Explosive ACC playmaker is perfect solve for Packers' surprise draft need

The Green Bay Packers don't have many glaring holes on their roster entering the 2026 NFL Draft, and they're expected to spend some of their earlier picks on the defensive side of the ball.

With a franchise quarterback like Jordan Love and a legit feature back in Josh Jacobs to complement him, Green Bay's offense should be in pretty good shape entering the new season. However, there's room for improvement on the running back depth chart behind Jacobs.

In the wake of Emmanuel Wilson landing with the Seahawks in free agency, the Packers should be in the market for someone else to lessen Jacobs' workload. There just so happens to be a gettable prospect who'd be an excellent complement to his skill set.

Running back listed by Bleacher Report as underrated Packers draft need, and there's one obvious Day 3 solution

Alex Ballentine wrote a piece for B/R that covered all 32 teams' most "surprising" draft need, and he even provided some potential fits for Green Bay's prospective RB2 contender.

No shade to the author, but Navy human Swiss Army Knife Eli Heidenreich, Indiana national champ Roman Hemby, and Oregon's Noah Whittington aren't who I have in mind. Not that they're bad candidates. There's just someone who'd add a different flavor to the Cheeseheads' rushing attack.

His name is Demond Claiborne. Although his frame is rather slight at 5'10", 188 pounds, Claiborne's game is built on raw speed. He's a threat to reach the end zone any time he touches the ball.

As well-rounded of a back as Jacobs is, he doesn't have the home run ability of someone like Claiborne. That's not meant to be a slight, because few backs do.

Claiborne's 4.37 40 at the Combine trailed only Mike Washington Jr. and Jeremiyah Love. The former is expected to fly off the board on Day 2, and Love may go as high as No. 4 overall to the Tennessee Titans.

What's interesting about Claiborne is that his initial burst (1.59 10-yard split) is actually less impressive than his long speed. He reaches his top gear in a hurry, yet he's able to sustain it better than most. Look no further than his Combine sprint, and the ensuing two clips where that explosiveness translates to the field in pads.

On that second run, Claiborne had the initial acceleration through every level of Oregon State's defense. He still had enough in the tank to reach his max speed more than 40 yards into his run to finish the play in the end zone.

It's possible that the Packers prioritize running back sooner, perhaps with their first pick at No. 52 overall, with someone like Love's Notre Dame teammate Jadarian Price. In my recent seven-round mock draft, I advocated for UTSA star Robert Henry Jr. as a late Day 3 steal.

Claiborne would allow Green Bay to split the difference between those two paths. A Jacobs/Clairborne 1-2 punch would be a similar setup that the NFC North rival Detroit Lions rode to raging success with their Jahmyr Gibbs-David Montgomery tandem.

Chris Brooks and third-year back MarShawn Lloyd — who's appeared in only one game in his first two NFL seasons — shouldn't stop the Packers from strongly considering another tailback in the draft.

Whether it's the 120th pick in Round 4 or the next round at No. 160 overall, Demond Claiborne is the lightning to Jacobs' thunder who could complete a dynamic duo in Green Bay's running game.