Packers Select Edge Rusher, Collin Oliver, in 2025 NFL Draft - Round 5
By Mike Price
Collin Oliver, Oklahoma St, Edge Rusher
MEASURABLES/PRO DAY:
6'1", 240 Lbs, 4.56 40, 39" vertical, 126" broad jump
VIDEO:
NFL SCOUTING REPORT:
He’s a natural edge rusher with outstanding fluidity and movement talent but lacks the size or length to project there as a three-down player. As an off-ball linebacker in 2023 he flashed the ability to handle the position, but he clearly lacked the seasoning and recognition that can only come with more reps.
- NFL.com
Oklahoma State Cowboys linebacker Collin Oliver is a tweener talent with the rush upside to warrant consideration later in the draft. Thanks to an explosive first step and good general instincts rushing the pocket, his NFL team will have a chance to go after lightning in a bottle.
CAREER NOTES:
Oliver started his career off on a high note as Big 12 freshman of the year in 2021. In 2022 and 2023, he was second-team all Big-12 and in 2024 he missed all but two games with injury. His father also played football at Oklahoma St and his mother played college basketball.
FIT WITH THE PACKERS:
Oliver played on the edge and off-ball in college but is projected by many to convert to full-time off-ball linebacker in the NFL. His 4.56 40 time implies that he would be able to make the conversion. His top mockdraftable comps include Leo Chenal and Sione Takitaki who are also combo edge rusher/off-ball linebackers in the NFL.
It's possible that he could be the speed rusher that Hafley hasn't had with Green Bay, but at just 6'1" and 240 pounds, it's unlikely he would play on the line except in obvious passing situations. It's worth noting that Oliver was announced as a defensive end and not linebacker - the Packers tend to allow college Tackles to fail at Tackle before moving them into guard and they may feel the same way with college edges; that is, let them fail at edge before moving to the less valuable position.
Packers Director of Football Operations Milt Hendrickson also made a point to mention that Oliver should be an excellent special teams player.
COMMENTARY:
The Packers haven't had a good speed rusher in a long time and Oliver may have fallen because he is such a tweener. Leo Chenal, former Badger, fell in the draft for similar reasons and has been outstanding in Kansas City. I would guess that Oliver's best chance to succeed in Green Bay will be packing on some muscle and becoming a Bryce Huff-like situational rusher.
CheeseheadTV favorite Cody Alexander wrote last year about how the new defensive hybrid in the NFL is the off-ball linebacker/edge hybrid. When using a hybrid, like Oliver, teams are able to shift into a odd front and clog the middle against the run. Big edges like Rashan Gary and Lucas Van Ness would shift inside to the 4i while Oliver sets the edge against a tight end and potentially drops back into coverage while Edgerrin Cooper or Quay Walker rushes from the middle. Obviously, you don't change how your defense functions because of a fifth-round pick, but Oliver's upside could be this type of player.
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Mike Price is a lifelong Packers fan who recently moved from Utah to Stoughton (a Madison suberb). You can follow him on twitter at @themikeprice.
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Comments (39)
PackEyedOptimist
April 26, 2025 at 02:12 pm
I'm surprised they didn't take one of the remaining decent CBs (Frazier, Strong, Alexander).
Really makes me think Jaire is returning.
Dang; now the Bears took Frazier.
stockholder
April 26, 2025 at 02:17 pm
Panic Pick- Roberts went two picks earlier.
So it is what it is. Another B-
WD
April 26, 2025 at 02:20 pm
WTF. They passed on a 6'6 333lb defensive tackle and a couple of really good CBs for another Edge? I assume this would be a back up LB for Quay and Cooper? This is the day three head scratcher.
PackEyedOptimist
April 26, 2025 at 02:43 pm
I picked CB Zah Frazier, and I was hoping to get DT Yahya Black in the next round.
:-(
NJMagic
April 26, 2025 at 02:27 pm
The DT cupboard is bare at this point.
And expecting any of these late round DBs to come in and start seems.... a stretch.
I actually am cautiously optimistic this means Jaire may return....
despite every pundit saying no way
More likely, we see some trade or release between now and May 1st, maybe they get someone from a team with that was targeting a DB too....
Doofapotamus
April 26, 2025 at 02:36 pm
This has Carl Bradford 2.0 written all over it. Yeah, he's fast but he's 6'2", 240lbs and has 30" arms. What is he going to do against NFL tackles that are 330lbs with 35" arms like Sewell?
