The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft.
Josh Myers signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets, meaning the Green Bay Packers will have a new starting center when the 2025 season opens up in September. The prevailing thought is Elgton Jenkins will slide from left guard to center, with Aaron Banks set to take over at left guard for Jenkins.
Even if Jenkins is the short-term plan at center, the Packers need a capable backup for Jenkins and possibly his eventual replacement.
A potential target in the 2025 NFL Draft is Jared Wilson. The Georgia center checks in at No. 44 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A four-star recruit out of Georgia, Wilson was a reserve up until this past season when he started 12 games for the Bulldogs.
“Wilson was a key contributor to the offense,” Matt DeBary an insider for dawgpost.com, said. “He patiently waited his turn as a backup for three years before taking over in his final season. He became more of a leader and helped lead a Georgia offense that scored at least 30 points in ten games last fall.”
Wilson is an outstanding athlete. The former four-star recruit clocked the fastest 40-yard dash time (4.84) among offensive lineman at the NFL Scouting Combine. His 1.72 10-yard split tied for second-best among offensive linemen and his broad jump (9’4″) was tied for third-best.
“Some of his biggest strengths are his mobility, competitiveness, and willingness to learn,” DeBary said. “He was a consistent backup for most of his career, learning more and more each season before taking over last fall. He moves really well for a guy his size and is one of the fastest offensive linemen to play at Georgia in many years.”
Wilson excels on the move. With his athleticism, he has limitless range as a run blocker and shows no restraints out in space. He easily climbs to the second level to erase linebackers. The former four-star recruit explodes out of his stance to quickly get into his blocks and he keeps his legs driving at contact to create movement. He drives defenders downfield with his lower body strength.
“He plays hard, plays to the whistle, and plays with good leverage,” DeBary said. “He competed against some outstanding SEC defensive linemen all season long and held his own throughout the season. He has outstanding lower-body strength and has enough athleticism to find linebackers at the second level in the run game.”
He has quick feet and the lateral agility to shut down any pathway to the quarterback. The Georgia center is able to stay balanced through contact and has natural body control. He has the core strength to anchor against power. Wilson has a high football IQ and is quick to react, playing with the savviness of an NFL veteran. According to Pro Football Focus, Wilson gave up zero sacks and six pressures this past season, with three of those pressures coming in one game (Texas).
“His understanding of the offense helps him in pass protection,” DeBary said. “He doesn’t get fooled on stunts and blitzes. He rarely lets a guy fly right past him. He fires off the ball and plays with good pad level and a balanced base when protecting the quarterback.”
Fit with the Packers
Wilson is a Day 2 player all day long. He checks the boxes with his functional strength, size and athleticism. Given the fact that Jenkins is expected to start at center to open the season, there may be some outrage on Friday night if the Packers use a Day 2 pick on a player who likely won’t see the field during his rookie season. The Packers may be better suited to draft Jenkins’ backup on Day 3.
However, Wilson is an athletic center who has the potential to be the anchor of Green Bay’s offensive line for a long, long time. He excelled during his first season as a starter this past fall for the Bulldogs and it’s reasonable to expect that it was just the jumping-off point for the former four-star recruit.
“Simply put, he comes from a winning program that consistently puts offensive linemen in the NFL,” DeBary said. “He competes at a high level, practices every day at a program that practices like an NFL team and played against some of the best competition in college football. Again, he moves extremely well and still has his best football way ahead of him. He only started one season so there’s still a lot to learn and improve upon which has to excite NFL coaches and GMS looking for a promising center with mobillity, size, and potential.”
Wilson will turn 22 in June and even if he doesn’t start during his first or even second year in the league, he could wind up being the starting center for a huge chunk of the Jordan Love era. Getting a potential 10-plus-year starter in the second or third round sounds like a good use of resources, even if he doesn’t start as a rookie.
As a rookie, he could provide quality depth at center and even guard, a position he played sparingly during his time at Georgia. After his rookie season, he could earn a starting spot at center depending on how the offensive line shakes out with Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker and Sean Rhyan all set to be free agents.
There could be another game of musical chairs along the offensive line at 1265 Lombardi Avenue and when the music stops in 2026 it could lead to a player like Wilson being the starting center.
