The draft is right around the corner, and despite not having a first-round pick, the Packers are in a great position to improve a roster that’s experienced, talented, and deep. The defense hasn’t seen a ton of turnover amongst their starters, but they have several needs they’ll want to address over the next month, namely along the defensive line and at cornerback. Xavier McKinney and Edgerrin Cooper both return to lead a defense that’s performed pretty well over the last couple of seasons, and at some point, the team will get back Micah Parsons.

No one knows what kind of defense new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will run in Green Bay, but he has most of the ingredients to have an above-average unit. He’s still missing a few key pieces, though. The Packers can’t go into the season without adding more talent to their defensive line or cornerback groups. They also could really use more depth at the edge position. While many of the pieces are in place, they need a couple more to be a strong defensive unit.

Brian Gutekunst has shown he will take the best player available, regardless of position. That means he won't shy away from taking a player at a position of strength, despite only having seven draft picks. The purpose of this piece is to outline several draft prospects, one at each defensive position, that should be on every Packer fan’s radar. That doesn’t mean the Packers will acquire them all, but they are bound to be on the Packers’ draft board, and it wouldn't be surprising at all to see any of them drafted. Here are six prospects who could be wearing the green and gold in just a few short weeks.

Nose Tackle - Christen Miller, Georgia

Consensus Big Board Rank: #47

Defensive line is a huge need for the Packers, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them attack the position through the draft early or often. Devonte Wyatt and Javon Hargrave will lead the group, but neither one is a true nose tackle. Not to mention, they both excel more as pass rushers than run stuffers. After those two, it starts getting a little dicey. The Packers need more on their defensive front, and the name to watch for is Christen Miller out of Georgia.

The Packers LOVE defensive players from Georgia, and Miller could be the next in line. Miller is a 6’3”, 328-pound defensive tackle with experience playing all across the defensive line, including nose tackle. He’s considered to be a stout run defender with the potential of growing as a pass rusher. Miller didn’t do enough testing to generate a RAS score, but he’s quick, strong, and extremely tough. Miller does lack consistency in disengaging from blockers. The Packers recently hosted Miller on a Top 30 visit. If Miller were available at pick 52, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to hear his name called.

Here’s what the Cheesehead TV Draft guide had to say about Miller: “Miller is a threatening and persistent interior defender, and over the last two seasons, he has dominated in run defense. He has strong, violent hands that he is able to use to dominate one-on-one reps. Interior defenders often struggle to match his strength and his surprising quickness, which he used to counter blockers and slip free of them. As a pass-rusher, he has been underwhelming, failing to transition those dominant run defense reps into a viable pass rush. He does not utilize his length to the best of his ability and lacks a cohesive pass-rush plan, resulting in only four career sacks across three seasons. Even so, he has the physical tools to develop into an effective pass-rusher and is a high-floor run defender."

Christen Miller is another Georgia 🐶 to add to your #Packers draft board.

Twitched-up DT with quick, efficient hands, good upfield burst, and solid range to squeeze running lanes.

Would be hard to pass up if he’s still on the board at 52. pic.twitter.com/rm9t8qBbV9

— Brandon Carwile (@BCarwile_NFL) March 30, 2026

Defensive Tackle - Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana

Consensus Big Board Rank: #101

The Packers should be looking for as much competition as possible along their defensive front. Outside of Wyatt and Hargrave, Karl Brooks is mostly a role player, Jordan Riley is coming off a pretty significant injury, and Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse are complete wild cards. As Micah Parsons recovers from his injury, the Packers should be looking for pass rushers anywhere along the defensive front. The name to watch is Kaleb Proctor out of Southeastern Louisiana.

Proctor has a much different profile than what the Packers are used to having. He’s only 6’2” and 291 pounds, but he generated a ton of production. He recorded nine sacks and 33 pressures while lining up primarily as a three-technique. Despite being small, Proctor is a fantastic athlete. He posted a 9.15 RAS score, but he was in the 93rd percentile for vertical jump and 92nd percentile for broad jump. He also ran the 40-yard dash in just 4.79 seconds. Proctor is undersized, but his motor and athletic traits will be very attractive to some teams.

