Packers 2026 NFL Draft: Day 3 Analysis
Recapping the 2026 Day 3 Selections
Green Bay Packers' Day 3 Picks in 2026 Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Pos | School | Notes |
| 4 | 120 | Dani-Dennis Sutton | Edge | Penn State | |
| 5 | 153 | Jager Burton | C/G | Kentucky | Acquired in trade with PHI for Dontayvion Wicks |
| 6 | 201 | Domani Jackson | CB | Alabama | |
| 6 | 216 | Trey Smack | K | Florida | Acquired in trade with Seattle for Picks 236, 255 |
Packers take Penn State's edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton with their 4th round selection.
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) April 25, 2026
Round 4 (120 overall) - Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge Rusher, Penn State
MEASURABLES/PRO DAY:
| Height | Weight | 40-Yd Dash | 10-Yard Split | Vertical Jump | Broad Jump | 3-Cone | 20-Yd Shuttle | Bench Press | RAS |
| 6'6" | 256 lbs |
4.63 secs |
1.63 secs | 39.5" | 10'11" | 6.9 secs | ------ | 26 | 9.96 |
NFL SCOUTING REPORT:
Dennis-Sutton is a base defensive end with toughness. He’s effective against the run, but he has limited pass-rushing upside. His predictable, linear rush lacks the burst and bend to beat tackles to the top of the rush and flatten into the pocket. He uses hand violence and brute force to challenge tackles with weak anchors. He’ll get bounced around because his pad level is too high, but he’s tough to finish and finds his way to the action when it’s near him. Dennis-Sutton is equipped to muddy running lanes but might not make many impact plays. He has average upside as an odd- or even-front end.
-Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
Here's @NFLDraft_Westen's write up of Dani Dennis-Sutton for the CHTV Draft Guide. pic.twitter.com/ak2FeMQJfR
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) April 25, 2026
CHEESEHEAD TV DRAFT GUIDE REPORT:
General Info: Dani Dennis-Sutton was a four-year fixture at Penn State, starting more than 30 games and playing more than 2,000 snaps for the Nittany Lions. A former two-time high school captain and multi-sport athlete, he made an immediate impact as a 2022 Freshman All-American. A consistent impact on the football field and a standout student in the classroom, he was a three-time All-Big Ten honoree and received just as many Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Positional Skills: Dennis-Sutton is a prototypical 7-technique with ideal-sized arms. He has an explosive get-off from multiple stances and operates with a relentless motor, winning through power to collapse the pocket and the speed to beat blockers. However, he does lack ankle flexibility, which limits his ability to flatten around the arc. His run defense remains good, but not great—hindered by a career missed tackle rate over 15 percent and raw hand technique when disengaging. Nevertheless, his combination of size and high-end effort projects him as a high-floor Day 2 prospect. He is best suited as a strong-side defensive end who thrives in multiple schemes given his ability to win with length, power and athleticism.
FIT WITH THE PACKERS:
9.98. That is how impressive Dani Dennis-Sutton's combine was, confirming an athletic profile defined by length, size, speed, explosion and an elite change of direction. He sits slightly under Green Bay’s typical weight threshold for an early edge selection, but his athletic profile checks nearly every other box the Packers prioritize when drafting at the position. He is still raw and needs to develop consistency and nuance as a player, but it's tough to see a world where the Packers are not keeping close tabs on Dennis-Sutton.
-Newt Westen, Cheesehead TV
OTHER OPTIONS ON THE BOARD:
Several Packers types were selected soon after Dennis-Sutton was selected at #120. The Raiders took RB Mike Washington Jr at #122, the Bears took CB Malik Muhammad at #124, the Panthers took CB Will Lee III at #129, the Saints took WR Bryce Lance at #136.
WHY THE PACKERS SELECTED DENNIS-SUTTON:
Dennis-Sutton gives the Packers defense another young Front 7 Edge Rusher/Defensive End which will help replace Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare who departed this offseason. The Packers will be looking for which players add pass rush opposite star Micah Parsons (and possibly without him in September).
Dennis-Sutton will be added to the depth chart that includes Parsons, Lukas Van Ness, Brenton Cox Jr and the two players drafted last year: Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver.