Gute yesterday: "I feel confident with the guys we have up front"
Gute today: "Let's take multiple pass rushers who are smaller than any we have on the roster and see if that helps"
Where are we going against teams with beefy offensive lines? Kenny Clark is now 15lbs heavier than any other lineman on the roster and we have 2 guys over 300lbs. God help us against any team on the 1 yard line.
Leatherhead
April 26, 2025 at 03:07 pm
We only carry 5 DEs and dress 4. Gary, Van Ness, Enagbare, Cox, Mosby are all ahead of the new guys. I don't believe they'll both make the 53, and I wouldn't be surprised if neither of them did.
Doofapotamus
April 26, 2025 at 03:27 pm
If that's the case, what was the point of drafting them when we have a massive hole at DT? We have Clark, Wyatt and Brooks has shown to be a decent rotational piece, where are we going after that?
Leatherhead
April 26, 2025 at 03:40 pm
That’s the question. I’m going to assume there are things I don’t know. Maybe the plan is to trade Enagbare before we lose him in FA. Maybe something else. It’s kind of immaterial until we start having to reduce rosters, which is a couple of months yet.
I figured we’d get our DT in the 4th round. I don’t really get our Day 3 picks.
nagawicka
April 26, 2025 at 11:50 pm
WYM? They had to draft a Van Ness replacement at some point. Can't expect 'em to wait for another non-season. Likely enough Oliver's an upgrade from Mosby (even tho I don't downplay Mosby or Cox), for all we know Enagbare's hitting the wall.
Check the highlight reels, they look like football players.
Oppy
April 26, 2025 at 02:38 pm
I keep on seeing variations of "It looks like Jaire is coming back, that must be why we're passing on DBs"
I don't understand it. Even if Jaire IS remaining a Packer in 2025, he's played less than 50% over the last two seasons. When Jaire doesn't play, there is substantial drop off in our secondary.
The room still needs to improve, regardless if Jaire plays in 2025 or not.
It is obvious that the Packers do not agree with my assessment of the talent they have at CB. I hope they're right. I don't see it.
Leatherhead
April 26, 2025 at 03:04 pm
The defacto starting CBs for the Packers the last two seasons have been Nixon and Valentine. They were the ones who started in the playoffs last year. They've been the main CBs on defenses that finished 10th and 6th in scoring defense.
So, those are our starting CBs, unless Hobbs beats out one of them or there's an injury. Those are the top 3 CBs, we only dress 4, and we only carry 5 on the 53 man roster.
So there's room for one more CB on the 45 man roster, and one more on the 53. We have Kaelen King coming back to compete for a spot. There's a bunch of FA CBs out there (like Rasul Douglas, for example) and we have ample money to make that happen if we want.
Look at the CBs we've drafted on the first two days: Randall, Rollins, Jackson, King, Alexander, Stokes. Look at who we got as FAs or Day 3 picks: Woodson, McKinney, Hobbs, Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Nixon, Valentine.
Why spend premium picks on a CB in the draft when you can just sign a FA who has already proven he can finish an entire season and play the position?
Old.as.Lambeau
April 26, 2025 at 03:33 pm
Leatherface is on fire today.
Oppy
April 26, 2025 at 05:05 pm
Here we go again with assuming because we have "x" number of players at a position, we only have room for "y" more in the room. This is the NFL, you don't keep your job based on incumbency- NFL teams look to improve the talent level continuously. You find better talent, you bring it in, and the least talented guy loses his spot. That's how competitive sports work.
As to FA; you can say that for every position. Why draft at all? It has a lot to do with availability, control and salary cap.
Nixon and Valentine look like placeholders to me. Nixon's contract says the Packers think differently, but I don't see him as a guy who shouldn't be improved upon and replaced.
For what it's worth, the Packers haven't signed that FA CB yet. Here's hoping they find someone to pick up at some point before the start of the season who can push Valentine or Nixon out of a job.
TKWorldWide
April 27, 2025 at 12:07 am
I’d like to know who they’d prioritize to cover Justin Jefferson man to man. (Assuming there’s no Jaire.) Would it be Hobbs, Nixon, or Valentine?
Oppy
April 28, 2025 at 07:16 pm
That's a great question, TK.
My first assumption is they'd try to eliminate the chances of getting caught in Man vs. Jefferson.
Bitternotsour
April 28, 2025 at 07:22 pm
We shall see how big JJ McCarthy's eyes get when Gary is smoking their tackle while Jefferson hasn't even made his break.
