The wait is over. Well, almost. Barring another big-time trade to get back into the first round, the Green Bay Packers won't make a pick on Thursday night. It's well worth it, though, as Brian Gutekunst sent that selection to the Dallas Cowboys in the Micah Parsons deal.
The Cowboys will need a miracle to turn that pick, No. 20 overall, into a player on Parsons' level. Think of it like that, and the Packers have already kicked off the 2026 NFL Draft in dream fashion.
To reach the Super Bowl, though, the Packers must revamp the cornerback room and find upgrades at defensive tackle and edge-rusher. If Green Bay's draft follows this seven-round mock, it might be time to start booking flights to Inglewood, California.
Dream mock draft would turn the Packers into serious Super Bowl contenders
Round 2 (52): Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
It's looking increasingly likely that Chris Johnson will go on Thursday night, but all hope is not lost. The consensus board still has Johnson on the fringe of the first round. Many mock drafts, including the final predictions from FanSided's Jason La Canfora, still have Johnson falling to Day 2. If we're talking about the dream scenario for the Packers, this is undoubtedly it.
Johnson has everything Green Bay's secondary is crying out for. Athleticism, elite potential in coverage, takeaways, the list goes on.
The Packers can't rely on Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine to lead the cornerback room again in 2026. Johnson, who allowed a passer rating of just 20.0 in his coverage last season, would immediately give the Packers the CB1 they need.
Round 3 (84): Romello Height, Edge, Texas Tech
If you want Packers draft spoilers, just look at their pre-draft visits. Of their 117 visitors in the previous four draft classes, 25 ended up on Green Bay's roster, which is a little over 21 percent.
Romello Height was among the Packers' visitors this year, and he's the only edge-rusher on the list projected to go Day 2.
Height isn't the perfect prospect. He is undersized, struggles to defend the run, and needs to get stronger at the pro level. But in terms of a pure pass-rusher, you won't find many better. That's what the Packers' defense is crying out for.
Jonathan Gannon would need to use Height strategically, potentially as a designated pass-rusher, but there's no denying his potential as a game-changer. Height recorded 10 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss last season at Texas Tech. His 92.9 PFF grade ranked No. 1 among 852 edge defenders, while his 92.7 pass-rush grade ranked No. 4.
Round 4 (120): Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M
Gutekunst said the Packers are "going to add numbers" at cornerback, and nobody loves a double down at a position of need more than him.
Will Lee III also took a pre-draft visit to Green Bay, and it's easy to see why. Gutekunst prioritizes elite athleticism. Lee offers that, and his ability to get his hands on the football is an area the cornerback room struggled last season. Lee had 18 pass defenses and two interceptions in two seasons at Texas A&M.
Alongside Chris Johnson and free-agent addition Benjamin St-Juste, Gutekunst would've successfully revamped the cornerback room. That's what it will take to make a serious Super Bowl run.
Round 5 (153): Trey Zuhn III, OT, Texas A&M
Waiting this long to address the offensive line is a risky strategy, but Trey Zuhn III has everything the Packers look for.
You want elite athleticism? You want five-position versatility? You want college tackle experience? Brian Gutekunst has entered the chat. Zuhn checks all of those boxes.
"I just got so many Zach Tom vibes watching Zuhn play," writes Peter Bukowski of The Leap. "The athleticism in pass protection is obvious. Coming in to be a swing tackle early and a potential long-term option at G/C makes so much sense for GB."
He's not wrong. Whether Zuhn remains at tackle or moves inside, it almost doesn't matter. He can become a quality lineman with the versatility to play wherever the team needs him. The Packers must improve their offensive line depth to become championship contenders, and Zuhn can help in so many ways.
Round 5 (160): Kaleb Proctor, DL, Southeastern Louisiana
Green Bay can't afford to ignore the interior defensive line, even if Kaleb Proctor won't solve their nose tackle problems. Proctor's role would more closely resemble Karl Brooks' – he offers huge upside as an interior pass-rusher.
For a defense that lacked anything resembling a consistent pass rush beyond Micah Parsons last year, Proctor would be a welcome addition to the rotation.
Round 6 (201): Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana
The Packers have done their homework on the running back class, which is unsurprising after losing Emanuel Wilson in free agency. Indiana's Kaelon Black was among the Packers' pre-draft visitors, and he does a bit of everything. Black runs with physicality, can block, and offers potential as a pass-catcher.
Round 7 (236): Michael Heldman, Edge, Central Michigan
If you're going to draft a prospect out of a smaller school, they better have dominated. Michael Heldman sure did. He recorded 10.5 sacks last season and earned PFF's third-best pass-rush grade among 852 edge defenders.
"In addition to ranking sixth in sacks and 16th in pressures, Heldman made 29 stops, forced two fumbles, and earned a run-defense grade of 86.7, 11th out of 852 edge rushers. In short, he is an all-around wrecking ball," writes John Sbisa of Lombardi Ave.
Round 7 (255): Jordan van den Berg, DT, Georgia Tech
Now the Packers get their space-eater along the defensive line. Jordan van den Berg could be one of the steals of the draft. He didn't get an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine, but you don't need to watch any drills to see how athletic van den Berg is.
He can stop the run, yes, but also made three sacks at Georgia Tech last season. Oh, and according to Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated, van den Berg is a Packers fan.
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