Packers take an official Aaron Nagler draft crush for the THIRD YEAR IN A ROW with the selection of Kentucky C Jager Burton at No. 153 overall. https://t.co/8gZCfCTkTb
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) April 25, 2026
Round 5 (153 overall) - Jager Burton, Center/Guard, Kentucky
MEASURABLES/PRO DAY:
| Height | Weight | 40-Yd Dash | 10-Yard Split | Vertical Jump | Broad Jump | 3-Cone | 20-Yd Shuttle | Bench Press | RAS |
| 6'4 1/8" | 312 lbs |
4.94 secs |
1.76 secs | 28" | 9'3" | 7.64 secs | 2.9 secs | 28 | 9.88 |
NFL SCOUTING REPORT:
Durable fifth-year senior who has made 47 consecutive starts. Burton is built to play center but could offer swing potential at guard. He has adequate play strength and good quickness for a zone-blocking scheme. He gets beaten to first contact by length and will struggle to put up a sustained fight against two-gappers at the point. He can slow a bull rush but needs to do a better job of protecting his edges and operating with consistent posture. Burton’s best fit will be with a zone-heavy running game as a late draft pick or undrafted free agent signee.
-Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
FIT WITH THE PACKERS:
Burton is exactly the kind of athelete and player the Packers covet. He is a perfect fit for what Green Bay likes and is a potential lottery ticket for the Packers at the Center position. The Sean Rhyan extension slows down their search for a starting center, but Burton could be a better version of what the Packers tried with Jacob Monk.
From the 2026 Packer Report Draft Guide:
Using Jager to protect Love pic.twitter.com/NJKai6rHzv
— CheeseheadTV 🧀 (@cheeseheadtv) April 25, 2026
OTHER OPTIONS ON THE BOARD:
Some players taken after Burton in before the Packers picked in Round 6 were: Jaden Dugger, LB, 49ers Pick #154; Keith Abney II, CB, Lions, Pick #157; Chandler Rivers, CB, Ravens, Pick #162; Nicholas Singleton, RB, Titans, Pick #165; Brian Parker II, C, Bengals, Pick #189.
It happened! Jager Burton is a Packer! @AaronNagler got his guy!
Hyped to snag our future center at pick 153! Welcome to Green Bay @jager_burton! pic.twitter.com/JzShPglG3E
— Newt Westen (@NFLDraft_Westen) April 25, 2026
WHY THE PACKERS SELECTED BURTON:
The Packers needed depth on the offensive line behind the projected starting five of Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Anthony Belton and Zach Tom. Last year, the five preferred starters did not play an entire single game last year after the Week 1 injury of Zach Tom, so depth is extremely important on the offensive line.
The athletic Burton should be the primary backup on the interior, even though it is not a longshot he starts at some point as a rookie. The last time the Packers selected a center in Round 5 they hit a home run with the selection of Corey Linsley out of Ohio State in 2014.
Packers select cornerback Domani Jackson from Alabama in the 6th Round at pick 201. pic.twitter.com/qrK34e7KTy
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) April 25, 2026
Round 6 (201 overall) - Domani Jackson, Cornerback, Alabama
MEASURABLES/PRO DAY:
| Height | Weight | 40-Yd Dash | 10-Yard Split | Vertical Jump | Broad Jump | 3-Cone | 20-Yd Shuttle | Bench Press | RAS |
| 6'0 3/4" | 194 lbs |
4.41 secs |
1.58 secs | 33.5" | ------- | ------ | 2.59 secs | 19 | 9.01 |
NFL SCOUTING REPORT:
Jackson is a smooth athlete with good size and elite track speed. In totality, the play and production have failed to match the traits dating back to his days at USC (2022-2023), but his 2024 tape gives evaluators the best look at his ceiling. He can disrupt from press but can be a step slow to transition in-phase from man. Tampa 2 and deep-zone coverages suit him best. Scheme won’t matter as much as consistency and confidence for Jackson, though.
-Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
CHEESEHEAD TV DRAFT GUIDE REPORT:
Domani Jackson is one of the most naturally athletic cornerbacks in the class and brings elite speed to the position. A former five-star recruit, he has the recovery burst and fluid hips to stay connected with receivers downfield. Jackson is comfortable playing in man coverage and has experience matching up with high-level SEC receivers. His speed allows him to close quickly on routes and recover when challenged vertically. When he stays disciplined with his technique, he shows the ability to limit separation and compete at the catch point. Jackson’s athletic traits and ability to run with fast receivers give him strong upside as a boundary corner at the next level.
-Gerald Mannion, Cheesehead TV
OTHER OPTIONS ON THE BOARD:
The Packers did not take a pass catcher and two wide receivers went several picks after Jackson; CJ Williams of Stanford to the Jaguars at pick #203 and Lewis Bond of Boston College at pick #204. The next two cornerbacks taken went early in Round 7, TJ Hall of Iowa to the Saints at pick #219 and Toriano Pride of Missouri to the Bills at pick #220.
WHY THE PACKERS SELECTED JACKSON:
Currently, the Packers only have three veterans who are all but locks to make roster at cornerback: Keisean Nixon, Benjamin St.-Juste and Carrington Valentine. This year was a need to draft multiple cornerbacks in this draft and the Packers did that with Jackson and yesterday's second round pick, Brandon Cisse. Jackson's speed could lead him to be an instant special teams contributor.
This is the 4th straight draft the Packers selected a cornerback in Round 6 or 7. The previous three were Carrington Valentine 2023, Kalen King in 2024 and Micah Robinson in 2025, all 7th round picks. Kadar Hollman is the last cornerback the Packers have taken in Round 6, in the 2019 draft.
Packers traded into the final slot of the 6th Round and took Kicker Trey Smack out of Florida with pick 216 pic.twitter.com/e8PoZz69NF
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) April 25, 2026
Round 6 (216 overall) - Trey Smack, Kicker, Florida
MEASURABLES/PRO DAY:
| Height | Weight |
| 6'1 1/4" | 188 lbs |
NFL SCOUTING REPORT:
NFL SCOUTING REPORT:
Smack has a strong leg and can deliver beyond 50 yards at a high rate without having to drive balls with a lower trajectory. His repeatable process and consistent placement give him an above-average chance of making it in the league.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
CHEESEHEAD TV DRAFT GUIDE REPORT:
General Info: Smack was a multi-sport athlete at Severna Park High School in Maryland, where he handled both kicking and punting duties while also playing lacrosse. During his high school career, he trained with former Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl kicker and Super Bowl champion Matt Stover. A three-star recruit and the No. 10 kicker in the 2022 recruiting class, Smack committed to Florida. Appearing in seven games during his freshman season in 2022 as the team’s kickoff specialist, Smack took over as Florida’s starting placekicker the following year. Smack quickly established himself as one of the more reliable kickers in the SEC and was named a Lou Groza Award semifinalist in both 2023 and 2025. His senior season also saw him earn third-team All-SEC honors as he finished his career as one of the more experienced kickers in this year’s draft class.
Positional Skills: Smack pairs experience with the type of leg strength required to compete at the NFL level. Over the course of his college career, he converted 53 of 64 field goal attempts and missed just one extra point, highlighting strong overall consistency. His range is one of the most intriguing aspects of his profile, with 10 career field goals from 50-plus yards and a career-long of 56 yards. While his long-distance ability stands out, Smack’s accuracy has been somewhat uneven. He converted 29 of 32 attempts inside 40 yards during his career but experienced some short-range inconsistency during the 2025 season. His mid-range kicking has also been slightly streaky, converting 14 of 19 attempts from the 40–49 yard range. Smack also brings one of the strongest kickoff profiles in the class. Across 239 career kickoffs, opponents returned just 19.7 percent of his attempts and averaged only 18.9 yards per return, reinforcing the value of his leg strength beyond field goals.
BEST GAME: Smack’s performance against Mississippi State during the 2025 season stands out as one of the best games of his college career. In a tightly contested matchup, he converted all three of his field goal attempts and accounted for nine of Florida’s points in a 23–21 victory. Two of those kicks came from beyond 50 yards, including an impressive 54-yard conversion that showcased his leg power. With the game remaining close throughout, Smack’s ability to consistently deliver the goods from distance proved critical in helping the Gators secure the win. His performance demonstrated both the range and composure that have defined much of his college career, as he repeatedly stepped up in key moments to keep Florida on the scoreboard and ultimately help seal the narrow victory.
