The 2026 offseason has been another busy one for general manager Brian Gutekunst and the Green Bay Packers. And frankly, it's felt like a lot more going out than coming in throughout the first wave of free agency.
The Packers have lost a lot ot notable now former players, including the likes of Rashan Gary, Elgton Jenkins, Romeo Doubs, and Quay Walker. And that's really just the start. One of the byproducts of having a good roster in the NFL is that you're going to have players plucked off of it, and you're also not going to be able to keep everybody.
With the darts they have available in the 2026 NFL Draft (seven picks in total, starting with number 52 overall), the Packers have a few players they should obviously be targeting in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Packers' most obvious draft targets start with top Big Ten pass rusher
1. Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
Even if the Packers are projecting a big breakthrough from 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness, there are two things to keep in mind about that. First, nobody should be holding their breath. Second, losing Rashan Gary already necessitates another investment off the edge.
We'll probably see the Packers add another veteran pass-rusher at some point as well, but when you look over some of the draft boards out there, one prospect in Green Bay's top pick range right now who would be a tremendous fit opposite Micah Parsons is Illinois pass-rusher Gabe Jacas.
Jacas is a bully on the defensive front who plays with high energy. He's already got a really well-developed arsenal of pass-rush skills, and is ascending quickly in that category. He had 19 total sacks and six forced fumbles over the last two seasons, so he capitalizes once he gets to the QB. He'd be a phenomenal value for the Packers in Round 2 if he's still available.
2. D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
Pound for pound, you might not find a better value in this year's draft than D'Angelo Ponds.
NFL teams constantly devalue the nickel cornerback position in the NFL Draft, even though that player is likely playing 70 percent of the defensive snaps. And Ponds is one of the top nickel cornerback prospects we've seen come along in quite some time.
We all watched as Indiana went and won a national championship this past season, and Ponds was a big reason why. Even with a size disadvantage, he has elite quickness, instincts, and explosiveness. He would be an awesome prospect to throw in the slot right away for new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
3. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Nobody has been more of a turnover machine at the college level over the past couple of seasons than Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. On top of being a top-tier tackler, Rodriguez forced a whopping seven fumbles last season for the Red Raiders' loaded defense and picked off four passes. He also recovered a pair of fumbles.
The level of production when it comes to the turnover department is off the charts, and part of the reason why the Packers might be able to get him is that he's 23 already, 6-foot-1, and 231 pounds. So he's slightly undersized and slightly older as an incoming prospect, but on Day 2, he's an elite value.
Rodriguez might miss some tackles due to being over-aggressive, but there may not be a better value on Day 2 of this draft.