The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2025 NFL draft.

Joshua Gray is one of the most seasoned offensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Oregon State prospect started 56 games during his time in Corvallis, with 44 of those starts coming at left tackle and 12 at left guard.

The battle-tested offensive linemen could be a Day 3 target for the Green Bay Packers and checks in at No. 96 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

Gray came to Oregon State as a three-star recruit out of California and earned the starting left tackle job as a redshirt freshman in 2020. Following 44 straight starts at left tackle, Gray kicked inside to left guard for his final season as a Beaver. 

“Not only was Gray the best lineman on the roster for most of his extended stay at Oregon State, but he was also loyal to the program at a time when it needed leadership the most,” Carter Bahns, a reporter for 247sports, said. “When most of the team’s best players entered the transfer portal amid the coaching change and transition out of the traditional Pac-12, Gray returned for one final year and became a multi-year team captain. His blocking ability made him a star, but his intangibles made him an all-time Oregon State great.”

It’s no secret that NFL teams love offensive linemen who can play multiple positions, and the Packers have had a ton of success turning college offensive tackles into all-pro caliber guards. While Gray never took a snap at center during a game, he is listed as center on the Shrine Bowl website and will likely get looks at center, guard and tackle during Shrine Bowl week in Texas.  

“Most of Gray’s career came at the left tackle spot, where he was the most valuable piece of an offensive line that regularly ranked among the nation’s most elite units and Joe Moore Award contenders,” Bahns said. “His NFL projections favored him on the interior, though, so he moved to guard ahead of his final year at Oregon State. The Beavers put a premium on versatility and taught all of their offensive linemen to play multiple positions, and that aided Gray in thriving at the guard spot.”

Gray is a powerful run-blocker, who is aggressive with his hands to initiate contact. He plays with the right about of tenacity to bully defenders. The 56-game starter can move in space and looks nimble as a puller. 

“Run blocking has always been Gray’s forte,” Bahns said. “Oregon State regularly boasted one of the nation’s best-rushing attacks throughout his career. His Pro Football Focus run blocking grade ranked No. 8 in the Pac-12 in 2021 and No. 3 in 2022.”

Gray has seen it all. He is alert in pass protection and keeps his head on a swivel. He’s patient in his pass sets and uses a timely punch to get into the frame of rushers. According to PFF, Gray gave up one sack and 13 pressures while playing his new position at left guard this past season. 

“What Gray lacks in that elite size NFL teams covet in their tackles, he makes up for in sheer athleticism and effort, and that shows in pass protection,” Bahns said. “He was a lockdown pass blocker on the blind side year after year because of his high motor, discipline and explosiveness.”

Fit with the Packers

Green Bay’s depth along the offensive line was tested during their Wild Card matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. With Jordan Morgan already on injured reserve, the Packers had to first turn to Travis Glover after starting left guard Elgton Jenkins left the game with an injury. After the rookie flamed out, the Packers turned to Kadeem Telfort. 

With Josh Myers headed for free agency, it’s a safe assumption that Brian Gutekunst will target an interior offensive lineman or two this offseason.

Gray likely isn’t somebody you want starting at left tackle on a full-time basis, but he could kick outside in a pinch and potentially offers five-position versatility. 

“Gray is a proven standout at multiple positions along the offensive line, who developed across a six-year career under one of college football’s most accomplished offensive line coaches in Jim Michalczik,” Bahns said. “He is about as refined and experienced as college linemen come. That, plus the fact that he is a model teammate and longtime captain, makes him a complete package who should make an impact early in his pro career.”

Brian Gutekunst has had success finding quality offensive linemen on Day 3 of the draft with picks like Myers, Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker Jon Runyan Jr.

With his versatility, experience, run-blocking prowess and football IQ, Gray could be high on Green Bay’s board when Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft rolls around.

Derrick Harmon made a huge move when he transferred to Oregon from Michigan State heading into the 2024 college football season.

Not only did Harmon get the opportunity to help Oregon win the Big Ten championship and earn the No. 1 seed for the College Football Playoff, he set up his future for an NFL career.

Harmon, a former standout at Detroit Loyola, was an afterthought for the 2025 NFL Draft after his redshirt sophomore season at Michigan State in 2023 when he got in on 40 tackles from his defensive tackle position, 3½ for lost yardage.