FIT WITH THE PACKERS: Smack checks the two boxes Green Bay would likely care most about in kicking competitions: range and kickoff value. Brandon McManus remains under contract, but after going just 6-for-14 from 40 yards or beyond last season, the Packers could still look at challengers with stronger long-range résumés. Smack would fit that mold. He has converted 10 of 13 attempts from 50-plus yards in his career and also offers a proven kickoff profile, with opponents returning fewer than 20 percent of his kickoffs across a 239-kick sample. That combination could make him one of the more sensible camp competition options if Green Bay chooses to add another leg this offseason.
- Jack Brenthall, Cheesehead TV
SMACK IT (ft. @richeisen)
📺: NFL Draft on ABC/ESPN/NFL Network pic.twitter.com/nUIKYMhYSB
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 25, 2026
OTHER OPTIONS ON THE BOARD:
Smack was the only kicker drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. The next three kickers on the Cheesehead TV draft guide rankings all went undrafted: Drew Stevens, Iowa, Dominic Zvada, Michigan, and Mason Shipley, Texas. One punter did go in Round 7, Smack's teammate at Florida, Tommy Doman went to the Bills at pick #239.
The Packers did not take a single RB, WR, TE or LB in the draft. They also passed on taking a developmental quarterback as Athan Kaliakmanis of Rutgers went to the Commandfers at pick #223, Behren Morton of Texas went to the Patriots at pick #234, and Garrett Nussmeier of LSU went to the Chiefs at pick #249.
WHY THE PACKERS SELECTED SMACK:
The Packers wanted both more competition and to be younger at kicker, so they traded up and selected Smack. The Florida Gators kicker was 18 of 22 in 2025 with a long of 56 yards.
In the last half of the 2025 season, one of the most disappointing players on the Packers was kicker Brandon McManus. After going 20 of 21 on field goals in 2024, McManus had a dud of a second year with the team. He finished the season 24 of 30 on field goals, and for the second straight year he missed several makeable kicks in the Packers playoff loss. He missed a 41-yarder against the Eagles in the 2024 wild card and then this past year, he missed a PAT and a 44-yard field goal in the 4th quarter.
Smack is the 4th kicker the Packers have drafted in the past 30 years. Previously they trade drafted Brett Conway (3rd round) in 1997, Mason Crosby (6th round) in 2007, and Anders Carlson (6th round) in 2023. Crosby would go on to be the league's all time leader in scoring and made field goals, meanwhile Conway never kicked in a regular season in 1997 and Carlson last just one season, 2023.
The Packers have been one of the most stable franchises at the kicker position in the last 30-plus seasons, so the selection of Smack is with the hope that he becomes the next longterm answer at the position.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Mitch McLaughlin is a Packers fan and shareholder residing in Sacramento, California. He will be writing Packers stories each week on Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter: @McLaughlinMitch
__________________________
Comments (39)
Since'61
April 25, 2026 at 08:29 pm
As I posted on another thread I think that Dennis-Sutton is the Packers best selection in this draft and I expect him to contribute to the Packers 2026 season.
I'm not sure yet about Burton or Jackson but at the least they will provide much needed depth at their respective position groups. Burton may be our Center of the future.
Sacrificing our 7th round picks for Smack was a smart move by Gute. After McManus' performance at the end of last season the Packers need to get younger and better at Kicker. Hopefully Smack provides the long term solution the Packers have needed since Mason Crosby left the team.
Solid job by Gute, now it's up to the coaches the get the rookies ready to play at the NFL level. Thanks, Since '61
LambeauPlain
April 25, 2026 at 09:21 pm
Solid view. Dennis-Sutton was a good get...not as good a get as Rodgers, but a dandy drop to the Pack I did not expect and Gutey pounced.
My favorite is Cisse. My second favorite in the draft are all these D prospects Gannon and his staff can add to an already talented Defense at all three levels. To beat the best you have defend against their best. And have a great QB to beat their defense. Packers may have this brewing.
Parsons, Wyatt, Coop, Franklin, X, Williams...and Nixon (only his 3rd year playing NFL CB full time), who is a leader.