LambeauPlain
April 26, 2025 at 03:08 pm
It seems Alexander the Occasional is not yet going to be Alexander Gone Guy. Still, the defense played well without him. They will play better with him.
As long as his primary motivation is top CB money he is more about himself vs the team and winning a Lombardi. So I can see him on the team until the trade deadline...and maybe all season.
nagawicka
April 27, 2025 at 12:04 am
The DB room like every Packers position is addressed the same way every year:
- sign/extend your own free agents, if worthy
- sign 1 ascendant free agent, at each position needing a solid, sure upgrade // See McKinney, Hobbs, Jacobs
- draft at least 2 if not 3 prospects at positions needing re-stocking // See WR, S
- sign as many hot UDFAs as possible // See Nazir Stackhouse
Do this every year at every position.
It's not really a matter of 'Oh No, we don't have Jaire!' He's under contract. If we look good, he'll be released. If he looks great, it's all smooth sailing, and no one rises to game-day level, we keep him on. If he's gone, we bring in all those people; if he's here, we bring in all those people.
Any one here think Jaire could resist lining up opposite Matthew Golden every day, testing each other? $5 says Alexander and Gute will talk it over at some point
LambeauPlain
April 26, 2025 at 02:57 pm
Oliver is a tackle machine and a talented tweener. I wish Campanile was still LB coach. He'd know if Oliver has the skill for LB or DE.
On the other hand, let's hope Covington can determine if he's a DE.
Crazy speed for a 240 lb man and has outstanding tackling technique. Bisaccia got another Teamer.
This isn't a bad draft...just betting a lot on RAS and potential vs production.
Doofapotamus
April 26, 2025 at 03:31 pm
That's EVERY draft under Gute. We're sick of drafting athletes with upside, we need football players.
bjkdad44
April 26, 2025 at 04:27 pm
I agree 100%!
LambeauPlain
April 26, 2025 at 04:40 pm
That's the draft for EVERY NFL team. It's a crap shoot.
Proven Free Agents, IE football players, don't have that problem. They are just very costly and can quickly clog up the cap long term.
For the last two years the Packers have been the youngest team, and will be again this year because they are building heavily with prospects having upside. They had to unclog their cap.
I admit I did not see Gutey investing his top picks on the offense. Now he's drafting D, finally. And on Day 3 you are mostly getting athletes with upside or they would have been gone on Thursday or Friday.
I really like Golden. Understand Belton. Confused by Williams, but see his talent as a WR even with poor hands.
The D guys today are developmental to the core. Excellent coaching is the difference maker.
nagawicka
April 27, 2025 at 12:12 am
Sorrell and Oliver are just football players. Robinson too, just based on production vs. non-prototypical size. See the highlight reels
Coldworld
April 27, 2025 at 10:34 am
Dumas-Johnson, the UDFA pick up LB ran the 40 in 4.46 at his pro day at 238. He does not have the length have the length Oliver has, but it still puts Oliver’s time in perspective. Quay ran a 4.52. Oliver is fast, but he’s not crazy fast.
His problem with tackling is that his angles suck. He looks like a guy with little time playing inside, not one who can’t tackle. He’s actually pretty good in coverage and has great length. Hes just suffered from being too important as a rusher, depriving him of time to hone his inside skills in my opinion. Opportunity not inability.
He’s 5 pounds lighter than Fackrell and similar in height. I think that is probably how he gets used. As a long, rapid designated rusher who can drop into coverage in obvious passing situations, either starting out from the edge or ILB.
DragonSilk
April 26, 2025 at 03:11 pm
First pick I'm not crazy about. Too much of a tweener. He may be able to generate some pass rush with speed, but if someone goes down in front of him then you've got a 240-pounder trying to run block. Hopefully they see him exclusively as a linebacker. Don't know if he did special teams in college but that could be his spot.
DragonSilk
April 26, 2025 at 05:32 pm
*Obviously I meant stop the run.
Thegreatreynoldo
April 26, 2025 at 03:14 pm
I would describe myself as bemused.
LeotisHarris
April 26, 2025 at 03:38 pm
Maybe Brian's blood sugar dropped and he was only able to preform rudimentary tasks? I don't get it either.
Leatherhead
April 26, 2025 at 03:53 pm
He could make the 45 man roster, and that's getting harder to say. It's not the choice I would have made.
We have quite a bit of money to work with, and there are still FAs out there.
stockholder
April 26, 2025 at 04:36 pm
This is a pick that should have been traded.
Package the pick and moved up.
