Five Key Takeaways from the Green Bay Packers 2026 NFL Draft

The 2026 NFL Draft is now finished, and the Green Bay Packers added six new players during the three- day selection meeting. GM Brian Gutekunst was pleased with his picks which were designed to take the team to the next step in their quest to be contenders in the NFC. Here are five key takeaways from the Packers 2026 NFL Draft:

Five Key Takeaways from the Packers 2026 NFL Draft, Number One: The Packers Doubled Down On Their Biggest Position of Need

The Packers entered the draft with a big need at cornerback. The team had little depth behind their top three players and lacked a number one cover corner. In addition, neither Keisean Nixon nor Carrington Valentine are under contract after the 2026 season.

The Packers spent two of their six picks on cornerbacks. In the second round, they added Brandon Cisse who will likely compete with Valentine and Benjamin St-Juste for one of the starting jobs. Even if he doesn’t become an immediate starter, the key is to have Cisse ready to take over one starting position by 2027.

The Packers also added Domani Jackson with their first pick in round six. Jackson has outstanding athletic traits but struggled in his final college season due to injuries and other factors. If Jackson can return to form, the Packers will have more depth at a previously thin position group.

We still don’t know if the team will have a legitimate top cover corner this season, but at least there’s more depth and competition at this premium position.

Number Two: The Packers Drafted for Need

Every pick Gutekunst made in this draft addressed one of the team’s needs. This is largely due to where the Packers are at in their development. In 2022 and 2023, the team was building the foundations of the team around new quarterback Jordan Love. Now, they are trying to address specific needs and adding competition at those positions.

So, in addition to the two cornerbacks, the Packers added a badly needed defensive tackle in round three, depth at edge rusher in round four, an interior offensive lineman in round five. With their other sixth-round pick, the Packers added a kicker to address that problem position. Each of these are areas of need.

Gutekunst stuck to the script and didn’t make any luxury picks. Each of the six players was designed to create much needed competition where the team needed it most.

Five Key Takeaways from the Packers 2026 NFL Draft, Number Three: There Will Be a Battle at Kicker

The Packers surprised many observers when they traded up in round six to select kicker Trey Smack out of Florida. Smack will compete with incumbent kicker Brandon McManus and Lucas Havrisik for the kicking job.

McManus struggled last season, especially from 40 yards out or more. He made only 6-of-12 field goals tries from that distance, well below the league average. By contract, Smack hit on 10-of-13 kicks from 50 yards out or more.

Trading up to draft a kicker surprised a lot of people. The last kicker the Packers drafted, Anders Carlson, never lived up to expectations and was gone after one inconsistent season.

Now, it will be up to Smack to prove he can kick consistently and do well in the windy and cold conditions at Lambeau Field.

Ironically, the Packers already paid McManus a $1 million roster bonus earlier this offseason. Now he will be fighting for his job. Don’t be surprised if one of these three kickers is released before the start of training camp.

Number Four: Some Key Areas of Need Were Not Addressed

Because of their limited number of picks the Packers were not able to address all of their areas of need. The offensive line needed more depth than one pick could provide. If injuries were to strike at center or guard, the team would have to rely on some inexperienced and unproven players to step up and play meaningful snaps.

The Packers also did not add a classic nose tackle in the draft to compete with Nazir Stackhouse. None of the day three picks fit that mold.

The team was also seeking depth at wide receiver, running back, and tight end entering this draft. While the need at receiver was diminished after the team signed Jayden Reed to an extension, the team did not add players at any of these three positions.

Running back and tight end are bigger needs for 2027 than the present season with key players not yet under contract after this season. Gutekunst still has time to address these positions in free agency, via trades or in the 2027 NFL Draft where the Packers will have more picks.

Five Key Takeaways from the Packers 2026 NFL Draft, Number Five: The Packers Drafted Athletes As Per Usual

Gutekunst likes to draft elite athletes, and this year was no exception. Relative Athletic Score measures how players do compared to the rest of the NFL at their specific positions in areas like speed, agility, body measurements and the like.

Nearly all the team’s day three picks had high RAS scores. Cisse had an RAS of 9.24. While third-round pick, Chris McClellan didn’t complete all athletic drills in pre-draft testing, his RAS was estimated as just a little bit over 8.0.

In the fourth round, the Packers added edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton who had an impressive 9.96 RAS. Offensive lineman Jager Burton scored a 9.88 RAS while cornerback Jackson scored a 9.01 with the first of the team’s two sixth round picks.

Kickers do not receiver full RAS scores as they don’t have to perform all of the functions these tests matter during NFL games.

The Packers stayed true to form by drafting players with elite athletic profiles. Now they have to develop them into effective NFL players.