Trading the two 7ths for a kicker in the last selection in the 6th tells me they wanted him as heir apparent in camp. Competition is good.
Starrbrite
April 26, 2026 at 02:50 am
I too thought drafting the kicker was an excellent move. A few additional FG’s last year would have changed everything.
packer132
April 25, 2026 at 09:06 pm
Looks like a very good draft though typically you won't know until about 3 years. I am not if favor of drafting kickers or punters and I thought Havrisik was very good as a backup last year. I guess younger and competition can not be bad. Three new faces to compete in the defensive backfield is welcomed. Also, three new guys on the D line is a huge. Should have at least 2 starters from only 6 picks and new coaches to work with. You have to be excited for the season to start.
Starrbrite
April 26, 2026 at 02:59 am
I very happy to say I’m thrilled with this year’s draft. Many of y’all have expressed why we should be excited much better than I can.
Go Packers!!!
Coldworld
April 27, 2026 at 10:11 am
Hindsight will tell. If he doesn’t win the job it could be just training for another team and a complete waste of picks that could have helped strengthen our depth.
If he does win the job then we won’t know till the end of the season at the earliest whether that was a good thing. I doubt we can stash him on the PS all season, so I don’t think they can hedge.
Is McManus really that bad, or was it more a combination of injuries and injudicious too early returns resulting in a stop-start situation in practice messing with him? Is Havrisik worse than McManus or a total dud? Is the new guy just better? Did he suffer as well from the handling?
Honestly, he looks like a decent warm weather kicker, but it’s hard to say he’s a slam dunk to be an NFL one or ready to be so now, particularly in Green Bay. Perhaps he would have been picked up in the 7th before we picked. But I don’t think that was a given.
I don’t hate the idea since he is well rated and would potentially be a long term solution. McManus is getting up there in age. However, it’s it could blow up in our faces just as likely as succeed. My guess is we keep Havrisik around on the PS if we can as insurance if we go with the new guy.
Matt
April 26, 2026 at 03:23 am
I like the decision to move up for a kicker when so far his development fits the profile of modern kicker who is more than random from 50+. Time will tell though.
But there is one fact that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth - Nadame Tucker was undrafted and I think 7th round pick would be worth gambling for guy with his production. Deontae Lawson would also be worth 7th.
Turophile
April 26, 2026 at 04:36 am
Nags got his draft crush in round 5 (C Jager Burton)...............but I missed out on one of my strongest crushes there, QB Cole Payton, who went at 178, off to, of all teams, the Philadelphia Eagles.................damn !
I also really liked T/G Fa'Amoe, undrafted and currently a free agent afaik.
dobber
April 26, 2026 at 05:55 am
Have heard some call Payton "the next Tim Tebow". I think he's more likely to be "the next Taysom Hill".
Starrbrite
April 26, 2026 at 07:56 pm
The Taysom Hill comparison is accurate imo. I’m an NDSU fan and watched him closely. He continued to improve his passing and he was an excellent runner.
Starrbrite
April 26, 2026 at 07:52 pm
I also wanted Payton.
Oxymoron 3339
April 26, 2026 at 06:54 am
Using two picks on a Kicker was not a smart move.
DoubleJ
April 26, 2026 at 08:05 am
They used 2x R7s so it isn't bad. He was the best kicker in the draft and has a big and accurate leg. If he ends up being the kicker for the next 10 years it is a good pick.
Oxymoron 3339
April 26, 2026 at 09:38 am
He’s picked two kickers, a punter and a long snapper. So far all have sucked. We need position players.
LambeauPlain
April 26, 2026 at 09:01 am
They were 2-7ths with a total point value of 2...TWO...draft value points to get a player they obviously targeted and did so fearing he'd be taken before their 7th rounder.
It isn't very complicated.
Oxymoron 3339
April 26, 2026 at 09:41 am
We need other positions. Lost 1000 receiving yards and what 3 OL. Maybe instead of giving away two picks to pick a Kicker we could have waited and picked the same guy a few picks later.
dobber
April 26, 2026 at 11:31 am
Realistically, they weren't going to pick a starter in round 7 except maybe by pushing someone like McManus out--which is what this pick is designed to do. Would Smack have made it to the middle of round 7 and the Packers first round 7 pick? Who knows. I can find several other guys I would've liked to see in round 7 rather than having to bid on them as UDFAs, but none likely are contributors in 2026.
