You look at basically any mock draft this cycle and you will see the Green Bay Packers taking a defensive player—be it a cornerback, edge defender, or even a defensive tackle.

On Wednesday, ESPN's draft analyst Mel Kiper published his first mock draft of 2025 and, well, there's certainly something unique about it.

In Kiper's projection, the Packers would use the 23rd overall pick in the draft to select Marshall edge rusher Mike Green.

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What's so different about it? He would be the first player out of Marshall drafted in the first round since quarterback Byron Leftwich went seventh overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003.

This is how Mel Kiper described his choice for the Packers:

"Who knows who was the last first-round pick out of Marshall? You have to go back to 2003, when quarterback Byron Leftwich went No. 7. Leftwich is one of three Marshall first-rounders of the common draft era (since 1967), joining Chad Pennington (2000) and Randy Moss (1998). So it says something that Green could join that group.

Green ranked in the top 10 nationally in sacks (17, first), tackles for loss (22, second) and pressure rate (15.5%, ninth). He wins with speed-to-power, and he displays good bend and strong hands. Despite tying for eighth in sacks (45), the Packers were 22nd in pressure rate (29.8%) and 26th in pass rush win rate (34.8%). This feels like a good fit."

Who he is

Mike Green is slightly undersized for what the Packers tend to prefer at 248 lbs, but he is 6-4. He spent two seasons at Virginia in 2021 and 2022, but played only six games as a true freshman and none in his second year, which motivated him to transfer to Marshall.

If the Packers have had some type of trend to take athletic but unproductive defensive players, Green is certainly not that. In 2024, he finished the season with 17 sacks, including five games of multiple sacks. He also had 84 total tackles (22.5 tackles for loss), three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. He was named a First-Team All-American and the Sun Belt Player of the Year.

Need

The Packers have spent significant resources at the position. Brian Gutekunst selected Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness in the first round, and Gary has already received a long-term extension. Moreover, Kingsley Enagbare was a fifth-rounder.

However, the production was underwhelming in 2024, which led to the firing of defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich, a former pass rush specialist on the staff.

"You're always looking. With pass rushers, you can never have enough," Gutekunst said last week. "I thought there were times this year we did that, we were able to rush with four men. There were periods of times where we didn't do that well enough, everybody understands that. That affects your football team."

Even if the investment has been frequent, it doesn't mean it will stop any time soon. And Mike Green would bring a different element to the rotation.

Marshall EDGE Mike Green 2025 NFL Draft profile

Mike Green’s production profile certainly raises eyebrows ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.