Would Packers pass on Green?

A few days ago, there was no chance Mike Green would be available when the Packers select at 23 in the first round of April’s draft. An NCAA-leading 17 sacks and a strong Senior Bowl had the defensive end’s stock on the rise, and most experts projected him to be a top-15 pick. But that was before troubling accusations surfaced earlier this week.

Green told reporters at the NFL scouting combine that he transferred from Virginia to Marshall after being accused of sexual assault for the second time. He was also accused in high school. Green wasn’t charged in either instance and insists he did nothing wrong. Whether these revelations affect his stock remains to be seen, but there’s at least a chance he could be there when the Packers are on the clock. So the question is, would they be interested?

The guess here is that general manager Brian Gutekunst would pass on Green, even though adding a pass rusher is the offseason’s top priority, and the 22-year-old has the potential to be a double-digit sack guy for the next decade. Green has outstanding initial take-off speed, enabling him to beat blockers off the ball at the snap consistently. While size (6-3, 250) and level of competition (Sun Belt Conference) are legit concerns, the tape suggests that, at the very least, Green is going to be a quarterback’s worst nightmare in obvious passing situations.

So why don’t I see Green ending up with the Packers should he fall to 23? Because the Packers stay away from players accused of causing physical harm to women, regardless of whether charges were brought. This has been the organization’s philosophy since Bob Harlan took over as team president and CEO in 1989. Since then, Letroy Guion is the only player charged with assaulting a woman to play for the Packers. GM Ted Thompson signed the journeyman nose tackle as an unrestricted free agent in 2012, and he spent three unmemorable seasons in Green Bay.

Gutekunst did raise eyebrows last fall when he signed Brandon McManus, who was accused of sexual assault by two flight attendants while a member of the Jaguars in 2023. According to a lawsuit, the veteran kicker got drunk on a team flight, rubbed against the women multiple times, and tried to kiss one of them. It’s ugly behavior for sure, but there’s a fine line between being boorish and being violent, although that line might’ve blurred a bit after Gutekunst watched rookie Brayden Narveson miss five field goals in the first six games of last season.

While the signing of McManus might leave the door open to the drafting of Green, it would still be a very big surprise. And if we’re being honest, it would be an even bigger surprise to see him get anywhere close to 23. Too many franchises are led by men of questionable character to envision such a talented player freefalling to the Packers.

I like that the Packers have placed such a premium on character over the past thirty-plus years because it hasn’t always been that way. In the mid-80s, it seemed like one of head coach Forrest Gregg’s players was getting arrested every other week. An NFL roster doesn’t need to be comprised of 53 choir boys, but there are more than enough talented players who haven’t been accused of beating a woman to build a championship-caliber roster. And I’ll feel this way even if the Packers pass on Green and he goes on to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.