The 2026 NFL Draft will take place later this month in Pittsburgh. The Green Bay Packers enter the draft with seven selections although they lack a first round pick this year and in 2027. Here is a look at the Packers short-term and long-term needs on offense at each position heading into the draft. Tomorrow we will analyze defense and special teams.

Short-term needs are for the 2026 season whether they are for starters or for depth at a given position. Long-term needs are designed to add future starters, to add depth and to replace players who may be retiring, becoming free agents or released for cap reasons in the future.

Packers 2026 Draft Needs on Offense Quarterbacks: Short Term Need, Moderately High

Jordan Love enters his fourth season as the team’s starter. He stayed healthy for most of 2025 and took his game to another level. He finished last season with 23 touchdown passes and only six interceptions and a quarterback rating of 101.2.

The Packers are still hoping to see Love take his leadership skills to the next level. He took another step forward last season, but he needs to lead the team to some last-minute victories and come up big in clutch situations. He often put the team in a position to win this season, but the defense was unable to hold man of those leads.

Backup quarterback Malik Willis signed with the Dolphins as a free agent. Right now, Desmond Ridder stands as the top backup candidate currently on the roster with Kyle McCord serving as his competition. The Packers are looking to improve their backup situation before the start of the upcoming season.

Long Term Need: Moderately Low

Love should remain the Packers starter for the foreseeable future. If they find a reliable backup, the long-term need would not be very high.

GM Brian Gutekunst indicated the team will often draft developmental quarterbacks in the later rounds of the draft now. That will likely continue in the coming years.

Packers 2026 Draft Needs on Offense, Running Backs: Short Term Need, Moderate

Josh Jacobs struggled with injuries last season and gained 929 rushing yards, exactly 400 yards fewer than he gained the previous season. Jacobs continued to play well, but the offensive line’s blocking for the run was poor. Jacobs remains the favorite to be the team’s top running back in 2026.

Emanuel Wilson served as the top backup the last two years but he was not retained. As of now, Chris Brooks stands second on the depth chart. He does a good job of protecting the quarterback while being a solid runner and receiver.

MarShawn Lloyd remains on the roster, but he’s played just one game in two NFL seasons. Can he stay on the field so the Packers can see what he can do? If healthy, he could be an ideal change of pace back behind Jacobs. Anything the Packers get from Lloyd this season has to be considered a bonus.

Long Term Need: High

Jacobs will be 28 this season, which is the age most running backs start to slow down. He also has a high salary cap number for 2027 which means the Packers could move on from him next year at this time.

The Packers need to get an eventual replacement for Jacobs on the roster. A reliable backup running back also needs to be added for this year and beyond.

Packers 2026 Draft Needs on Offense, Wide Receiver: Short Term Need, Moderately Low

The Packers have some depth at wide receiver for the 2026 season. Even without the departed Romeo Doubs, the roster has at least five receivers set with Chrisitan Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Dontavion Wicks, and Savion Williams. Bo Melton remains on the roster as well, although he officially has been moved to cornerback.

Unless the trade rumors come true and the Packers deal either Wicks or Reed before the season starts, there is not a big immediate need at the position.

Long Term Need: High

The Packers only have two experienced receivers currently under contract for 2027, Golden and Williams. Watson, Reed, and Wicks are all in the final year of their contracts.

The Packers will almost certainly look at add a receiver or two in the draft both in 2026 and 2027. They may not need to play a large role in 2026, but by 2027, reinforcements are needed at the position even if one or two current players are extended.

Packers 2026 Draft Needs on Offense, Tight End: Short Term Need, Moderately Low

Both Gutekunst selected Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft on day two of the 2023 draft and both contributed to the offense. Kraft had developed into one of the better tight ends in the league before he suffered a season-ending knee injury. If he returns to full health, he gives the team a Pro Bowl caliber player.

Musgrave can stretch the field, but the coaching staff hasn’t utilized him to take full advantage of his strengths when he’s been in the lineup. There is depth behind the top two as of now.

Long Term Need: Moderately High

Both Kraft and Musgrave are under contract through the end of the 2026 season. Keeping Kraft should be one of the team’s top priorities. It’s unlikely they will keep both players so adding a new backup or change of pace tight end becomes important.

Packers 2026 Draft Needs on Offense, Offensive Line: Short Term Need Moderately High

Even after the departures of Rasheed Walker and Elgton Jenkins, the team seems to have five starters returning for this season. Former first round pick, Jordan Morgan will be the favorite to start at left tackle with Aaron Banks at left guard. The Packers brought back Sean Rhyan to play center while 2025 second-round pick Anthony Belton will be the right guard while Zach Tom will be the right tackle.

Depth remains a major concern. Darian Kinnard gives the team an experienced backup at right tackle while Jacob Monk has the most experience among the interior offensive line backups, but that isn’t much.

The team needs to add depth for the short-term. If injuries struck the offensive line as of right now, the Packers could be in real trouble.

Long Term Need: Moderately High

Adding depth and possibly competition along the line remains a long-term need. The Packers could look to find an improvement at center or guard, even if those players don’t have to start right away. Backup tackles would also be welcomed for the long term.

 

 

 

 

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