Packers draft creates massive ripple effect with winners and losers becoming clear before pivotal 2026 season

A first-round pick last year, wide receiver Matthew Golden will have many more opportunities to shine in his second season in the NFL.

The Green Bay Packers made six draft picks this past weekend, and the process has major implications over what the franchise will be for the next few years — especially considering it’s a draft-and-develop organization.

Therefore, let’s analyze who are the winners and losers in the process.

Winners

Matthew Golden

After the Packers traded Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles, the general expectation was the team would eventually draft another receiver. But that didn’t happen in large part because Matt LaFleur is more willing to adjust the target distribution philosophy.

“As you’d expect, guys want the football,” LaFleur said in his post-draft press conference. “It was a good problem to have. We felt like we had a lot of players capable of going out there and making the necessary plays, and I still feel that way.”

Without many high-upside pieces, the passing offense would lean heavily on Golden, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and tight end Tucker Kraft. Which is great news for the former first-rounder, after a year in which he did have significant snaps, but lacked targets to actually contribute on the field.

Jordan Morgan

The Packers drafted only one offensive lineman in this year’s draft, and it’s a center/guard hybrid in Jager Burton. That sends a clear message: The team’s brass trusts Morgan to be the long-term left tackle.

If Morgan doesn’t pan out, there aren’t many great options. They include starting Darian Kinnard or moving Anthony Belton to tackle, but neither looks great. The Packers liked what they’ve seen from Morgan at tackle, and it’s just not coach-speak — their actions are showing what they truly think.

MarShawn Lloyd

The Packers allowed Emanuel Wilson to walk in free agency and just added an undrafted rookie in Jaden Nixon. That’s great news for MarShawn Lloyd, who’s entering his third NFL season but has barely played. It’s the same big if, though: Injuries.

“He’s shown up and looks like he’s in great shape,” LaFleur revealed. “We’re hopeful he can put his best stuff out there. The talent has never been an issue for him.”

Green Bay has Josh Jacobs and Chris Brooks as established veterans, but a second high-upside runner would make the group look much better, allowing Brooks to stay as a third-down specialist/pass-blocker.

Losers

Sean Rhyan

The Packers extended center Sean Rhyan before he hit free agency on a three-year, $33 million deal. However, it’s essentially a one-year, $14 million contract and two team options in 2027 and 2028. A third-round pick in 2022, Rhyan is a viable interior offensive lineman, but he’s far from being a solidified long-term starter.

And the Packers’ decision to draft Jager Burton in the fifth-round, the team’s only offensive draft pick this year, is meaningful. Green Bay sees in Burton the potential to be a swing interior o-lineman this year and maybe a future starter at center. If that happens, the Packers could easily move on from Rhyan next offseason — or move him back to guard.

Depth CBs

Gutekunst and LaFleur agreed that the roster needed numbers at cornerback, so it’s not a coincidence that the Packers drafted two players there — Brandon Cisse and Domani Jackson.

That’s certainly not great news long term for guys like Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine, who are in the last year of their deals. But it’s especially concerning for players like Jaylin Simpson and Kamal Hadden, because now they don’t have realistic chances of making the roster. At the same time, it’s the best possible outcome for the Packers.

Jordan Love

Green Bay decided that quarterback Jordan Love, alongside head coach Matt LaFleur, will have to elevate the offense as it is. The two additions on offense this offseason were Skyy Moore and Jager Burton, and the unit lost Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Rasheed Walker, and Emanuel Wilson. On paper, the unit regressed.

The positive is that star tight end Tucker Kraft and right tackle Zach Tom should be back early. Other than that, though, the Packers are banking on Love’s impact to make everything around him better.