Well, Harmon turned into a star at Oregon, a reason he has declared for the NFL Draft, in which his name is now mentioned in the first round of multiple NFL mock drafts, including No. 17 (Cincinnati Bengals) by Yahoo! Sports and No. 16 (Arizona Cardinals) by CBS Sports. The Pro Football Network projects the 49ers to pick Harmon at No. 11 and has Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker (Detroit Cass Tech) headed to the Lions at No. 32.

Walker was a second-team All-American in USA Today’s preseason rankings.

Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN has Harmon No. 14 on his board, the No. 4 defensive linemen, saying: “He combines quickness with power to cause chaos for opponents.”

Yes, Harmon’s thick build and long arms and athleticism give him the ability to line up anywhere from 3-technique to nose tackle, making him versatile and valuable for the next level.

Harmon made the most of his one year at Oregon, getting in on 41 tackles, 10½ TFL and five sacks while forcing two fumbles and recovering two fumbles.

“I’ve seen it, not putting too much attention to it because a lot can change,” Harmon said of the mock drafts. “I know I still have a lot of work to do.”

So, how impressive was Harmon?

Well, Harmon led the nation in total pressures from an interior defensive lineman with 55, 12 higher than the next-highest player.

One reason for Harmon’s breakout season was his ability to drop 30 pounds and play at 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds after playing his final season at Michigan State at 340.

“Going to Oregon was really good for me,” said Harmon, who said he was filing his papers to declare for the draft Monday and was set to travel to Dallas to prepare for the NFL Scouting Combine. “I had a good season, and we capitalized on a good season. I loved my team. I feel I improved by being more of a leader and I loved my pass-rushing ability too.

“I left (Michigan) State just because I wanted a better opportunity. I feel I’ve always had good technique in the run game just from the coaches I’ve had previously so for me, so it was more tuning up the pass rush. Coach T (defensive line coach Tony Tuioti) and Coach Tosh (defensive coordinator Lupoi) are good coaches, Coach Tuioti taught me a lot about the run game, played a lot of different positions on the line from the 0 all the way to the 5, so all those techniques he was able to teach me to take to the league.

“At State I played at 6-5 and 340 and this year I played at 6-5 at 315, 320. I could tell the difference, more agile and just as strong.”

Harmon said beating Ohio State 32-31 in Eugene during the regular season was his highlight. He had three tackles, and a forced fumble which he recovered at the Buckeyes’ 28 to set up a touchdown.

Harmon still thinks of his days at Loyola, saying “Coach Cal (John Callahan) is a great coach, still coaching to this day (at Hazel Park). He just told me a lot about ball, and he told me I had potential to play at the college level and at the NFL level just like he told me he did with Malik McDowell before me, so that was cool.”

McDowell started his high school career at Loyola before moving on to Southfield, then playing at Michigan State before being picked in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Seahawks.

High praise for Dante Moore

Former Detroit King standout quarterback Dante Moore started several games at UCLA as a true freshman in 2023 before transferring to Oregon.

Moore stood on the sidelines and watched Dillon Gabriel operate as the Ducks’ quarterback, becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist, completing 72.9% of his passes for 3,857 yards and 30 touchdowns (to just six interceptions). Oregon was 13-0 before a quarterfinal loss to Ohio State in the CFP.

When asked how Moore will perform next season with Gabriel using up his six years of eligibility, Harmon replied: “He’s going to be the truth. You can learn a lot sitting behind a Heisman finalist. Dante Moore is going to be a Heisman finalist next year. He’s that good.”

Moore was ranked No. 5 on CBS Sports listing of 16 players who will define the race for the 2025 national championship, saying Moore is “now the obvious choice to lead the explosive Will Stein’s offense,” and will be aided by receiver Evan Stewart, who announced Tuesday that he will return for ’25 season.

Former Belleville standout Bryce Underwood — the No. 1 recruit in the nation who signed with Michigan — was also among the 16 players listed by CBS Sports for those who will define the race for the national championship.

david.goricki@detroitnews.com

The Biden administration awarded $45 million Tuesday to a research hub at Oregon State University that is working to develop applications for microfluidics, the science of manipulating fluids at miniature scales.

Tuesday’s grant follows a separate $53 million award to HP Inc. on Monday to back microfluidics research and manufacturing at the company’s campus in Corvallis. Both grants were authorized by the 2022 federal CHIPS Act but Tuesday’s money comes from a newly passed defense funding bill.