ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., the preeminent draftnik in the history of draft coverage, dropped his first mock draft of the 2025 cycle on Wednesday. The player he gave the Green Bay Packers, who are hosting the event in April, is Marshall pass-rusher Mike Green.

Green, a Virginia transfer, put together a phenomenal year with the Thundering Herd as a fourth-year redshirt sophomore. Not only was he named a first-team All-Sun Belt player and the conference’s player of the year, leading his team Marshall’s first conference championship in the Sun Belt, but he was also named a first-team All-American in 2024.

Here’s what Kiper had to say about the Packers potentially taking Green:

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.

Personally, I’m a big fan of Green’s game. When going up against Power Five competition, like he did against the Ohio State Buckeyes this year, his skillset still translated to production. He’s explosive and bendy. He also plays the run better than you’d expect from a smaller Group of Five pass rusher.

Mel Kiper’s 2025 Mock Draft

1. Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (1st on consensus draft board)
2. Browns: Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado (3rd)
3. Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (2nd)
4. Patriots: Abdul Carter, ED, Penn State (4th)
5. Jaguars: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan (5th)
6. Raiders: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona (7th)
7. Jets: Mykel Williams, ED, Georgia (10th)
8. Panthers: Jalon Walker, ED/LB, Georgia (16th)
9. Saints: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan (6th)
10. Bears: Will Campbell, OL, LSU (8th)
11. 49ers: Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas (9th)
12. Cowboys: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri (14th)
13. Dolphins: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia (12th)
14. Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (15th)
15. Falcons: Shemar Stewart, ED, Texas A&M (25th)
16. Cardinals: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama (27th)
17. Bengals: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama (34th)
18. Seahawks: Armand Membou, OL, Missouri (36th)
19. Buccaneers: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina (42nd)
20. Broncos: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State (11th)
21. Steelers: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State (22nd)
22. Chargers: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan (19th)
23. Packers: Mike Green, ED, Marshall (32nd)
24. Vikings: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame (21st)
25. Texans: Josh Simmons, OL, Ohio State (18th)
26. Rams: Josh Conerly Jr., OL, Oregon (30th)
27. Ravens: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina (23rd)
28. Lions: James Pearce Jr., ED, Tennessee (13th)
29. Commanders: Nic Scourton, ED, Texas A&M (17th)
30. Bills: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky (56th)
31. Chiefs: Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss (28th)
32. Eagles: Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan (20th)

As far as the rest of the mock draft goes, the players who Kipers is generally higher on, at least 10 spots above their ranking on the consensus draft board, include Green, Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart, Alabama guard Tyler Booker, Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell, Missouri tackle Armand Membou, South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori and Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston.

On the low end, he has Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr., Texas A&M edge rusher Nic Scourton and Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant going at least 10 spots below their consensus rankings. I don’t blame him on Pearce or Scourton, who I didn’t believe had first-round tape when I studied the edge rushers. I haven’t looked at the interior defensive linemen yet, so I have no opinion on Grant.

Players ranked inside the top 32 on the consensus board who Kiper didn’t have going in the first round of his mock draft were Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (24th), Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (26th), Minnesota tackle Aireontae Ersery (29th) and Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron (31st).