- Round 7: No. 237 overall (compensatory pick): Micah Robinson, defensive back, Tulane
- Round 7: No. 250 overall (acquired from Pittsburgh in Preston Smith trade): John Williams, tackle, Cincinnati
Here's how the national media rates the Packers' draft — some of the grades are for the team and some are for each pick:
Nate Davis, USA TODAY
Team grade: B-plus, ranked eighth in NFL
"Nice to see them break their 23-year streak of not taking a wideout in Round 1, especially considering what Matthew Golden can bring to this offense in terms of game-changing speed and clutch plays. GM Brian Gutekunst stuck with the TLC theme for the offense, adding OT Anthony Belton in the second round and a nice toy in the third with plus-sized WR Savion Williams (6-4, 220) — the classic “find a way to get the ball into his hands” guy."
Ryan Dunleavy, New York Post
Team grade: B-minus, ranked 18th in NFL
"Golden, the fastest offensive player at the combine, ended a 22-year drought of not picking a first-round receiver. Williams doubled the weapons. Sorrell stayed in the draft’s green room until pick No. 124 and had a memorable emotional moment. Belton could be the rookie starting left tackle."
Gilberto Manzano, Sports Illustrated
Team grade: C-plus
"Either the Packers didn’t like what they saw from their receivers last season or they really want a crowded receiving corps. It’s going to be on coach Matt LaFleur to form the right rotation for Jordan Love on the field, but players competing for snaps is rarely a bad idea. Green Bay might still lack a legitimate No. 1 wideout, but Golden is a speedy weapon and a friendly target with reliable hands. Williams has received comparisons to Deebo Samuel with his ability to contribute from the backfield. Perhaps the Packers focused too much on the offensive side and waited too long to add another pass rusher."
Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports
Team grade: B
"Matthew Golden was a surprise pick for the Packers early in the draft, but for a team that needed an infusion of talent at wide receiver, Golden makes a lot of sense as a big-play threat. He doesn’t quite have the size the Packers look for in their wide receivers, but he’s not so far off that they disqualified him. Anthony Belton is a potential starter at tackle or guard and should give them more flexibility with how they get their best five starting offensive linemen on the field. The late selection of Warren Brinson was a nice way to get some nose tackle depth that they needed to add in a big way."
Christian D'Andrea, Robert Zeglinski and Cory Woodroof, For The Win
Team grade: C, ranked 29th in NFL
"For the first time in two decades, the Packers took a first-round wideout. All it took was one of 2025's most complete prospects to fall into their laps. Matthew Golden may or may not be the WR1 Green Bay needs, but his versatility means the rest of a stacked receiving corps can fall into more defined roles and create new pages in head coach Matt LaFleur's playbook. The rest of Green Bay's draft was slightly weird, leaning into offensive positions of strength. But hey, Savion Williams in LaFleur's offense should be fun!"
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports
Team grade: B-minus
"The Packers have the most crowded receiver room in the NFL given the additions of Golden and Williams, who couldn't be more different stylistically. Belton was picked too early because of his technical deficiencies, but I do like the landing spot given Green Bay's long history of developing blockers picked outside of Round 1. Sorrell and Oliver are solid, yet I have doubts about their long-term potential, and Brinson at No. 198 is my favorite selection of all of these Packers picks. He's long, athletic, powerful and plays with a non-stop motor."
Barryn Sorrell: B-minus
Collin Oliver: B-minus
Warren Brinson: B-plus
Micah Robinson: C-plus
John Williams: A-minus
Ayrton Ostly, USA TODAY
Barryn Sorrell, B: "Sorrell has good size at 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds and has shown flashes with his hand usage in 2024. He gets pressure often and offers a high motor in run defense. His athleticism may limit his ceiling but he's a hard worker who should be a rotational edge for the Packers."
Collin Oliver, B-minus: "Oliver is an explosive runner at linebacker standing 6-foot-1 and 238 pounds but was a tweener in college. He doesn't have the size to stay at edge in the NFL nor the coverage chops to be a full-time off-ball linebacker immediately. He has great tools and that makes him a player worth developing over time."
Warren Brinson, B-minus: "Brinson only played in a part-time role at Georgia due to their rotational tendencies on the defensive line. He's shown flashes of potential in a 6-foot-5, 316-pound frame with good arm length. He'll be a good depth piece for a Green Bay defensive line looking for more difference-makers."
Micah Robinson, D: "This feels like a reach for who would likely be a free agent cornerback after the draft. Robinson stands 5-foot-10 and 187 pounds with short arms but has shown some speed with a 4.42-second 40 yard dash."
John Williams, B-minus: "Williams feels like a perfect late-round swing for the Packers. He played tackle in college with the measurements to stay there at 6-foot-4, 322 pounds and 34½-inch long arms. But he may end up best on the interior as a depth piece at guard due to strength concerns."
Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report
Barryn Sorrell, B: "His tenacity and leadership skills seen at Texas, as well as his patience to hear his name called, speak volumes about the person and player the Packers are getting. Plus, he has some legitimate upside as a pass-rusher."
Collin Oliver, C: "The Green Bay Packers listed Oliver as a linebacker. He’s an edge-defender. Oliver played in only two games last season because of an injury. However, he posted 16 tackles for loss and six sacks in 2023. The former Cowboy even posted 11.5 sacks during the 2021 campaign. The Packers are taking a shot on that previous version showing up and getting after quarterbacks."
Warren Brinson, C: "Surprisingly, the Green Bay Packers waited into the sixth round to address the defensive line despite losing TJ Slaton in free agency and uncertainty surrounding former first-round picks Devonte Wyatt and Lukas Van Ness. Georgia’s Warren Brinson isn’t necessarily a replacement for Slaton since he’s at his best when he’s able to shoot gaps and reestablish the line of scrimmage."
Micah Robinson, C: "The Green Bay Packers found a strong nickel option last season in rookie Javon Bullard. The additon of Tulane’s Micah Robinson is interesting because he primarily plays over the slot as well. However, the seventh-round draft pick may carve a role for himself in dime packages."
John Williams, B: "The Green Bay Packers organization loves to draft collegiate left tackles and convert them to different positions. Case in point, the team announced the seventh-round selection of John Williams as a guard. It's easy to be overlooked as a prospect when you don't play for a Power Four program, even after starting 24 straight games at left tackle. It's even easier when you share the same name as the most famous composer in cinematic history. But invites to the Shrine Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine helped the 6'4", 322-pound Williams get recognized."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What are Green Bay Packers' draft grades for the 2025 NFL Draft?
Continue reading...
