Packers 2026 NFL Draft: Day Three Targets
By Kalani Jones
I think if you were poll a random slice of Packers fans what the team’s major needs were 24 hours ago, I’d be willing to bet that a vast majority of the answers would have been cornerback and defensive tackle. Well, it turns out that Brian Gutekunst agrees.
The Packers sat patiently for 51 picks to roll in before they finally had a chance to make a selection of their own. Their first pick was a cornerback out of South Carolina, the ultra athletic, high upside Brandon Cisse. Then in the third round, the Packers traded up seven picks for Mizzou defensive tackle Chris McClellan.
The late third round saw a lot of Packers types fly off the board, but Green Bay still has plenty of selections left to make an impact onto the squad. Day three of the draft is where champions are made, and it’s where Brian Gutekunst has thrived..
Quarterback
Taylen Green
Ultra athletic QB for the Razorbacks, but he hits tons of other thresholds that the Packers like to see in their QBs. If the Packers want to preserve the type of offense they could run with Malik Willis, Green is a clear answer.
Cole Payton
The big-armed quarterback out of North Dakota St. has had tons of fans over the course of this draft cycle, but he’s only got one season of college football to his name. Payton is an intriguing possibility to add to the backup QB battle.
Running Back
Mike Washington Jr
It’s clear that NFL teams were not as impressed with Washington’s historic combine performance as we fans were, but Washington still has plenty of NFL ready traits. His combination of straight line speed and size doesn’t come around very often, and I have to imagine Gutey & Co are intrigued.
Kaytron Allen
Kaytron “Fatman” Allen fits everything the Packers love in a running back, plus a little more. His powerful running style makes him an easy fit in a Packers backfield rotation.
Wide Receiver
Bryce Lance
The darling of Packers wide receiver obsession, Lance compares to his fellow NDSU Christian Watson in more ways than one. He’s raw, which is probably why he is slipping down draft boards, but a little cleaning up would leave Green Bay with another athletic downfield threat.
Tight End
Dallen Bentley
Bentley is a reliable receiving target, with zero drops in 2025 and enough physicality to produce a bit of YAC. If he can develop his blocking a bit, he’ll be a versatile backup to Tucker Kraft for years to come.
Offensive Tackle
J.C. Davis
Davis projects as a swing tackle in the NFL, who stands out due to his natural power and heavy hands. If he can clean his technique up a bit, he could be the next successful OL investment on day three for Green Bay.
Interior Offensive Line
Sam Hecht
Look, it’s not hard to sell someone on Sam Hecht: zero sacks and two QB hits across 800 pass protection snaps. He’s got the frame, the technique and the head to continue to find success at center. His lateral agility holds him back, but I’d still love to see him as a long term competitor to Sean RHyan for the center spot.
Defensive Tackle
Kaleb Proctor
Now that the Packers have found some beef for the interior of the defensive line, how about some major pass rushing juice to go alongside it? Proctor has all the tools to develop into the next MIlton Williams, if he can land in the right system.
Edge Rusher
Micheal Heldman
Heldman boasts an elite athletic profile and major pass rush production chops following a 10.5 sack season at Central Michigan. The level of competition is a concern, but he’d be landing in a situation that would let him develop for a season.
Cornerback
Jermod McCoy
McCoy is such a fascinating case study of NFL front offices. Recent reports indicate that his slide is due to the possibility of needing another surgery this offseason, despite not having played football for over 400 days. But at *some point, the potential reward has to become greater than the risk, right? The Packers aren’t likely to be the team that stops his slide, but stranger things have happened.
Will Lee III
One of my favorite fits for the Packers in this draft class, Lee is tailor made to step into a zone heavy scheme like Gannon’s. He’s likely to go early on day three, but pairing him with Brandon Cisse would signal a major new era for Green Bay’s cornerback room.
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Co-Owner of the thirteen time world champion Green Bay Packers. Sometimes I write about them. Follow me on Twitter at https://x.com/kjones_in_co and on Substack for film breakdowns!
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Comments (22)
Turophile
April 25, 2026 at 10:05 am
Some guys who I'm looking at on day three...
Round 4 - looking at C Sam Hecht, WR Bryce Lance, RB Mike Washington,
Edge Denis-Sutton plus injured players C Connor Lew, CB Jermod McCoy,
Round 5 - looking at CB Ephesians Prysock, CB Charles Demmings, CB Will Lee,
G Kage Casey, T Drew Shelton, LB Kaleb Elams-Orr, RB Emmett Johnson,
RB Adam Randall
Round 6 - looking at TE Riley Nowakowski, TE Josh Cuevas, RB Jonah Coleman, Edge Michael Heldman, LB Justin Jefferson, OT Carver Willis
Round 7 - looking at DT Jordan Van Den Berg. T/G Fa'alili Fa'amoe
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Given how the board fell, I would rather have had OT Barber at pick 86 (no need to trade up from 84) instead of DT McClellanand - and taken a DT later, like Harris, Halten, Jackson, Capehart, Benny, Eason.....BUT I don't hate a DT pick in round 3, we needed a decent body there.
