Packers’ Bold Savion Williams Pick at 87th Overall Sparks NFL Draft Firestorm

In a move that has set the NFL Draft ablaze, the Green Bay Packers stunned the football world by selecting TCU wide receiver Savion Williams with the 87th overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft on April 25, 2025. The 6’4”, 222-pound versatile playmaker, compared to Cordarrelle Patterson for his receiver-runner hybrid skills, is the Packers’ second wideout drafted in three picks, following first-rounder Matthew Golden. Is this a genius stroke to supercharge Jordan Love’s offense, or a reckless gamble on a boom-or-bust prospect with a 10% drop rate? X is exploding, fans are polarized, and the debate is pure rocket fuel for social media. Buckle up—this story is going viral.

The Pick That Shocked Titletown

With the draft hosted in Green Bay for the first time, the Packers made waves by doubling down on offense, bypassing defensive needs like pass rush despite coordinator Jeff Hafley’s 2024 scheme struggles. Williams, a five-year TCU star, brings a rare blend of size, speed (4.48 40-yard dash), and versatility, having racked up 611 receiving yards, 322 rushing yards, and 13 total touchdowns in 2024, including a passing score—the first Horned Frog to achieve the receiving-rushing-passing trifecta since 2017. His wildcat quarterback snaps and kick-return experience make him a Matt LaFleur dream, but his inconsistent hands have scouts divided.

X lit up seconds after the pick. “Savion Williams is a BEAST! LaFleur’s gonna cook with him and Golden!” posted @TitleTownTalks, shared 10,000 times. But skeptics pounced: “Another WR with drop issues? Packers are ignoring their defense!” fumed another user, liked 15,000 times. The hashtag #PackersDraft is trending, with memes of Williams as a Swiss Army knife and others mocking GM Brian Gutekunst as “offense-obsessed.” ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. called it “a high-upside swing,” while Barstool Sports quipped, “Green Bay’s building an offense to outscore Mahomes… or crash and burn trying.”

Why It’s Splitting the Fanbase

The Packers’ all-in offensive strategy is a lightning rod. With Christian Watson sidelined for 2025 due to a 2024 ACL tear and Romeo Doubs battling injuries and a suspension, Green Bay needed receiver depth. Williams, who hosted first-round pick Matthew Golden on a TCU recruiting visit years ago, adds a familiar spark to a crowded room alongside Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Mecole Hardman, and Malik Heath. His 1,655 career receiving yards and ability to line up at receiver, running back, or wildcat QB make him a “horse in the wind,” as TCU Football tweeted. Gutekunst raved about his “elusiveness and power,” while LaFleur is reportedly “a kid in a candy shop” designing plays.

But the risks are glaring. Williams’ 11.8% career drop rate, including three in a single 2024 game against Stanford, draws comparisons to Packers’ 2023 pick Dontayvion Wicks, whose hands frustrated fans. Critics argue Green Bay ignored pressing needs—pass rush, cornerback, or linebacker—after Hafley’s defense leaned on blitzes due to a weak front four. “Why not a defender like Kenneth Grant?” one X user raged, referencing a Michigan prospect. Others question if Williams is a gadget player, not a true WR1, with Bleacher Report calling him a “WR3/4 with developmental tools.” The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman tweeted, “Packers are betting on upside, but this feels like a luxury pick.”

The Social Media Tsunami

This pick is algorithm catnip. X is flooded with highlight reels of Williams’ YAC wizardry—spinning past defenders, bulldozing tacklers, and torching Texas for 164 yards in 2023. A viral clip of his wildcat TD run has 2 million views, captioned “LaFleur’s new Deebo Samuel?” But detractors are sharing drop montages, with one post snarking, “Packers love WRs who can’t catch—first Wicks, now this guy.” A poll by @SleeperPackers asking, “Is Williams a steal or a reach?” has 80,000 votes, split 60-40 for “steal.” SportsCenter and NFL Network are dissecting the pick, with analysts split: Mina Kimes loves the versatility, while Skip Bayless calls it “another Packers overreach.”

The story’s emotional hook—Williams’ personal journey—adds fuel. A father to his daughter Legacy, born prematurely in 2023 requiring heart and abdominal surgeries, Williams’ resilience resonates. His mother’s “major life event” in 2022, per TCU reports, further shaped his maturity. X users are sharing his tearful draft call, with one post saying, “This dude’s been through it—rooting for him!” The mix of athletic upside, drop concerns, and human drama makes this a shareable saga, with non-football accounts like PopSugar chiming in: “Savion Williams’ story is why we love sports.”

The Bigger Picture

The Packers’ draft strategy screams ambition. By pairing Williams with Golden (5’11”, 4.29 speed) and second-round tackle Anthony Belton, Green Bay is building a fortress around Jordan Love, who Williams called “a great young QB” whose style fits his game. LaFleur’s run-first offense, where receivers average 207.6 pounds and must block, loves Williams’ physicality. Sports Illustrated notes he’s “built like a running back,” ideal for LaFleur’s scheme. But with Watson’s absence and Doubs’ issues, the pressure is on Williams to deliver immediately in a receiver room Gutekunst calls “nuts” with competition.

Critics see a missed opportunity. Green Bay’s defense, ranked 17th in sacks in 2024, needed a closer like Rashan Gary to complement Hafley’s blitzes. Fans on X are resurfacing Bob McGinn’s Journal Sentinel column calling the Packers’ pass rush “dinosaurs,” arguing Williams doesn’t fix glaring holes. The draft’s lopsided focus—three offensive picks—has sparked calls for Gutekunst’s head, with one viral post joking, “Brian’s trying to score 50 points a game because our defense can’t stop anyone.” Yet, supporters counter that Love’s 2024 breakout (4,159 yards, 32 TDs) justifies the investment.

What’s Next?

As rookie minicamp looms, Williams joins a high-stakes battle for snaps. Will he emerge as Love’s new go-to weapon, or languish as a gadget player behind Reed and Wicks? His connection with Golden, from their TCU recruiting days, could spark chemistry, but drops could doom him. The Packers’ next picks—starting in the fourth round—will be scrutinized: will they finally address defense, or keep piling on offense? X users are already speculating, with #GoPackGo posts demanding a pass rusher like Penn State’s Abdul Carter.

This drama is far from over. Will Williams silence doubters with YAC heroics, or become another Packers draft regret? Share this story, drop your take on X, and let’s keep the debate raging. From Green Bay’s draft stage to every fan’s feed, the Savion Williams pick is the NFL’s hottest lightning rod. Don’t blink—you’ll miss the next twist.