When Jeff Hafley traded his Green Bay puffer vest for a Miami t-shirt, Matt Lafleur made his 4th defensive coordinator hire of his Packers head coaching tenure. His selection was former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, joining the Vikings and Bears trend of hiring former head coaches to be defensive coordinators. Although his time with the Cardinals did not produce any stellar defenses, his 2022 Eagles defense was one of the best in NFL history. The Packers need that kind of defense to advance beyond the Wildcard round, and 3 young players could be ready to fit right into Gannon’s defensive scheme.

Collin Oliver

There usually isn’t much expectation put on 5th round pass rushers, especially when they are undersized. Collin Oliver, however, could potentially be a massive value at the position. Although he is only 6 feet and 240 pounds, he has shown the ability to use his athleticism as a very effective speed rusher. He led the Big 12 in sacks as a freshman with 11.5, and ended his college career with 23.5 total sacks.

Speed rushers aren’t usually what Green Bay takes in the draft, so he gained the interest of fans and analysts. Unfortunately, injury and a 4-3 defense that emphasizes large defensive ends limited his playing time. His only snaps came in the “Junior Varsity” loss to the Vikings in week 18, but he did complete 2 pressures and a tackle in that game.

Oliver has an opportunity to fit into Gannon’s defensive scheme in the absence of 2 players missing from Green Bay’s roster. One is Micah Parsons, whose absence necessitates pressure on the quarterback by any means necessary. The other is Haason Reddick, who had his best year with Gannon in 2022 when he finished the season with 16 sacks.

On paper, Reddick and Oliver are similar athletes, although Oliver does not have the same polish as Reddick as a pass rusher.

While he showed great adaptability to his roster with the Cardinals, Gannon does have favorites shown by the Packers acquisition of Javon Hargrave and Zaire Franklin who both have played under Gannon. Reddick isn’t available, but Oliver may catch Gannon’s eye as a player who can keep opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable until Parsons is back and beyond.

Kitan Oladapo

The Packers 2024 draft class brought in a trio of safeties, including current starters Javon Bullard and Evan Williams. Along with Xavier McKinney, the Packers safeties could be argued to be one of the best groups in the NFL and will do well in Gannon’s quarters-heavy defense. However, the forgotten 2024 pick, Kitan Oladapo, may have an opportunity to finally get significant snaps this year.

Defenses are typically defined by their base set of 4-3 (4 defensive linemen, 3 linebackers) or 3-4 (3 defensive linemen, 4 linebackers), however the most common personnel grouping is nickel (named after having 5 defensive backs on the field) which is run around 60% of all defensive snaps. However, the 2025 Cardinals nickel usage was much lower, around 48%, with an increase in base (3-4 under Gannon) and dime (6 defensive backs, or two nickels). It is as a dimeback that Oladapo may become a starter in Gannon’s defensive scheme.

Increasing the number of defensive backs on the field traditionally decreases the number of linebackers, which also decreases the overall weight and muscle on defense. This is where Oladapo’s elite 6’2”, 220lb frame may earn him significant snaps this year. As the biggest defensive back on the team, he is more capable of helping in run defense than his teammates.

Like Oliver, Oladapo only appeared in the final game of the Packers defense. He did allow a 102.1 passer rating in coverage, but did finish the game with 5 tackles and a quarterback knockdown on 3 blitzes. His coverage needs work, but being willing to tackle in the run game and blitz may earn Oladapo a chance for more time on the field.

Chris McClellan

In losing Kenny Clark then Colby Wooden in subsequent seasons, the Packers were in serious need of a nose tackle for the 2026 season. Even with the addition of Javon Hargrave, the Packers were expected to take a nose tackle in the draft and did so by trading up for Mizzou’s Chris McClellan in the third round. Gannon’s 3-4 defensive scheme calls for a nose tackle, and McClellan can answer the call.

Like many players on the Packers roster, McClellan is versatile and has the ability to play lined up as a 1 (in-between the center and guard) or 3 (in-between the guard and tackle) technique. Having long arms and big hands to compliment his 6’3” 313lbs frame, McClellan can anchor the center of the defense in the run while not being useless as a pass rusher.

As of writing, Javon Hargrave has not practiced in training camp due to injury. His absence has given McClellan plenty of reps against the starting offense, and has done well so far. This experience and confidence should help him earn then perform the role of an important starter at the heart of the new Packers defense.