The Green Bay Packers acquired more draft capital by trading wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks for a fifth-round choice this year and a sixth-rounder in 2027.
Green Bay is certainly not in any sort of rebuilding state, but the team is unquestionably reloading on the defensive side of the ball in 2026.
Jonathan Gannon is the new defensive coordinator in 2026, with Jeff Hafley off to the Miami Dolphins. The Packers lost a number of key players at every level of the defense, so even without a first-round pick, there is work to be done.
Thankfully, this draft class seems to line up pretty well for Green Bay's needs, and even without picking until No. 52 overall, general manager Brian Gutekunst can still do some serious damage and add impact players. How will the Packers approach this draft with a true emphasis on the defensive side of the ball?
Packers go all-out to upgrade defense in 7-round mock draft predictions
Round 1: Pick traded to the Dallas Cowboys for Micah Parsons
Round 2 (52): Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois
The Packers are heading into the 2026 NFL Draft with a variety of somewhat pressing needs, but none quite rivals the edge-rusher position right now. There is obvious short-term uncertainty with Micah Parsons and his recovery from a major knee injury late last season, but the Packers also traded Rashan Gary to the Cowboys. On top of that, they lost Kingsley Enagbare to the Jets in free agency, and Lukas Van Ness is entering a contract year.
To say this team needs help off the edge would be an understatement, and Gabe Jacas could be the ideal fit in round two.
Jacas is a big-bodied player off the edge at 6-foot-4, 260 pounds. Not that the Packers will be looking for an exact replica of Rashan Gary, but the size comps are there between him and Jacas, and he posted a 1.59-second 10-yard split with 30 bench press reps. When you combine that level of quickness and power, you have a pro-ready defensive end whose value here in the second round would be outstanding for the Packers.
Round 3 (84): Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
Jonathan Gannon is replacing Jeff Hafley as the Packers' defensive coordinator this offseason, which means Packers fans should get used to seeing quarters coverage and corners playing off. That will require them to add at the outside cornerback spots some players with length, speed, and aggressive ball skills, and there is probably no one better in this pick range than Ohio State's Davison Igbinosun.
He didn't allow a touchdown last season at Ohio State and is one of the most aggressive corners in the class. Gannon would have to help him rein in that aggressive style of play due to penalties being an issue over the past couple of years with the Buckeyes, but he's got ball-hawk capabilities and played a lot of zone coverage in Matt Patricia's defense.
Round 4 (120) Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
If there is one thing we know to be true about Packers GM Brian Gutekunst, it's that he loves a good NFL Draft double-up. The Packers have made a habit of using multiple picks on the same position, even using multiple high picks at the same position.
They did it at receiver in 2025, linebacker in 2024, tight end in 2023, offensive line in 2022...
It's probably time for the cornerback position to get that treatment. Tacario Davis is one of the most interesting cornerbacks in this class at 6-foot-4 and with big-time speed and explosiveness. There was a time when he was still at Arizona that he was being discussed as a surefire first-round player. If he sneaks to this point on Day 3, the Packers would finally be properly addressing the cornerback position with some young talent and huge upside.
Round 5 (153): John Michael Gyllenborg, TE, Wyoming
The Packers just recently acquired this selection from the Eagles in the trade for Dontayvion Wicks, so it's fitting that this is the first offensive player we're taking.
John Michael Gyllenborg is one of a wide variety of fascinating prospects at the tight end position in this class with elite athletic traits (9.72 on the RAS scale) and size (6-foot-6, 249 pounds). He's still relatively new to the game of football (didn't start playing until his senior year in high school), but he's flashed the type of pass-catching upside NFL teams covet at the position.
With Luke Musgrave entering a contract year, it won't be surprising to see the Packers attack the tight end position at some point in this draft, and there are options with upside in every round.
Round 5 (160): Landon Robinson, DL, Navy
On Day 3 of the NFL Draft, you're obviously looking for players to contribute on special teams, provide depth, and have some high upside. There are few defensive linemen with a Day 3 projection who have the upside of Navy prospect Landon Robinson.
Robinson is just 6-feet tall, 287 pounds, but his quickness off the ball is elite. He's got the type of interior pass-rush skills that translate to the next level, and he proved his traits translate to skill on the defensive line. He's not just an athlete who bullied lesser competition. He's got a refined pass-rush arsenal and can contribute in a rotation immediately.
Round 6 (201): Evan Beerntsen, OL, Northwestern
Evan Beerntsen is going to be an older rookie, but he has a ton of game experience and can play multiple positions on the offensive line to give the Packers some immediate depth. He's also a Green Bay native, so this could be a fun NFL Draft story.
Round 7 (236) overall: Chip Trayanum, RB, Toledo
Round 7 (255) overall: Drew Stevens, K, Iowa
It's going to be fun to see if the Packers take another chance on drafting a kicker at some point. They spent a sixth-rounder on Anders Carlson, and that obviously didn't work out at all. Brandon McManus is the presumptive kicker for 2026, but he needs competition. If the Packers have a priority option, they should just draft one late instead of risking their favorite getting to the undrafted free-agency frenzy.
Drew Stevens is a true wild card kicker in this draft. He set an Iowa record with 12 kicks made beyond 50 yards, but he was still pretty inconsistent overall. Kicking in Big Ten country, however, could make him the ideal fit for a team like Green Bay.