Training camp for the Green Bay Packers is fast approaching. But honestly, not fast enough. With a month still to go, there really isn’t a whole lot to talk about with regards to the NFL and the Packers. We are deep into the dregs of the offseason. Soon – and I mean very soon – discussions around looking forward to the Packers training camp will start.
But that isn’t this week. We just quite aren’t there yet, and there is a reason for that. Last year, the Packers training camp started on July 23rd. This year, it doesn’t start until July 29th, basically a whole week later! It just makes the offseason a smidge longer. And because of that, everyone needs to dig a little deeper when it comes to NFL content.
This is when sports writers, in particular for the NFL, start writing top tens and top fives lists. So, you know what? I’m going to do the same.
Here are my top five players for the 2026 Green Bay Packers!
Number Five Packers Player – Edgerrin Cooper
My number five Packers player of 2026 is Edgerrin Cooper. The off-ball linebacker is extremely versatile. He can play all over the field. Already in OTAs, he has lined up on the edge as a pass rusher. Cooper in his young career has already received a ton of notariety and is looked at as an ascending star. If Edgerrin Cooper takes another step, he has All-Pro potential written all over him.
The Packers could very well use that type of development out of him too! Things could look a little different from Cooper under new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon but regardless, with his athleticism and high motor Cooper is a stalwart on this team.
Number Four – Tucker Kraft
Before going down last season with an ACL tear, Tucker Kraft was arguably the best tight end in all of football. Kraft isn’t just a one-trick pony. Nope, he can catch the ball well, run with the ball well, and if he needs to block ya, he’s gonna knock ya on your butt.
Kraft led the NFL in yards after catch from the tight end position last year prior to his injury and honestly quickly became a safety net of sorts for Love. If the Packers needed some easy yards, they would just do a quick swing pass to Kraft and he would get the yards they needed. They really missed that going down the stretch last season and the Packers will be happy to have it heading into 2026.
Number Three Packers Player – Xavier McKinney
Honestly, I could have mentioned Evan Williams and Javon Bullard as well. This safety unit is probably one of the best safety units in all of football and honestly very well could be considered as such by the end of this season.
But Xavier McKinney is what stirs the drink for this safety room! He gets the guys in the right position to make plays. But he doesn’t just orchestrate what happens on the back end of the defense. Nope, he makes the plays too. In 2024, McKinney had eight total interceptions. He then followed that season up with a two pick season which is indeed a notable drop. But, honestly, the ball wasn’t coming his way as much. Teams were avoiding him, which limits the field in which opposing offenses can actually attack.
That’s a good thing.
Number Two – Jordan Love
The quarterback has to be in the top five of any list of players that must be watched heading into the new season. Love has developed quite well and is ready to take a huge leap this year. Injuries have really derailed a couple of his seasons thus far: injuries to himself as well as to the rest of his team.
If the Packers overall can stay healthy, Love has every ability to be in the All-Pro discussion and maybe even MVP discussions. He was for the first half of last season prior to all of the injuries. Love should be able to pick up the pieces from last season and perform well. If he does reach his ceiling, the Packers will be able to make deep run into the playoffs.
Honorable Mentions:
Here are some other players that I would hate not to mention somewhere in this article because they could quite easily be in the top five for the Packers. But I just couldn’t quite put these names into top five in importance.
Christian Watson – This offense is just not the same when Watson isn’t in the lineup. His ability to stretch the field really messes with opposing teams.
Josh Jacobs – Jacobs has been the heart and soul of this Green Bay offense. I didn’t include him in the top five because we don’t know the outcome of his legal issues.
Devonte Wyatt – Wyatt really turned it on last year prior to his injuries. He hasn’t come back yet from those injuries and there hasn’t been a whole lot mentioned about it. Are injuries still an issue or are Wyatt’s problems more financial than injury based now?
Zach Tom – Tom is by far the best offensive linemen on this team. Last year, he got paid as such but found himself battling injuries all of last season. Will he return to 100% form? Lots of questions on that one.
Number One Packers Player Heading into 2026! – Micah Parsons
Finally, it’s Micah Parsons. The other guys I’ve mentioned are fantastic players but Parsons is on a legendary tragectory. The hall of fame is a legit possibility for the elite edge defender, and that really showed last season. A terrible ACL injury ended his run last year and honestly ended the Packers season too. They didn’t win a game after his injury.
That alone should tell you everything you need to know about Parsons. His energy and effort are through the roof and contagious. He is the most important player to watch heading into 2026 because of all of those reasons and so much more. If the Packers can find a way to stay relevant at the beginning of this season, then Parsons can help push them over the edge and make run to the Super Bowl.
That’s how good he is!
But regardless and always,
Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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