Highlighting Potential New Packers in the 2026 Draft

The NFL Draft is just over a week away. While the Green Bay Packers do not own their first round pick, they do still have eight picks to work with. Rather than trying to break down what those picks might look like, lets instead just focus on the Packers first pick, #52 overall.

Going through various mocks and articles, it seems like everyone is convinced that first pick is going to be one of three things. An OL, a DL or a CB. So let’s take a look at some of the most common suggestions and consider what might be the best choice amongst them.

Keylan Rutledge – OG, Georgia Tech

While probably the least likely of the players I’m going to list to be taken, its not hard to justify Rutledge as a potential target. A multi year starter for GT, Rutledge was a standout at RG, which incidentally is the most up in the air spot on the Packers line.

Rutledge is an above average athlete with a mean streak that seems to fit the mold of what Green Bay has looked for on the line the past couple of years. Additionally he has some versatility at center, and has been taking snaps for teams throughout the process.

The biggest knock on him is medical, which after last year may be enough to scare the Packers off. If it isn’t, then there is certainly reason to believe that he could step in early for real playing time.

Lee Hunter – DT, Texas Tech

Like Rutledge, I don’t think Hunter would be the Packers first choice if either of the next players were available. That being said there is plenty to like about Hunter’s game and his fit on the Packers roster.

Hunter would be the ideal nose tackle to bring in if the Packers do shift back to more of a 3-4 style defense. He isn’t explosive enough to be a real factor in rushing the passer, but what he can do is stuff up the middle and make running the ball a lot harder. If you watched Green Bay last year, one of it’s biggest weaknesses was letting teams sustain long drives via the run game. Hunter would immediately help with that.

Christen Miller – DT, Georgia

Miller is one of two players that I hope Green Bay can come away with next week. While not a consistent pass rusher, he offers more upside than Hunter as a pass rusher while also being an excellent run defender. He’s young, very athletic for his size and was a multi year starter at a premier program.

The Packers haven’t been shy about targeting Georgia players in the past, and Miller is not only a good player, but fits a strong need as well. While there could be some schematic concerns, he was moved around plenty in college and seemed very able to adapt.

Miller didn’t put up volume stats in large part because of how Georgia tends to heavily rotate it’s line players, so there could be concerns early about his snap volume, but Green Bay needs help on the line enough that I don’t think it would be a deterrent.

Chris Johnson – CB, San Diego St

The only player in this piece that Green Bay would almost certainly have to trade up for, there isn’t a better match of need and skill set in this draft.

Johnson was a two year starter for San Diego and was used both as a press and zone coverage corner. Last season saw him give up completions on fewer than half the throws targeted at him. He had over a dozen pass break ups and did not give up a single touchdown.

Physically he meets all of the benchmarks the Packers like in their corners and while he’s not the best run defender, he is at least a willing tackler.

The only real downside here for the Packers is the the cost it would take to move up. But even without their first, the Packers have almost a dozen picks next season, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they were active traders during this years draft.