Paul Bretl | 4/24/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — There are two parts of the pre-draft process that the Packers have held in high regard during GM Brian Gutekunst’s tenure as general manager, particularly in recent years. That would be the Senior Bowl and official 30 visits.
The Senior Bowl is an invitation-only, All-Star college football event held each year in Mobile, Alabama. At the Senior Bowl, top draft prospects are able to showcase their talents against high-level competition during a week of practices followed by an All-Star game.
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The event attracts GMs and scouts from across the NFL and has traditionally been for seniors or fourth-year juniors who have graduated, but in 2024 for the first time, underclassmen were eligible to participate if they received an invite.
Over the last three drafts, the Packers have made 35 total selections, and 18 of those players were participants in the Senior Bowl. This includes eight of 11 draft picks from 2024 being a part of the event.
“It’s very important for us,” said Brian Gutekunst following the 2024 draft about the Senior Bowl. “We put a lot of time into it, and like I said, their staff down there in Mobile, they do such a good job getting us to spots where we can really evaluate these guys. We’re very appreciative of that. It’s certainly not by design, but I know we’ve taken a lot of Senior Bowl guys over the years.”
When it comes to the official 30 visit, each team is permitted to have 30 draft prospects at the team facility for an official visit. While we often hear these meetings called “top 30 visits,” it does not mean that all of these players are at the top of the Packers’ draft board.
Instead, these visits are often reserved for prospects who the team still has questions about, and these meetings provide an additional opportunity to get to know the prospect, go over film, and do medical checks if needed.
Some teams, like the Jaguars and Rams, don’t host prospects for these visits. Then on the other end of the spectrum, you have the Packers, where there is a strong connection between players who were brought in for these visits and who eventually ends up on the team.
Over the last three pre-draft cycles from 2022 through 2024, the Packers have had 90 players in for 30 visits–like every other team has. Of those 90 visits, 21 have ended up on the Packers roster in some capacity–or nearly 25% of visits–whether that be as a draft pick or signing as an undrafted rookie.
“It’s really just about answering a question maybe that we don’t have an answer to,” said Gutekunst of 30 visits prior to the 2024 NFL draft. “Sometimes that’s a non-combine guy that we need to get medical information on. Sometimes that’s a Combine guy we have, whether it’s a football question, an off-the-field situation or maybe it’s just getting to know him better.”
So we have two separate parts of the pre-draft process that, on their own, at the bare minimum, tell us who is on the Packers’ radar. So when we cross-reference these two lists of prospects, and find players who have participated in both the Senior Bowl and a 30 visit with the Packers, those are going to be names to watch as the draft unfolds.
Last year I did this exercise and of the seven players who were a part of both events, Kitan Oladapo and Ty’Ron Hopper ended up being selected.
So, if I were to make an educated guess, for the reasons already laid out, I would say that there is a good chance one of these prospects ends up as a Green Bay Packer.
Walter Nolen, IDL, Ole Miss: Nolen was a top run defender by PFF’s metrics in 2024 and totaled a career high 35 pressures and six sacks. As Lance Zierlein noted, Nolen wins with both athleticism and strength.
Jordan Burch, DE, Oregon: In a rotational role, Burch was efficient and effective with his pass rush reps. He also has the ability to line up in multiple gaps, which would fit well in Jeff Hafley’s scheme.
Tai Felton, WR, Maryland: Felton had a whopping 143 targets this past season, lining up both out wide and in the slot. He caught 67% of those passes for 1,119 yards and nine scores.
Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss: A boundary cornerback with terrific ball production. Amos had three interceptions and 10 pass breakups in 2024 alone. Vision on the ball is a trait the Packers want to emphasize at this position due to its importance in Hafley’s defense.
Anthony Belton, OT, NC State: Belton spent most of his career at left tackle and brings the size and length to the position that teams frequently covet. In 438 pass-blocking snaps last season, Belton allowed just three sacks and 12 pressures.
TJ Sanders, IDL, South Carolina: Sanders brings a well-rounded skill-set to the NFL level, able to make an impact as a run defender and pass rusher at South Carolina this past season.
Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M: The knock on Stewart is the lack of production in college, but as Gutekunst described early this week, this evaluation process is about projecting who a player can become. Stewart brings size, elite athleticism, versatility, and the ability to be on the field for all three downs to the NFL.
The caveat to all of this is that these events and the process we just went through are not the be-all-end-all when it comes to who the Packers are going to select. The Senior Bowl and 30 visits are each one part of what is the long and tedious process that is prospect evaluation.
At the end of the day, every aspect is important as the Packers attempt to collect as much data on each player as possible to make an informed decision. And of course, tape is always going to be King.
“It’s all important,” said Gutekunst last offseason of the pre-draft process. “First and foremost, it’s all important, the medical, everything’s important. At the end of the day, and this goes back for as long as I’ve done this, you go back to the tape and how they play the game. I think whenever there’s discrepancies, whenever you’re not sure, you go back to the tape, and that’s going to be your best predictor of future success is what they’ve done on tape, and that’s kind of what we live by.”
However, as we wonder who is on the Packers’ radar, recent history does say that at least one of these players will end up in Green Bay.