The Green Bay Packers, like the rest of the 31 teams across the league, are preparing for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, the Packers will not be picking on Day 1 — but they still have Micah Parsons.
For the first time since 2017, the Packers will be without a first-round pick. Back then, it was because they traded their No. 29 pick to the Cleveland Browns for the No. 33 pick in the second round and the No. 108 pick in the fourth round.
The scenario is much different this time. Last August, the Packers made a trade with the Dallas Cowboys for edge rusher Micah Parsons, sending their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks, along with defensive tackle Kenny Clark, to Dallas in exchange.
Just under a year later, and with the draft only days away, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst was asked about the team not having a first-round pick this year.
Brian Gutekunst Makes Feelings Clear On Missing First-Round Pick
Gutekunst’s response to the media on April 21 made it pretty clear that he is okay with Green Bay not having a first-round pick this year. And that is all because of what they gained in exchange with the addition of Parsons last year.
“The player we got with that pick, I’m good with,” Gutekunst said, via USA Today’s Ryan Wood.
Parsons is one of the all-around best players in the entire NFL today. He is a former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, a three-time First-Team All-Pro, including last season, and a five-time Pro Bowl selection.
Parsons has little comparison when it comes to getting after the quarterback. In his five-year career, he has logged 12 or more sacks every season. That includes last season’s team-leading 12.5 sacks with the Packers before missing the final three games after suffering an ACL injury.
Of course, it is that injury that may have prompted the question about the Packers’ lack of a first-round selection.
Not only did Green Bay lose Parsons for the latter part of last season, they will most likely be without him to begin the 2026 season while he continues to recover.
Packers Still Have Major Needs Entering Draft
The trade for Parsons leaves Gutekunst and the Packers waiting until the second round at pick No. 52 overall. They will have eight selections in all, pending any movement before or during the draft.
“If we end up waiting 51 picks before we pick, that’ll be a long time. And hopefully I have the patience and the discipline to do that,” Gutekunst said, via TMJ4 Milwaukee’s Karley Marotta.
It is always possible that the Packers could attempt to move back into the first round, but that would take a significant amount of player and draft capital to do so.
According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the Packers’ three biggest needs are cornerback, offensive line and, ironically, edge.
“After trading Rashan Gary and losing Kingsley Enagbare in free agency (and with Micah Parsons unlikely to be ready for the start of the season), the Packers might need multiple pass rushers.”
Packers’ Missing 1st-Round Pick Gets Strong Micah Parsons Message From GM