The Green Bay Packers didn’t have a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But the hope is the team found exciting defensive prospects on Day 2 and 3 of the draft. Only more time will be able to reveal if that’s the case, but based on impressions from offseason workouts, defensive tackle Chris McClellan is off to a great start.
The third-round pick practiced a lot with the first-team defense during OTAs and minicamp. McClellan also took snaps at different positions along the defensive line.
That left A to Z Sports’ Wendell Ferreira feeling great about the addition of McClellan when he analyzed the team’s rookie class following the conclusion of Green Bay’s offseason program.
“The defensive line rotates heavily, and McClellan has taken advantage of that by logging reps with the starters during the offseason program,” wrote Ferreira. “The intriguing part is his alignment versatility. McClellan has played both the nose tackle and defensive tackle spots in Gannon’s scheme, an impressive range for a rookie third-rounder.
“Green Bay made its feelings clear when it traded up to select him, and the early returns validate that aggressiveness.”
Packers Rookie DT Chris McClellan’s Impressive Spring
GettyThe Green Bay Packers selected defensive tackle Chris McClellan in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Packers traded defensive tackle Colby Wooden to the Indianapolis Colts for linebacker Zaire Franklin in March. With the move, Green Bay created an opening in the middle of its defensive line.
To fill it, the Packers first signed veteran Javon Hargrave. The team then grabbed McClellan in the third round of the draft.
According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, that was too early. Zierlein projected the defensive tackle to be a fourth or fifth-round choice.
But McClellan already moved ahead of fellow defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse, who started one game as a rookie last season, during the spring. The third-rounder could be a Day 1 starter on Green Bay’s defense.
McClellan split his college career at Florida and Missouri. Over 51 games at the collegiate level, he had 133 combined tackles, including 17 for loss and 10.5 sacks.
At Missouri last season, McClellan had six sacks, eight tackles for loss and two pass defenses.
Green Bay’s 2026 Rookie Draft Class
GettyA to Z Sports’ Wendell Ferreira argued Green Bay Packers third-round rookie Chris McClellan is showing impressive versatility for Matt LaFleur this offseason.
McClellan appears to have the best chance of all Green Bay’s rookies to make an immediate impact. But the Packers are hoping a few of their first-year defenders could help the team this fall.
With their first selection in the second round, Green Bay picked cornerback Brandon Cisse. They also nabbed defensive back Domani Jackson during the sixth round on Day 3.
To open the third day of the draft, the Packers picked edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton.
At cornerback, Green Bay has trusted starters Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine. That is likely to make it difficult for Cisse to play immediately.
But he has tremendous upside as a long-term developmental project.
As for Dennis-Sutton, Ferreira sees the fourth-rounder earning playing time, especially without All-Pro Micah Parsons to begin the season.
“Dennis-Sutton has played mostly with the second team but has mixed in some first-team reps and consistently generated pressure,” wrote Ferreira. “The level of competition against backups comes with a caveat, especially without pads, but Dennis-Sutton’s activity stands out.
“His value could rise early in the regular season.”
The Packers were 11th in scoring defense and 12th in yards allowed last season. While those rankings were solid, Green Bay’s defense could use more havoc.
The team was tied for 20th in sacks and 26th in takeaways during 2025.
Packers Rookie Impressively Trending in Right Direction Before Training Camp