MooPack
April 26, 2025 at 03:14 pm
This is at least a competitive upgrade to Isaiah McDuffie/ST, which I think he can win. And along with Barryon Sorrell which may be recognition that Quay needs some competition. I see him as a bit of hybrid. I like the attempt to upgrade the LB/OLB positions. Edge Coop is awesome, but needs better help. So it seems the Packers are good with Edge for now and CB for now. Even though Gute alluded to that, seems strange. Late picks are heavy RAS. Let's see what outliers they come up with late.
Leatherhead
April 26, 2025 at 03:51 pm
So...we signed McDuffie to a two year deal, including $2.5M guaranteed and another half million in LTBE bonuses, so that we can sit him on the bench behind a Day 3 guy that just showed up?
We dress 5 LBs. Walker, Cooper, McDuffie, Hopper, Welch. Welch has no guaranteed money and it's entirely possible that somebody could beat him out for a roster spot. The other 4 are set in stone, and they are the ones that will be on the field when we play defense.
MooPack
April 26, 2025 at 06:54 pm
Yes. I don't understand the problem you have with getting better just because they signed someone to a contract to protect themselves. It's like $ and only $ is the determinate of the better player.
LLCHESTY
April 27, 2025 at 06:47 am
Well that and what round they were drafted.
dobber
April 26, 2025 at 03:37 pm
Cobee Bryant time...
stockholder
April 26, 2025 at 03:56 pm
No it's a DT. And a good one.
Coldworld
April 27, 2025 at 10:47 am
Dumas -Johnson is a Mike I’m thrilled we picked up in UDFA. I think he may well be the guy pushing McDuffie in fact. Collins is a Moseby upgrade.
Dumas-Johnson played heavier last year after a bad forearm injury in 2023 that lingered beyond that season apparently and that was felt to have slowed him. By the combine he was back to weight and the prior athleticism seemingly returned.
I don’t think he’s a stellar cover guy, but with that speed he is certainly able to get around. He has an 8.98 RAS, but did not do agility testing and that might be his weak spot. It’s worth noting he does need the weight room. He was heavily dinged for his bench (16) and his height (6’1”). That only emphasizes his speed: a 1.59 10 yard and 4.6 40 (pro day) is pretty darn fast for a LB. Quay Walker ran a 4.52 as a comparison. He also had really good jumps.
He was a stand out at the East/West Shrine Bowl. The Packers had 2 coaches involved with that: Eddie Gordon (offensive line coach for the East team) and Sean Duggan (linebackers coach for the East team), which Dumas-Johnson played for. So we should know him fairly well and Duggan will be his coach here.
“Dumas-Johnson projects as a high-floor prospect with the potential to be an immediate contributor in the NFL. His size, instincts, and physicality make him a strong fit for teams employing a 3-4 defensive scheme or those looking for a downhill, thumping inside linebacker. While he may not be an elite athlete warranting a top-10 selection, his production against elite SEC competition and championship pedigree will make him a valuable mid-round pick.” Athlon Sports
Coldworld
April 27, 2025 at 10:51 am
Since I’m indulging my curiosity over coffee, I was intrigued by Buggs Brown, the 220 something corner so did a little digging. I figured I might as well share.
Turns out that he’s played perimeter corner more than anywhere, but also S and LB. He’s certainly athletic. He could just be an interesting depth piece for Hafley and profiles as a good STer. It will be interesting to see him over the summer.
Pro Day Results:
Bench press: 24 reps at 225 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.38 seconds
Vertical jump: 37 inches
Broad jump: 10’1″
Short shuttle: 4.09 seconds
“Florida Atlantic DB Kahzir “Buggs” Brown is an intriguing and highly versatile prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft. Brown has proven himself to be a reliable cornerback with 35 career starts, yet his skill set has led to speculation that he could excel as a safety or linebacker, thanks to his impressive size. Weighing 224 pounds, with long arms (32 1/8 inches) and big hands (10 inches), Brown’s attributes give him a distinct advantage on the field. Throughout his career at FAU and Maine, he’s shown strong ball skills, tallying 8 career interceptions. … Brown is known for his aggressive playstyle and physical toughness. He excels at shutting down receivers at the line of scrimmage and is a solid tackler, bringing a gritty and tough mentality to the field.
Pro Day Results:
Bench press: 24 reps at 225 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.38 seconds
Vertical jump: 37 inches
Broad jump: 10’1″
Short shuttle: 4.09 seconds.”
Courtesy of Draft Diamonds