I don't care if DT McClellan is listed on consensus boards later, this is a flavours draft where different scouts and GMs have very different big boards.
Houndog
April 25, 2026 at 11:16 am
I read shit-loads of bios on DTs, and I'm happy with McClellan after spending hours reading about them all.
You might be surprised at how some of the 'experts' trashed Dani Denis-Sutton!
EDIT Note at 12:12 PM
Turophile, you got your wish, I hope you're right and the 'experts' were wrong, nice call!
Turophile
April 25, 2026 at 12:07 pm
....and the Packers grab him
Houndog
April 25, 2026 at 12:16 pm
I just complimented you above, congrats!
Turophile
April 25, 2026 at 01:09 pm
Think of a Preston Smith with better pass rush. High ceiling guy with historic explosion numbers.
The weird thing about him is that his first step isn't more explosive, given his elite numbers in his 40 time, 3 cone, broad and long jump.
If he learns a faster get-off and adds a move or two to his pass rush, watch out.
Biggest knock on him - a bit stiff in the hips.
WD
April 25, 2026 at 10:21 am
While I liked the two picks on day two I was actually hoping when they traded up it was to grab Mike Washington. At the time Mel Kiper had him listed in his top ten left on the board. He will never be there when the Packers pick toward the end of round four. I hope they trade up. The Packers just don't need a replacement for the RB they cut. They need a play maker than can rip off 20 plus yard carries consistently. I pray someone like the Vikings or Bears don't take him.
As for Kaytron Allen he absolutely does not have what the Packers are looking for, He has average speed at best. 4.55 We need a speed back to compliment Jacobs who also as only average speed for a RB. Please trade up for Williams . I saw the Bears grabbed the TE I liked
I would go with RB Nichols Singleton of Penn state.who is more likely to be on the board when the Packers pick
LambeauPlain
April 25, 2026 at 11:05 am
"The Packers just don't need a replacement for the RB they cut." Who would that be?
Washington would be helpful with the Packers OL that is looking to be average at best...hope I am wrong and the expected best 5 are practicing, playing, going to meals, walking, talking, sitting all together as welded unit. No more musical chairs and constipated plug and play decision making playing players where they rarely have practiced.
Washington manufactures runs with his quickness, vision, setting up blockers and turbo charged speed through small creases. But that's the good news. Bad news is he's only a 2 down player until he learns how to pass block. He can't do it now! He's certifiably terrible at the task. I watched his blocking video and it is almost comical, it is so bad. He plays as a statue, seemingly waiting for his opponent to run to him...they don't. His jock is usually on the grass after a pass block play.
golfpacker61
April 25, 2026 at 11:13 am
"I would go with RB Nichols Singleton of Penn state.who is more likely to be on the board when the Packers pick."
I am with you on this RB, Singleton is a better choice for RB. Even at 220 lbs, Washington is afraid to lay the wood on people. He also doesn't block and is not a good pass catcher. If we want a 3 down RB to replace Jacobs next year, Washington is not it.
Singleton is a better fit than Allen too, and way faster.
Roush was my guy too WD.
Houndog
April 25, 2026 at 10:39 am
Kalani,
The deal with Jermod McCoy may be more serious than what is known to all.
What they're concerned about is a cartilage plug, where a piece of bone and cartilage (like a dowel) is harvested from one area of the knee and then transplanted into a hole created in the knee joint where damage had occurred.
Supposedly, there's the possibility that the plug they installed during his first surgery did not 'take' properly and may need to be replaced, a more complicated surgery than the original!
Could be a 6-12 month recovery with no guarantees he'll play for more than a couple years, or maybe never again.
Lest we forget, Ron Wolf was told that Favre had a bad hip issue, and might only play for a few years, it didn't phase him, and he made the trade!
We all know the rest of that story!
golfpacker61
April 25, 2026 at 11:16 am
While it is sad this happened to a young man and future star, GB should in no way be interested. It's not worth the risk in a draft strong with CBs and GB only having 5 picks left.
Nope.
Houndog
April 25, 2026 at 12:03 pm
Golf, I agree, there's no guarantee he'll ever play, it could another Bahktiari type of thing.
LambeauPlain
April 25, 2026 at 11:44 am
McCoy to Raiders.
