The Green Bay Packers put together a below-average draft class in the estimation of most analysts, which was partially due to a lack of capital. However, the franchise is unlikely to suffer the same disadvantage next season.
Dan Barr of NFL Network reported this week that the Packers are projected to lead the league with four compensatory draft picks in 2027, which is the maximum the NFL allows, including one selection each in Rounds 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Barr’s projection comes after Green Bay lost quarterback Malik Willis to the Miami Dolphins at an annual average salary of $22.5 million, wide receiver Romeo Doubs to the New England Patriots for $17.5 million per year, linebacker Quay Walker to the Las Vegas Raiders at a clip of $13.5 million seasonally, edge-rusher Kingsley Enagbare for $9 million yearly to the New York Jets and left tackle Rasheed Walker for $4 million annually to the Carolina Panthers.
“If Willis stays healthy, I expect the Packers to gain a third-round comp pick,” Barr wrote. “The Dolphins should want to give Willis a full season to show whether he can be a long-term solution to their QB woes. An injury or benching could ultimately knock that third-rounder down to a fourth-rounder, though.”
The only other team Barr projects to land four compensatory picks is the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Packers Received Low Draft Scores for Incoming Rookie Class
GettyGreen Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and his front office took some lumps from analysts around the league with regards to the rookie class they put together in 2026.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic, for example, ranked Green Bay’s class 26th out of 32 teams. A big part of that calculation, however, was the lack of a first-round selection after the Packers traded it (along with defensive tackle Kenny Clark and a first-round pick in 2027) to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for first-team All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons.
“With this particular pick, we got better a whole year earlier,” Gutekunst said of dealing the No. 20 selection to Dallas. “I don’t think there’s any players that were in this draft that can compete with that one.”
Packers Addressed Top Needs With First 3 Picks of NFL Draft
GettyGreen Bay Packers cornerback Brandon Cisse.
Green Bay ended up making six selections between Rounds 2-6 last weekend, addressing arguably its top three needs with its top three picks: cornerback Brandon Cisse out of South Carolina at No. 52 (Round 2), defensive tackle Chris McClellan of Missouri at No. 77 (Round 3) and former Penn State edge-rusher Dani-Dennis Sutton at No. 120 (Round 4).
“Brandon Cisse was a quality pick (especially outside the top 50), and Chris McClellan should be a solid role player for a long time,” Brugler wrote. “But Dennis-Sutton’s value at No. 120 makes him my favorite of the Packers’ haul. Although he doesn’t perform up to his testing numbers, he is a commanding presence who plays with force on defense and special teams (blocked three punts in 2025).”
Green Bay added a center, a second cornerback and a kicker to round out its 2026 class. The team could have arguably used another wideout after Doubs’ departure in free agency and its decision to trade Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles, but the Packers chose not to draft a pass-catcher this time around.
Packers Get Great NFL Draft News After Malik Willis Departure