Each year, ESPN’s beat writers alternate in making selections for the teams they cover in the NFL Nation mock draft. This year, Green Bay Packers beat writer Rob Demovsky’s controversial choice at 23rd overall is Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart.
Stewart possesses remarkable athleticism and has consistently improved throughout his college career (read our full scouting report here); however, his pass-rushing stats may disappoint fans—he recorded only 4.5 sacks in college. After two years of unfulfilled potential from Lukas Van Ness, another high-risk, high-reward defensive end, Packers fans might be wary of this selection.
Demovsky notes that the team was initially eyeing Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams for the pick, who has a comparable background and played the 4i defensive tackle position—similar to what first overall pick Travon Walker did at Georgia. However, Williams never tallied more than five sacks in a single season.
With Williams selected a dozen picks prior to the Packers in this mock draft, Demovsky opted for Stewart, whom he argues is now the team’s “preferred” pass rusher. This choice places him ahead of Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku, a player familiar to Green Bay’s defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, and James Pearce Jr., who visited the Packers facility pre-draft.
Both Williams and Stewart also had offseason visits with the Packers. Additionally, Stewart was coached by defensive quality control coach Wendel Davis at the Senior Bowl, where Davis served as Stewart’s linebackers/EDGE coach for the American team.
Given two decades of avoiding a wide receiver in the first round, it seems unlikely the Packers would finally break that pattern, even with available prospects like Emeka Egbuka and Matthew Golden. Although their ideal pass rusher was Williams, Stewart is likely next on their list.
Complete ESPN Nation Mock Draft
- Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
- Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
- New York Giants: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
- New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OL, LSU
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
- Las Vegas Raiders: Armand Membou, OL, Missouri
- New York Jets: Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
- Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
- New Orleans Saints: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
- Chicago Bears: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
- San Francisco 49ers: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
- Dallas Cowboys: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
- Miami Dolphins: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
- Indianapolis Colts: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
- Atlanta Falcons: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
- Arizona Cardinals: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
- Cincinnati Bengals: Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
- Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
- Denver Broncos: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
- Los Angeles Chargers: Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
- Green Bay Packers: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
- Minnesota Vikings: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
- Houston Texans: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
- Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
- Baltimore Ravens: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
- Detroit Lions: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
- Washington Commanders: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
- Buffalo Bills: Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
- Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Simmons, OL, Ohio State
- Philadelphia Eagles: Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss
Notably, these beat writers did not anticipate Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan to fall, as he was claimed by the Dallas Cowboys—a favored selection for both McMillan and Texas receiver Matthew Golden. Additionally, Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, a commonly suggested choice for the Packers, was taken just before the Packers could select.
