The Green Bay Packers have high hopes for their pass rush, but it's a position they may need to address again in the offseason.
Although Packers fans are certainly hopeful that Lukas Van Ness will take the next step, the 13th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft has struggled to begin his career. He has just 7.0 sacks in 34 career games, and his 53.8 PFF grade in 2024 ranked just 162nd out of 211 edge-rushers.
Green Bay has been linked to disgruntled pass-rushers Micah Parsons and Trey Hendrickson, but a blockbuster move for either seems unlikely at this point. A recent mock draft predicted that the Packers will use their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to fix the potential pass-rush problem.
NFL insider predicts Packers will draft an edge-rusher in 2026 NFL Draft
Field Yates of ESPN predicted that Green Bay will select Oregon Ducks edge-rusher Matayo Uiagalelei with the No. 19 pick in next year's draft, writing:
"Uiagalelei is hard to miss on tape, thanks to a massive 6-foot-5, 272-pound frame. He aligns from a variety of spots along the defensive front and causes havoc from all of them, with 10.5 sacks in 2024. He wins with power and relentlessness. The Packers have poured resources into their pass rush and finished last season with 45 sacks (tied for eighth), but they did not have an impactful enough group in critical moments and could use more help."
While the Packers' pass rush was strong in 2024, they could certainly use an upgrade along the defensive line. As Yates notes, they didn't have enough consistency in the big moments, which is why they may need to address the position again in the draft.
Uiagalelei had a breakout season for the Ducks in 2024. He finished with 38 total tackles, 24 solo tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, and two passes defended.
The younger brother of former five-star quarterback DJ Uiagalelei could skyrocket up draft boards with another big season. Of course, the Packers could be selecting much later than 19th overall, or identify a different need. While fans certainly have hopes of landing a proven pass-rusher like Parsons or Hendrickson, Uiagalelei would be a solid consolation prize if he falls to Green Bay.