With meaningful free agency signings at an end, the Packers and the rest of the NFL turn their attention to the 2026 NFL Draft. Obviously this year will be a little different for Packers fans, as it’s the first time since 2017 that the team does not have a first round pick. Do not go back and look at that draft. It’s not great.

Before we dive deeper into this years draft however, lets go back one year and look at the picks from last year. Did anyone stand out? Who was the biggest disappointment? What if anything can it tell us about what GM Brian Gutekunst might do this year? Lets break the class down into a few groups.

No Longer A Green Bay Packer

Micah Robinson – CB, 7th Round

Robinson was one of two picks in the 7th round along with offensive lineman John Williams. Robinson made the active roster once in week two before heading back to the practice squad. In October he was signed off the squad by the Tennessee Titans.

2025 Redshirt Seasons

  • Warren Brinson – DL, 6th Round
  • Barryn Sorrell – DE, 4th Round
  • Collin Oliver – DE, 5th Round

It’s widely accepted that the biggest need for the Packers in the draft is on the defensive line. Micah Parsons is injured, while Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare are both out the door. Between those three, and players like Lukas Van Ness and Devonte Wyatt, the three players above did not see a lot of playing time. Oliver lost most of the season to injury, and Sorrell dealt with injury issues as well.

While I expect the Packers to address the line regardless, the amount of resources that Green Bay spends in the draft will give a good indication of what the team thinks of these three players.

Sorrell in particular is a player to watch, as he may be thrust into a starting role to begin the season.

No Idea What The Packers Plan Is Or Was

Savion Williams – WR, 3rd Round

Williams was the most confusing pick of last years draft. The team addressed WR in round one with Golden, and while drafting replacements before you need them is a sound strategy, Williams felt like a luxury pick with greater needs on the roster.

He showed flashes as a gadget type player that could fill in for some of the things they ask Jayden Reed to do, but injuries nagged at him all season, and he couldn’t break into the depth chart, especially once Christian Watson returned.

With Romeo Doubs gone there are snaps to be earned, but those seem far more likely to go to another player than Williams. It doesn’t seem as though they want him to be a returner either given the signing of Skyy Moore. While he can obviously earn a bigger role with a strong camp performance, this pick has all the signs of the classic Green Bay round three curse.

2026 Packers Starters

  • Matthew Golden – WR, 1st Round
  • Anthony Belton – OL, 2nd Round

If you just looked at Goldens stats you would be concerned for the long term outlook. If you watched him play though, you can see why Green Bay took him. He doesn’t drop the ball, he gets open, and he has real speed. The only knock on him was that he seemed to struggle with where to be and when to be there. That’s something that should come naturally with another offseason under his belt. With Romeo Doubs gone, I fully expect Golden to have a breakout season this year.

Belton on the other hand struggled not because of opportunity, but instead from a position switch and lack of stability. With Elgton Jenkins being released and Sean Rhyan seeming to be the favorite to start at center, Belton should have all offseason to focus on the RG position. Belton was a tackle in college, but his size and strength should allow him to make that switch far better than Jordan Morgan, who is clearly a tackle only.

Barring an injury or high draft pick I expect both of these players to be starters for the Packers when the season begins.

Final Thoughts

On paper the 2025 draft class was a let down. None of the players was a full time starter last season and several did not play well for those stretches. The best teams though don’t draft for need, or for “right now”. They make picks with the next several years in mind. With that point of view there is plenty to be hopeful about.

Multiple players from this class will now have the chance to compete for starting roles with the roster changes that have happened this offseason. So while their rookie years weren’t what fans may have hoped, 2026 will have plenty of opportunities available for these players to change the narrative.

In the meantime I expect Green Bay to add at cornerback and both lines in the draft. If the picks go elsewhere, that tells you that the Packers still have a lot of confidence in this draft class.