Coldworld
April 27, 2026 at 10:40 am
Landon Robinson, Tim Keenan, Max Llewellyn, Dallen Bentley and Red Murdoch, to name a few, all would have plausibly raised at least the level of competition in their respective rooms now and all have considerable upside.
The first 2 would have required a trade up and thus we’d have been one and done, but I’d have been thrilled with Llewellyn and Bentley, even if they started the year on the PS. Bentley may well have had a shot to make the roster. That’s ignoring others who might have been UDFAs we couldn’t get.
Lphill
April 27, 2026 at 06:41 am
Broncos wanted him .
Starrbrite
April 26, 2026 at 07:59 pm
We made up for it with undrafted free agents.
Lphill
April 26, 2026 at 07:00 am
I'm ok with with the picks , not my preferred D tackle but I guess he,was on the Packers radar, also I don't mind taking a kicker but what's his expectations in cold weather?
Coldworld
April 26, 2026 at 10:16 am
He’s got a very strong leg. That’s about all you can look for regarding the ability to deal with the elements. My hesitation is that mistakes good kickers aren’t drafted, and those that are tend to be good kickers with their second or third team. If he doesn’t win out, it’s hard to see him surviving on the PS through an entire season.
dobber
April 26, 2026 at 11:28 am
He'll have to be Anders Carlson bad to not win the job.
The Brandon McManus we saw in 2025 was more indicative of who he was before his season finishing hot streak to net his contract in GB in '24.
I agree: some good kickers are drafted and play well. I think more grow with time and bounce around the league until they find a home. This guy hasn't had to kick in the elements in December and January.
Coldworld
April 27, 2026 at 10:21 am
Do you think so? I’m not convinced it’s that clear. Even if they get through camp about equal, which would normally mean go young, there will still be myriad perforce unanswered questions. I know Green Bay summers can be up and down, but he’s not going to get any realistic testing for conditions likely from October on: the part of the season when it really matters most.
Swisch
April 26, 2026 at 07:07 am
The are few feelings in football more disappointing than a hard-fought game being lost after a missed field goal at the end.
This seems to be good reason to draft a promising kicker.
Plus, get a good one like Mason Crosby, and they last 15 seasons or so.
Trey seems like a great name for a kicker in that it denotes the number of points we gain when he launches the football Smack dab in the middle of the goalposts.
WD
April 26, 2026 at 07:40 am
Overall I rate the draft as an A. Drafting the best kicker coming out of college ever gives them an A+. We know all too well the importance of a kicker!
One possible criticism was we still have little, if any depth at RB. Pierre Strong?
Lloyd? Gute has more information than we know so hopefully RB will not be an issue,
pantz_bURp
April 26, 2026 at 08:00 am
Why even play the 2026 season?
Just give da Pack the Lombardi Trophy. Why delay the inevitable?
GPG,
Burp
*I like the potential of the players picked. And here is the kicker, in the 6th round...
DoubleJ
April 26, 2026 at 08:07 am
Getting DDS at pick 120 is incredible value at a position that needs depth. He was 72 on the consensus big board. I was shocked that Jacksonville took the guy from Duke instead of DDS (he was 233 on the consensus big board).
Coldworld
April 27, 2026 at 10:30 am
If he plays like his film we just picked up the new LVN and the needle stays static. If he plays to his RAS or even gets within the ballpark that suggests, then yes, you are right.
Normally the conventional wisdom here is that we should pick players not RAS stars. It seems that Gute did the opposite here with Denis-Sutton and Jager most notably (more so with the latter. He also did that with Domani Jackson, but by the 6th makes more sense to go on upside, especially if, like Jackson the player could easily be a ST fixture immediately.
Guam
April 26, 2026 at 08:11 am
Good article in our local Wisconsin paper (Wisconsin State Journal) this morning about Gute talking about this draft. Gute said he wanted to draft a good blocking TE and more help for the OL, but the draft Board didn't fall their way and allow them to get the guys they wanted at those positions. Gute also said they were surprised to get DDS in the fourth and Burton in the fifth - they thought both would be gone by the time the Packer's turn came up. They even tried to trade up into the late third round to get DDS and could find no trading partners.
