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The Packers Post Draft Areas of Concern

Originally posted on PackersTalk.com | By Jack Kurz | Last updated Apr 30, 2026 1:13 PM ET

The 2026 NFL Draft is officially in the past. The Green Bay Packers drafted 6 rookies and signed 11 undrafted rookies. The 6 Packer draft picks addressed the team’s positions of need but there are a few holes on the roster that do call for some concern. The Packers could use some additional help at the backup quarterback and the backup running back position.

The Packers accomplished their draft goal. Green Bay managed to add two cornerbacks, one in which could be their week 1 starter and one who should create a sense of competition for Nixon, Valentine, and St-Juste. Chris McClellan and Dani Dennis-Sutton gives the Packers some needed depth on the interior and the exterior of the defensive line. The Packers also drafted Jager Burton, who played the majority of his college career at center and guard. Burton gives Green Bay another option at center or guard.

Looking back at the 2025 team, the three position groups that were the most inconsistent were the cornerbacks, offensive line, and the interior defensive line. It was nice to see the Packers add young, talented players to those three groups. However, with Malik Willis and Emanuel Wilson departing in free agency, the second string quarterback and running back spots are undetermined.

The Packers Backup Quarterback and Running Back Options

Once the 2024 training camp concluded and the Packers began releasing players to finalize their 53 man roster, Brian Gutekunst traded for his soon-to-be backup quarterback, Malik Willis. The point is the Packers did not find their backup quarterback until two weeks before Week 1. At the moment, the Packers are rolling with Desmond Ridder, Kyle McCord, and recently signed UDA Kyron Drones out of Virginia Tech. Ridder seems to be the most intriguing option. He has a similar story to Malik Willis.

Desmond Ridder was the 74th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Ridder, similar to Willis, had a coveted college career and was one of the top quarterback prospects in his draft class. LaFleur was able to put the pieces together for Malik Willis, who signed a massive three-year deal to be the presumed starter in Miami. The Packers might be envisioning a similar outcome with Ridder. Maybe LaFleur will have the same success with helping Ridder piece it together in the event that his number is called (hopefully it won’t).

Without Emanuel Wilson, the Packers second option behind Josh Jacobs is up in the air. Green Bay has to be crossing their fingers, burning sage, praying to every possible god that MarShawn Lloyd can stay healthy after two injury plagued seasons. If Lloyd can stay on the field, hopefully he becomes a serviceable backup and better yet, becomes that true change of pace back from the physical Josh Jacobs. The Packers did retain Chris Brooks, who mainly served as their third down, pass blocking back. Green Bay could turn to him but it would not be a shock if Green Bay looked to add to the running back position group.

This article first appeared on PackersTalk.com and was syndicated with permission.

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