MooPack
April 25, 2026 at 10:45 am
I'd expect the Packer will go OL next in the 4th where they usually like to grab their OL. Not the best Tackle group this year, but guard looks deeper. I like Farmer in the 4th. Wouldn't be surprised if they grab a couple.
OT:
Jude Bowry
Diego Pounds
OG:
Jalen Farmer
Jeremiah Wright
Josh Gesky (top 30 visit)
OC:
Brian Parker
They should also be grabbing another CB as Gute alluded they will be taking multiple CBs. Any round here on out is a potential CB pick. I like Demmings in the 5th.
CB:
Charles Demmings (top 30 visit)
Malik Muhammad
Ephesians Prysock
Will Lee (top 30 visit)
Not really sold on the Edge group this year. Maybe DDS or wait late for Michael Heldman in the 7th.
Edge:
Dani Dennis-Sutton
Michael Heldman (top 30 visit)
George Gumbs
Would they grab another DL? I don't think so unless late.
DL:
Demonte Capehart
Jordan Van den Berg
RB? maybe Gute does Gute things. Mike Washington has dropped, but highly unlikely he lasts til Packers pick. I do like Eli Heidenreich in the 7th.
RB:
Mike Washington (top 30 visit)
Eli Heidenreich
QB and K are likely 7th or UDFA. The Iowa homer in me likes QB Mark Gronowski and K Drew Stevens. LB is a sneaky position. I'd bet they'd look for one with good teams experience. I'd suspect they are going to roll with what they got at WR and TE or wait for everyone's rejects. I am a homer fan of KR/WR Jaden Wetjen, best returner in the nation, probably 7th or UDFA.
Houndog
April 25, 2026 at 11:11 am
MooPack,
Pretty sure they traded a 5th to move up for McClellan, but they might have the one they got from Philly for Wicks. They got a 5th and a 6th, but one was for next year, not sure which is which!
MooPack
April 25, 2026 at 11:22 am
Houndog,
Sorry, I should have been more clear on what I was listing. The list is just for positions they could look for and not draft rounds, even though I did say Farmer in the 4th and Demmings in the 5th. I can see where that is confusing. My bad.
golfpacker61
April 25, 2026 at 11:21 am
We have 5 picks unless we make more trades. #s 120, 153, 201, 236, & 255. #120 will be our best chance to move back and gain a couple picks.
It sucks having Dani Dennis-Sutton sitting there and we have no ammo to move up for him. Maybe we offer a 2027 4th and someone would be interested. Or maybe a trade with the Cowboys, send Musgrave for pick #112.
gsd3
April 25, 2026 at 11:22 am
Matt Gulbin C/G
Beau Stephens G
JC Davis T
Dallen Bentley TE
Charles Demmings CB
Demonte Capehart DT
Jordan van den Berg DT
Michael Heldman ED
Red Murdock LB
Emmett Johnson RB
Adam Randall RB
My day 3 wish list. Any combo will do.
LambeauPlain
April 25, 2026 at 11:34 am
Need pick Sam Hecht K State IOL.
Want pick Lance NDSU WR
Take a chance pick Jermond McCoy Tennessee CB (gone, Raiders)
Get a better back up pick Dallen Bently Utah TE
Micah Parsons' understudy pick Joshua Joseph Tennesse Edge
golfpacker61
April 25, 2026 at 11:36 am
I like the first 2 picks we have made, I hated losing a pick and wonder if we really needed to move up for McClellan.
That said, looking ahead to next year's draft because it is going to be so much fun being the team with all the picks. GB will have so much flexibility to do anything they want, and we won't have to watch players we want going off the board so often like we see in this draft.
Houndog
April 25, 2026 at 12:09 pm
Dani Denis-Sutton, I'm shocked! Would have taken Malik Muhammad, CB, instead!
What happens now to "Baby Micah"?
Bears just took Muhammad!
NOTE*
LOL, go ahead and give me all the thumbs down you like, but Denis-Sutton graded out at 72, whereas 4 or 5 CBs on the board today and available at that time graded at 80 or higher! Even Kyle Louis from Pitt and Joshua Joseph from Tennessee (both available) graded higher at 'EDGE' than Sutton!
golfpacker61
April 25, 2026 at 02:05 pm
No downvote Houndog, but Dennis-Sutton was mocked to GB in a lot of the mock drafts, and it was usually @ #52 or #84. He was also the 2nd best available player on all 3 networks showing the draft. I like Muhammed as well and hate to see him going to the Bears, but Dennis-Sutton will start for us Day 1 in 2026. Parsons is the only one better than him and he will take a personal interest in his fellow Penn State alum.
Since'75
April 25, 2026 at 03:43 pm
Hell, Houndog, i'll throw you a bone...just for the effort 👍