I liked this draft because they filled most of their positional needs save blocking TE and OL. Only time will tell how these rookies develop, but at least Gute got draft choices in the right places.
I think the big winner in this draft is Darien Kinnard. It appears he is again going to be the Packers swing OT and blocking TE for the 2026 season. I also hope Glover has a really good season - the Packers will need more OL depth and they are only getting one piece from the draft so Glover needs to step up.
The big loser in this draft could be Brandon McManus.......from a $5MM a year contract to unemployed. I hope Smack is as good as they say because McManus cost the Packers a couple of games last season.
Coldworld
April 26, 2026 at 10:30 am
Unfortunately I am the outlier who thought DDS was a trap to avoid before the draft because his effort may have worked in college, but it masks the fact he neither has a fast or even average first step or bend. He’s another straight line, one trick pony. We never learn.
Jager is a classic punt. Athletically all the potential one could hope for but he’s never put it together. He’s a mess technically and under strength. He was a player I’d have looked at in the 6/7th, because he had great upside and the intelligence to be a C, but the hill he has to climb technically to unleash that is huge. One of our UDFA’s, Dillon Wade, could actually be a better player and C in particular, this summer at least.
Squandered picks for a dubious punt when one wasn’t necessary. Missing out on any blocking TE, even among UDFAs, (given his moves, blaming how the draft fell really doesn’t ring true). Picking a DT that isn’t really a run stuffer with penetration but an unathletic penetrator who is good but not great against the run, especially if run at directly. I like Cisse, I like the potential of Jackson, but we blew chances to have less speculative and more immediate help with upside.
I think we may look back at this draft and see it as a generational howler where we took the wrong players even if the positions make sense and wasted opportunities to capitalize on strengths in this class and add competition or a TE that does well what we ask them to do: block.
Whyle was a bad blocker in the tradition of his predecessors not named Kraft or Lewis. Again, we don’t Learn and as a result perhaps our best weapon will be doing dirty work far too often. This draft was unusual in the number of normally rare capable blocking TEs yet we managed to take none. Even in UDFA we signed two who aren’t.
I may have just leapt off the Gute train finally. This draft was all kinds of wrong.
Guam
April 26, 2026 at 11:13 am
I don't watch a lot of college football and I'm not nearly a good enough football talent evaluator to judge these picks today. I will wait and see what develops over the next three years before I evaluate these players.
As far as Gute is concerned, I have been critical of his first round picks. I think he has bought into RAS far too much and not weighted actual football performance sufficiently for a number of his first round picks (Gary, LVN, Stokes, Walker, etc.). That said I also find it hard to argue with Gute's day three picks. He continually finds starters on day three (Tom, Williams, R. Walker, Valentine, etc.) when other GMs seem to get much less from day three. I will give DDS and Burton a chance before I judge them.
Coldworld
April 26, 2026 at 12:42 pm
At this stage nothing is proven. Players can surprise either way. I feel less confident that Gute really has a realistic assessment of this roster or of the traits to improve it after this draft though.
dobber
April 26, 2026 at 11:16 am
"Unfortunately I am the outlier who thought DDS was a trap to avoid "
I didn't like him in round 2 and was meh on him in round 3, but at some point the cost meets the value: he's a good value at a money position (with Cox and LVN potentially being in walk years, and losing Enagbare and Gary) in round 4.
"This draft was unusual in the number of normally rare capable blocking TEs"
I disagree. I think we've seen a steady decline in dual-purpose and line-pushing Y types. I think we're seeing the shift in college football that moves away from TEs who can push the line and toward TEs who are mostly pass-catchers.
Coldworld
April 27, 2026 at 10:50 am
You are right about that trend, which is why it was unusual to have at least 4 in this draft that bucked that trend. Kacmarek went to the Dolphins way too early, but we took upside punts type players rather than take Roush or Nowakowski and a kicker before Bentley.