Here’s what Lance Zierlein had to say about Proctor: “As an interior defender, Proctor is an elite athlete with rare play-making range. He’s an elusive rusher with an explosive first step and the ability to unlock openings with varied approaches and angles. He’s also very undersized with limited recourse once linemen have him squared up and put their hands on him. He lacks the anchor or contact balance to withstand power. Proctor needs to find a fit in a move-based defensive front where he can try to mismatch interior protection with his quickness and athletic gifts.”

Edge - Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State

Consensus Big Board Rank: #69

It might not be the biggest glaring need, but the Packers need to add more to their edge group. With Micah Parsons recovering from his torn ACL, the team could find itself rolling out Lukas Van Ness and Barryn Sorrell as its starting edge rushers for the first few weeks of the season, with Brenton Cox and Collin Oliver as the primary backups. The Packers shouldn’t just wait until Parsons returns to shore up the position. The name to watch for is Dani Dennis-Sutton from Penn State.

Dennis-Sutton is everything the Packers look for in a pass rusher. He’s 6’5”, 261 pounds, and posted an RAS score of 9.96. Two of the closest athletic comparisons are Danielle Hunter and Jevon Kearse. He ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash with a 39.5” vertical and 10’11” broad jump. And to make things even more attractive, his three-cone time was 6.90 seconds. Those are incredible numbers. He’s athletic, experienced, played high-level college competition, and played on special teams. The problem is that his film is often underwhelming. He can be stout at the point of attack, but he lacks consistency as a pass rusher. He will need time to develop, but it’s hard to envision someone with his athletic profile being a bust.

Here’s what Dane Brugler had to say about Dennis-Sutton: “Dennis-Sutton will find sack production harder to come by against NFL blocking, but he is a commanding presence and has the size, strength, and quickness to be a force player on the edge. He will be more appealing to teams looking for a “high-floor” role player, as opposed to a “high-ceiling” pass rusher.”

Off-Ball Linebacker - Jaden Dugger, Louisiana-Lafayette

Consensus Big Board Rank: #322

The Packers are fairly set at linebacker for the upcoming season. Edgerrin Cooper, Zaire Franklin, and Isaiah McDuffie are the presumed starters. The team also has Ty’Ron Hopper, Nick Niemann, Kristian Welch, and Jamon Johnson competing for spots as backups and special teamers. It’s hard to see the Packers using one of their draft picks on the position, but they always want to add competition to position groups. The name to watch for is Jaden Dugger out of Louisiana-Lafayette.

Dugger wouldn’t be a high or exciting draft pick, but he has exceptional athleticism that’s worth taking a flier on. Dugger stands at 6’4” and weighs in at 242 pounds. He posted great speed, agility, and explosion numbers, and an overall RAS score of 9.60. Dugger also posted 125 tackles and four sacks last season, earning him All-Conference honors. Better yet, Dugger has quite a bit of experience playing special teams. Dugger’s blend of size and athleticism will make him an attractive option late in the draft or as a priority undrafted free agent. The Packers brought Dugger in for a Top 30 visit.

Here’s what Dane Brugler had to say about Dugger: “Dugger has remarkable size, with a lean, filled-out build and go-go gadget arm length. His instincts and communication skills as a Mike ‘backer are still maturing, but he adapted quickly to the new position because of his ability to see ball-get ball. When he keeps himself clean, he has sideline range and can open and run. He explodes through his hips as a tackler, although he has to improve the consistency of his details as a flow tackler. He hasn’t yet fully realized how to weaponize his long arms to combat blockers, but he plays with toughness to battle through contact. As a former safety, he looks comfortable dropping in space and has match-man potential against tight ends.”

Cornerback - Will Lee III, Texas A&M

Consensus Big Board Rank: #115

If the biggest need on Green Bay’s roster isn’t defensive line, then it’s clearly cornerback. If the Packers were playing a game today, they’d have to roll out some combination of Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, or Benjamin St-Juste as their starting cornerbacks. To make matters worse, the only cornerback under contract after 2026 is St-Juste. Green Bay still has Kamal Hadden, Shemar Bartholomew, Tyron Herring, and Jaylin Simpson, but none of those guys are going to come in and save the day. The position looks very bleak in both the present and the future. The Packers need to draft at least one cornerback, and the name to watch for is Will Lee III out of Texas A&M.

