The 2025 Combine has come and gone and your favorite Gemologist left feeling a little....unsatisfied. 

But maybe that has more to do with me and less with this draft class. Going into this, I knew this class was going to be a little underwhelming. And it is my hope that like me, Packers' GM Brian Gutekunst is going to trust the tape, but I'm a player in the later rounds for certain prospects. This is a "football player" draft, where you have to just believe that your guy is going to make plays regardless of what the drills may have told you. 

However, since I'm not in the Packers front office I have to assume that the metrics from this year's Combine absolutely do matter, and as such I will cater my eventual Gems accordingly. But this class made it very hard for me because so many players across all the position groups opted to not do all the drills, or drills that were innately essential to their performance on the field. I understand pro days are coming, but it's hard for me as a scout to make an accurate projection when there are gaps in the data. Can Gutekunst & The Gang do it? Probably, they get paid millions to do so. As for me, just like your old chemistry teacher in high school, I don't take incomplete work.

So without further ado, notes from the Gemologist on this year's Combine.

QB

I have no idea if Brian Gutekusnt wants another QB to develop, but the eventual value of Malik Willis is probably burning a hole in his pocket. I was floored that so many in the group elected just to do mostly drills when anyone not named Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders had plenty to gain. I was holding out for Bama's Jalen Milroe to rehab himself, but he's probably at best a 5th Rounder now. Louisville's Tyler Shough (9.53) was already stock up but after that 40-yard dash, he's probably priority Day 2 for a team with a signal caller who's maybe a little long in the tooth. Also, time to watch more film on Mizzou's Brady Cook (9.71).

RB

Is it me or did the entire group skip agility drills? I don't know if prospects are starting to game the system, or is it because these guys as a whole collectively aren't agile but it's concerning. I still would want Bhayshul Tuten (9.29) out of Virginia Tech because the tape shows me enough about how he can move. Florida's Montrell Johnson Jr. (9.56) and Kansas' Devin Neal (8.55) are both enticing prospects as well.

WR

Just like the running backs before them, a lot of receivers bowed out of agility, which drew my ire. Arkansas' Isaac TeSlaa probably won't sneak into Day 2 even with his impressive follow-up to the Senior Bowl (9.97u), but on paper, he's a complete athlete and he gives the impression that he'll work his butt off if given an opportunity. Regardless, he's probably still at best a priority Day 3 guy who could maybe push the current Packers' WRs for reps (which could be a good thing for the group overall). Florida's Chimere Dike (9.65) presents himself as a vertical guy out of the slot on Day 3 as well. Until pro days have concluded, Iowa State's Jaylin Noel (9.71) presents himself as a solid option on Day 2, but would Gutekunst pull the trigger on another receiver at 5'10 (only Amari Rodgers and Jayden Reed under 6 feet)? 

TE

Iowa's Luke Lachey (8.69u) wasn't ready for a complete showing but South Carolina's Josh Simon (8.68u) did. I'd be surprised if Gute was a player at the position in 2025.

OT

Minnesota's Aireontae Ersery (9.32u) cemented himself to me as the best tackle in this year's class, without a doubt Packers won't get him, but I like him a lot. Mizzou's Armand Membou is locked in at #2 (9.89u). LSU's Will Campbell (9.86u) was confirmed with his short arms so he's going to drop for some teams. I was very disappointed that Texas' Kelvin Banks didn't test better, but he's perfect for a swing tackle project if you ask me.

IOL

Kansas' Logan Brown, who is listed as a tackle, is probably a solid conversion candidate for guard after his shaky performance at the Senior Bowl (9.85u as a guard). After spending four years in Wisconsin, he's probably the closest Packers fans will get to drafting a Badger; and could be a nice reinforcement on the interior early Day 3. Bulldogs duo Jared Wilson (9.98) and Tate Ratledge (9.98) will be in high demand Day 2.

DE

For those clamoring for a defensive end, based on testing you won't find one in this class until pro days. Arkansas' Landon Jackson (9.88u) tested exactly as I thought, and he'll probably be a solid early Day 2 pick. This really isn't the class for 4-3 DEs, especially past the Top 50 picks. Could Georgia's Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins fit in this scheme as an edge (9.93u, 6'4/276)? It's a rough projection and maybe more of a project than I would want to take on, so he probably moves inside.

DT

I was hoping Florida State's Josh Farmer would hit certain thresholds but he didn't. Nebraska's Ty Robinson(9.84) should demand reps anywhere he goes, but I just don't see the Packers adding talent to this group right now without someone sliding down.

LB

Am I paranoid that Isaiah McDuffie just happened to get signed after the Combine? Or is it because Gutekunst walked away not happy with what he saw? I lost Auburn's Eugene Asante and Oregon's Jeffrey Bassa. So now I'm down to Alabama's Jihad Campbell (9.95u) who may not escape the 1st Round, Oklahoma State's Nick Martin (8.88u), and South Carolina's Demetrius Knight Jr. (8.53u), who I'm trusting the tape on to make the selection. We know the Packers probably need at least two more LBs if Eric Wilson isn't back, and I'm expecting them to come out of the Draft. Smael Mondon Jr. (9.42u) still looks like the wonderful Day 3 project I thought he would be. James Pearce (9.83), who had an amazing showing just carries far too many question marks about his character and work ethic that I can't see the Packers taking a chance on unless it's very late on Day 3.

CB

I'm definitely a player for Darrien Porter (9.99) out of Iowa State in the 2nd Round. Once again I'm stuck because so many corners bypassed the agility testing. While receivers are meant to get vertical, I can't ignore the twitch to get sideways on in-and-out-breaking routes. Kentucky's Maxwell Hairston (9.71) and Tulane's Caleb Ransaw (9.95) tested exceptionally well without doing agility, so the jury's out temporarily.

SAF

I may have a little something in my projection of Billy Bowman (8.46u as a CB) out of Oklahoma to nickel. This is a high-cut safety class, headed by South Carolina's Nick Emmanwori (10.0) and luckily the Packers don't need any. For what it's worth, Wisconsin's Hunter Wohler had a nice outing (9.55u). 

Ultimately, I walked away not too excited about any prospects in particular, other than the ones I've grown an affinity to already. As I predicted, there was more for prospects to lose rather than gain in the Combine this year, which might explain the massive absence of testing in some notable areas. Despite this, at the end of the day teams are still going to have to make their picks according to the talent that's available on the board. NFL GMs for the most part have a solid poker face, but once they start hitting the road to certain pro days and making their "Top 30" visits, they'll slowly start to reveal their hands. I've got some more tape to watch, but I believe I'll have my first crop of Gems solidified for next week. It's going to be a tough draft season y'all, so buckle up! 

#GPG