
The Packers’ offseason has been more marred by the departures from Green Bay than it has by any major additions made by general manager Brian Gutekunst, but the NFL Draft presents the chance to add some major talent across the roster.
It remains to be seen whether Lukas Van Ness can anchor a pass rush as it waits for Micah Parsons to return from a torn ACL. The wide receiving corps without Romeo Doubs will put outsized pressure on Matthew Golden and Jayden Reed. And, Quay Walker’s athleticism at linebacker might not easily be replaced.
How Gutekunst navigates the NFL Draft could determine how seriously to take the Packers as contenders in 2026, and whether he’ll even be at the controls come 2027.
Cornerback remains the Packers’ most glaring weakness across the roster, and Pro Football Focus analyst John Kosko argues that failing to upgrade there during the draft could be disastrous.
“The Packers are currently thin on high-end, reliable outside cornerback talent,” Kosko writes for PFF. “Capable of matching up against the NFC’s top receivers. Failing to inject immediate juice into this position via the early rounds of the draft would severely limit the Green Bay defense’s ability to pressure quarterbacks and defend successfully against quality opponents.
“Prioritizing an impact cornerback is essential for turning the Packers’ defense into a reliable unit and supporting their Super Bowl aspirations.”
This is a relatively deep cornerback class, but given that Gutekunst and the Packers won’t go on the clock until the second round, it puts even more pressure on getting any picks at the position right, and could push it up the franchise’s hierarchy of need ahead of the draft getting underway.
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