Needs Over Wants: Green Bay Packers’ 2026 NFL Draft Recap


After the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday, Packers fans should be content with the draft choices the team made.

Despite not having a first-round pick (friendly reminder that Micah Parsons is a Packer), the Packers made it clear in their six selections that they weren’t drafting their wants, but their needs.


 

Their first three picks clearly reflected that, addressing positions that lacked depth pieces who could be ready to contribute at any given moment. 

With those selections, the Packers chose cornerback Brandon Cisse from South Carolina, defensive tackle Chris McClellan from Missouri, and possibly the steal of the draft in edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton from Penn State.

If you’re in the same boat as myself and not the biggest draft guru, that’s okay, because these picks clearly represent needs the Packers had after an offseason of losing and trading players, including Rashan Gary, Kingsley Enagbare, Quay Walker, Colby Wooden, Elgton Jenkins, Rasheed Walker, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Malik Willis and Zayne Anderson.

When looking at these first three picks, this tells us two things. First, the Packers have full confidence in their offense. Second, the defense got its depth and is now poised for a push for the Lombardi Trophy.

In their last three picks, the Packers went back to the well of what they needed, selecting center Jager Burton from Kentucky, cornerback Domani Jackson of Alabama, and trading up for Florida kicker Trey Smack.

These picks align with the Packers prioritizing what they needed: depth. The Trey Smack pick is interesting, considering the Packers were already set to have a competition for the starting job with both Brandon McManus and Lucas Havrisik. Still, addressing the glaring issue of special teams was nice to see, especially considering the Packers’ history in that area.

After the Smack pick, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst then had fun with the media when asked how to scout a kicker.


 

The pick of Jager Burton is something fans should be excited about. Burton didn’t allow a sack in 2025 and stands at 6-foot-4, 320 pounds. The offensive line last season was, without question, a disaster after losing Josh Myers, moving Elgton Jenkins to center, who then got injured, followed by Sean Rhyan stepping in as his replacement.

It was a revolving door for that position group, and drafting Burton shows the Packers are preparing for the future at center.

Overall, this draft wasn’t anything flashy, and the Packers weren’t going to boom or bust with the picks they made unless they somehow jumped into the first round. Still, addressing the glaring holes on this roster instead of taking project players, as we have seen in the past, shows this team is poised for a deep run. 

Time will tell if these players will be impactful immediately in Green Bay. Still, this draft sets up the Packers to chase after a Super Bowl next season after a disappointing end to their 2025-26 season.

Real Packer Fans Know๐Ÿง€

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