With the 25th pick in the POD Community Mock Draft, the Packers select...

We’re at Pick 25 in our 2024 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, and the Green Bay Packers are on the clock for the first time. We’ve already seen the Chicago Bears (Caleb Williams and Malik Nabers) and Minnesota Vikings (J.J. McCarthy and Jaylen Wright) have two selections, making the NFC North an drastically-improving division.

Acting as general manager for the Packers in our POD Community Mock is commenter Hunter Baker. If you want to see the previous 24 picks in this mock, head to our Community Mock Draft tracker.

But let’s get into the pick now.

With the 25th pick in the Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the Green Bay Packers have selected Kool-Aid McKinstry, cornerback out of Alabama.

Here’s Hunter Baker with the explanation:

“When the time to pick with the 25th overall selection came to me I had four primary options in mind:

• DE Chop Robinson, Penn State
• WR Brian Thomas Jr, LSU
• CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
• DE Darius Robinson, Missouri

“I think the Packers may find they need another defensive end to complete their transformation to a 4-3 alignment, yet I had to weigh just what player seemed the most accomplished, the most vital to their future success, and perhaps simply put, the best player on the board. I have to also admit that the position pulled me to my choice too. Getting a lock-down or at least reliable and consistent cornerback is essential in today’s NFL.

“McKinstry, after concluding his junior season in 2023, is a three-year starter, and a two-time All-SEC player. This record checked all of the boxes for me. His body of work is simply outstanding over those three years. PFF graded him an excellent-to-outstanding mark of 88.8 in 2023. The statistics that this grade earned him, are nothing short of remarkable. He’s kept receivers being targeted against him at under a 50% success rate, and opponent passer ratings have skimmed the depths with a low of 57.9 during 2022.

“His college production definitely persuaded me to choose him, but more he has the fluidity and instincts that have to set any coach’s mind at ease as they watch how he goes about his business. He’s got good size too, standing 6-foot. His frame is a solid, but very lean 195 pounds. At just 21.5 years of age, this is also promising for some continued development, as well as a likely longer career.

“He had been projected to be a top-15 pick, but fell in the rankings when it was discovered during the NFL Scouting Combine that he had a small foot bone fracture. I’m anticipating that this will be fully healed by the start of fall team practices and it won’t be a lingering issue.

“Getting a top-15 pick at 25 is a steal in my book. There are always some risks with taking any injured player, but he was simply too good to pass on, at too important of a position, with too good of a production record, at a top college program.”