The Green Bay Packers don’t have a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. That went to the Dallas Cowboys to acquire edge rusher Micah Parsons last August.
But the Packers do have eight selections in the final two rounds. Could they use that capital to move back into the first round to grab an edge rusher to pair with Parsons next season?
It’s not very likely. But The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman didn’t rule out the possibility.
On Tuesday, Schneidman named five players the Packers could move back into the first round to grab this spring. Miami’s Akheem Mesidor was the lone edge rusher on the list.
“After trading Rashan Gary and letting Kingsley Enagbare walk in free agency, the Packers will be relying on plenty of unproven youth off the edge this season behind Parsons once he returns from his torn ACL (Barryn Sorrell, Collin Oliver and Brenton Cox Jr.),” wrote Schneidman. “You could even argue that 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness hasn’t proven himself yet and that the Packers need to get significantly better overall.
“Mesidor is an older prospect, but the Packers haven’t entirely shied away from those in the past and might be looking for a more seasoned edge rusher who doesn’t need as much developmental time, given the Super Bowl window they’re currently in.
“Mesidor had 17.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles last season, making him one of only two players in the FBS to amass those numbers, while helping Miami to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.”
In Mesidor, the Packers could land a prospect immediately ready to be a bookend edge rusher with Parsons.
Could Packers Realistically Move Up Into First Round?
GettyMiami Hurricanes edge rusher Akheem Mesidor is a talent but older prospect with an injury history.
Schneidman referred to the possibility of the Packers trading back into the first round as a “shock.”
The Packers insider also put it another way:
“Will Gutekunst trade up from No. 52 all the way to No. 32 or earlier? If he does, I’ll give one person who retweets this story $100,” wrote Schneidman. “That’s how unlikely I think it is.”
Schniedman concluded writing, “Never say never.” But clearly, the Packers are very likely not making a first-round pick.
Green Bay’s blockbuster move was for Parsons last August. That’s put them behind the 8-ball, of sorts, this offseason without a first-round pick. They won’t have one next year either.
Trading up wouldn’t get the Packers out of the hole; it could actually send them deeper into it.
That doesn’t mean, though, Green Bay couldn’t move up higher in the second round. That’s a lot more plausible than a move into the first round, and maybe Mesidor becomes a trade up target if he falls out of the top 32 picks.
But that probably won’t happen either. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah ranked Mesidor the No. 23 overall prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“Mesidor was a highly productive edge rusher for the Hurricanes,” wrote Jeremiah. “He has an ideal frame, relentless motor and pass-rush instincts. Against the pass, his game is more about power than pure speed.
“Overall, Mesidor is a better version of 2025 second-round pick Nic Scourton.”
How Do Packers Better Complement Micah Parsons in 2026?
GettyThe Athletic’s Matt Schneidman explored the possibility of the Green Bay Packers trading up for edge rusher Akheem Mesidor to pair with Micah Parsons.
The main reason why a trade up for Mesidor is a topic of conversation around the Packers is because the team has to find a way to take pressure away from Parsons in 2026.
Parsons had 12.5 of the team’s 36 sacks last season. Furthermore, the Packers No. 2 defender in terms of sacks, Rashan Gary, is no longer on the roster.
Parsons also probably won’t be on the field when the season begins. So, Green Bay not only has to find a complement to its top edge rusher but a September replacement for him.
As Schneidman explained, that could be former first-rounder Lukas Van Ness. But whether through a trade up or not, the Packers should address the position during the 2026 NFL Draft as well.
Packers Could Trade Up for ‘Instinctive’ Edge Rusher to Pair With Micah Parsons