The Green Bay Packers were clearly eyeing Chris McClellan. They couldn't even risk waiting until their turn in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft to call his name.
Evidently, McClellan has fans in the building. There's an internal belief that he can help the Packers "right away," according to general manager Brian Gutekunst. The club trading up seven spots to select the Missouri defensive tackle No. 77 overall is a testament to that notion.
Green Bay seemingly has big plans for McClellan and expects him to be an immediate contributor. He figures to be a key piece of the defensive tackle room and near the top of the depth chart from the jump.
Packers bolster DT depth chart by selecting Chris McClellan in 2026 NFL Draft
Position | Player |
|---|---|
DT1 | Devonte Wyatt |
DT2 | Chris McClellan |
DT3 | Jonathan Ford |
DT4 | James Ester |
Keep in mind that Green Bay also has offseason acquisition Javon Hargrave at its disposal. The two-time Pro Bowler will be part of this group despite not being listed. However, he'll be deployed as a nose tackle and moved around up front, too.
Only starter Devonte Wyatt will be higher on the totem pole, assuming health. He suffered a season-ending ankle fracture last November and has missed 10 games since 2024 (excluding playoffs). The Packers hope to see him at full strength to mentor McClellan and form an imposing one-two punch.
Either way, McClellan will have a meaningful role as a rookie. Between the unheralded options behind him and Wyatt's durability concerns, though, there's a clear path to significant playing time.
Packers 2022 seventh-round pick Jonathan Ford comes in as the third-stringer. He spent his first two-plus campaigns in Titletown before getting released in October 2024 and landing with the Chicago Bears. Green Bay claimed him back off waivers this past December following the brief stint with their NFC North rival.
Last but not least, there's reserve/future signing James Ester. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2024. The Northern Illinois product hasn't seen the field outside of the preseason and is hardly a lock to make the Packers' 53-man roster.
Nevertheless, there's plenty of room for Wyatt and McClellan to coexist. The Packers need to surround superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons with as many other players who can get to the quarterback as possible. That's why they climbed the board to land the Mizzou standout.
As a senior, McClellan turned heads. He recorded 48 tackles (eight for loss), six sacks and two pass deflections. His 72.8 Pro Football Focus pass-rush grade ranked 81st out of 887 qualified interior defensive linemen in 2025.
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