Then we failed to even get a blocking TE as a UDFA, like DJ Read (Dallas) to even compete with Swinson. I suspect Gute wasn’t that serious. That’s a shame because to me a good blocking TE would immediately make us better more than any other single offensive acquisition. Maybe Swinson breaks out, maybe we poach one later, or maybe we just have rank bad blocking aside from Kraft yet again.
splitpea1
April 26, 2026 at 11:40 am
I understand some of the concerns, but you still have to give it time. I think DDS was definitely worth a shot in the fourth round; don't know how long it will take to see him on defense, but you can put him in there right away on speical teams, as he had three blocked punts at Penn State last season... McClellan vs. Orange will be an interesting comparison going forward... Not crazy about picks Burton or Jackson; it would have been useful to get at least a good blocking WR if not a TE, but Josh Cameron was taken about 10 spots before Jackson.
Cisse was a good pick with the upside, but here's another guy who needs to develop his ball skills. But you can bet he'll be out there to provide immediate help, although he'll take his early lumps. I thought Smack was also worth a shot; if he wins the job and is able to perform in cold weather, it will end this kicker merry-go-round once and for all.
Two ways to look at the bright side: 1) Whatever anyone says, Gute did fill most needs with credible options and did not get sidetracked, and 2) the generationally bad draft already occured in 2021; I think it's improbable that this draft is as bad, though that's why the players play the game and we'll find out.
Starrbrite
April 26, 2026 at 08:03 pm
Yep—McManus definitely hurt us.
Swisch
April 26, 2026 at 01:19 pm
I upvoted Coldworld's comment above about his disappointment with this draft, not because I agree, or really know enough to disagree, but because I'm glad for good discussion.
I would truly be glad for Coldworld to provide some examples of players who were available to draft in any given round and weren't drafted by the Packers -- but should have been instead of the guys we picked.
***
One thing I learned from this draft is that it's difficult to tell if a player is too much of a project at that round in the draft -- especially in the early rounds -- or whether he's close enough to be brought in to the Packers for further development.
I think I have a greater appreciation that just about all of these college players coming into the NFL have weaknesses.
A guy like Cisse seems so young at only age 20, and with maybe just one year of fulltime experience in college, that I don't know if he's a reach. On the other hand, he's super athletic, a strong tackler, and apparently a hard worker.
Did we take him too early? How much can he contribute as a rookie, and before his rookie contract expires in a few years? In general, how much do you go with more talented but less proven players versus less talented but more proven players?
***
As another example, McClellan is more proven in college but still has question marks. However, it seems he's been improving each year of college, and is a hard worker. Has he peaked, or is he still getting better?
He has bulk and agility, which seems like a great combination; but maybe in the pros he won't be bulky enough to clog the middle or agile enough to rush the passer. Then again, maybe his versatility, with steady improvement, will make him valuable to the Packers for the next several seasons.
***
So, I get confused almost until my head starts to hurt, and then I let it go for awhile.
Perhaps 50% of the equation as to success in the NFL is what kind of coaching and support these guys will get with the Packers.
A lot of it, too, is their personal motivation.
I keep coming back to the first season under Lombardi of 1959. In the prior season -- of only one win and the Packers being the laughingstock of the NFL -- Bart Starr was practically invisible, Ray Nitschke was somewhat unstable, and Jerry Kramer was promising but kind of a goof off. Paul Hornung, who had been the first pick in the entire draft a couple of seasons earlier, was a bust who seemed to have checked out of even trying all that hard.
Lombardi lifted each of them to hall-of-famers, and the Packers to perennial champions -- actually the most glorious team in the annals of the NFL.
Probably the LaFleur regime doesn't get us that far, but I'm still not giving up on a Super Bowl title or two over the next five seasons.
We'll see if the coaches step up in a way to get the most out of the players.
What's encouraging is that the Packers are already very good, playoff caliber, and had a record of 9-3-1 last season before being overwhelmed with injuries. I think we can do this.
***
In conclusion, to cite another example, only time will tell if DDS is able to get more bursty and more bendy.
However, when I look at the positives of our latest draft choices, it seems as though they outweigh the negatives. There's real hope in their potential.
GreenandBold
April 26, 2026 at 04:32 pm
I love the Smack pick. I’ve seen how a kicker can lift a team and make a huge impact in wins and losses . Remember Chester Marcol playing a big role getting the Packers into the playoffs in I believe ‘72 .