Fewer NFL Draft prospects than originally anticipated will be in Green Bay to hear their names called, walk across the 250,000-square-foot stage, and hug commissioner Roger Goodell.
Heading into Thursday night’s first round, 15 players are set to attend the draft, down from the 17 who were announced last week. Last year, 13 players attended the draft in Detroit—the lowest amount in the last decade.
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is the most notable dropout in the past week. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was never committed to attending.
The widely projected top three picks will be in Green Bay, though: Miami quarterback Cam Ward, Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter, and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. So will Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
Shot Callers
While quarterbacks in this class aren’t as hot of a commodity as last year, when a record six signal-callers were drafted in Round 1, they will likely still drive some of the most intriguing storylines for viewers Thursday night, as ESPN and NFL Network enter the final year of their current draft media-rights agreements.
Earlier this week, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said the team’s potential interest in signing Aaron Rodgers “does not” impact whether Pittsburgh will pick a quarterback in the first round. The Steelers, who own the 21st pick, have been linked to Sanders by many draft experts. Rodgers, 41, who the Jets took a $49 million dead-cap hit to cut, has still not definitively said whether he wants to play in 2025.
Meanwhile, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins could be on the trade block during the draft. Cousins, who was benched for rookie Michael Penix Jr. late last season, has $37.5 million in guaranteed money remaining on his contract. Atlanta GM Terry Fontenot said the franchise hasn’t “put a specific number” on how much of that money they would want a potential trade partner to pick up to deal Cousins.