Lee III meets all the thresholds the Packers look for in their cornerbacks. He stands at just over 6’1” and weighs in at 189 pounds. He posted an RAS of 9.39, but his speed is closer to good than great. He did post elite explosion numbers: a 42” vertical with an 11’ broad jump. At Texas A&M, Lee III lined up primarily on the outside. He has long arms that help him play with physicality at the line of scrimmage. He’s not afraid of tackling and usually has good awareness. He does need to get stronger, and his lack of top-end speed will put him in tough spots from time to time. His physicality also draws quite a few flags. Lee III hasn’t been the most polished or consistent prospect, but the Packers will definitely be interested in his profile and love of the game. Lee III came to Green Bay for a Top 30 visit.

Here’s what the Cheesehead TV Draft Guide had to say about Lee III: “Lee III is a competitive boundary corner who brings length, discipline, and a physical play style to the position. At Texas A&M, he played in a defensive scheme that required corners to handle a balanced mix of man and zone coverage and showed comfort in both. In man coverage, Lee stays patient and works to remain in phase through vertical routes while maintaining good leverage along the boundary. In zone, he shows solid awareness with his eyes on the quarterback while staying disciplined within his assignment. Lee is also physical at the line of scrimmage, using his reach and timing to disrupt receivers early in routes. He competes well at the catch point and is active in run support when plays move to the perimeter.”

Texas A&M CB 4 Will Lee III has caught my eye a bunch over the last day or two. Physical corner with good length and excels in man coverage. Good to see him get downhill quickly and wrap up on this shallow cross. pic.twitter.com/WYevhnOhmI

— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) March 11, 2026

Safety - Jacob Thomas, James Madison

Consensus Big Board Rank: #349

Safety should be the least of the Packers’ worries. The position group will return Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, and Kitan Oladapo. That group, in and of itself, is as strong as any safety group in the league. The only departure is Zayne Anderson, who was an adequate fill-in but primarily a special teamer. The Packers are also bringing back Mark Perry and Johnathan Baldwin to compete as depth pieces. The Packers don’t need a safety, but Brian Gutekunst might try to replace Zayne Anderson with someone who isn’t currently on the roster, and the name to watch for is Jacob Thomas out of James Madison.

Thomas is a little-known prospect out of a small school, but it’s easy to see why the Packers would have interest in him. He started his career as a walk-on, but he went on to play in 50 games over his four years at James Madison, recording 2.5 sacks, five interceptions, and 16 pass deflections. He checks in at 6’0”, 215 pounds, so he’s bigger than most of the other safeties on the roster, but he should be able to line up wherever the Packers want, thanks to good athleticism. He posted an RAS of 9.19. His agility scores were great, but he lacks some explosion and initial speed. Thomas is going to give great effort and play with good physicality, but he didn’t play against great athletes or competition, so there’s going to be a steep learning curve. His best chance at making an NFL team would be as a special teamer. The Packers had Thomas in for a Top 30 visit.

Here’s what Daniel Harms had to say about Thomas: “Thomas is a good athlete with smooth movement skills and reactive ability to make plays in a variety of ways. His versatility allows him to play all over the field, but he does his best when working in the box. Thomas gets downhill quickly, throws his body around in the run game, and chases plays down. Big-nickel upside with man-coverage ability against tight ends and willingness to play with physicality. Thomas gains depth well and tracks the football smoothly. His ball skills help him to defend the ball in the air and attack the catch-point. Thomas must refine his tackling technique. Wrapping up more consistently and improving pursuit angles will limit run-after-the-catch yards and make the safety prospect a more reliable run-defender. In zone coverage, the 6'1", 212-pound defensive back tends to rely on mirroring the quarterback's eyes. He's a good reactive athlete, but his instincts for reading route concepts are still developing. Thomas can be bullied at the top of routes and struggles to get off blocks.”