The Green Bay Packers defense has a new leader this year in defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. The Packers emphasized defense in the 2026 NFL Draft with four of the team’s six picks coming on that side of the ball. They also added a pair of free agents and traded for a starting linebacker. The team is also changing from a 4-3 base defense to a three-man front. Here are five key questions facing the Packers defense as we await the start of training camp for the 2026 season:
Five Key Questions the Green Bay Packers Defense Must Answer in 2026, Number Five: Will Edgerrin Cooper Break Out?
Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper enjoyed a productive rookie campaign in 2024 full of big plays. The former Texas A&M star started four games and played 14. He recorded 3.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and recovered two fumbles. He also intercepted a pass and recorded seven quarterback hits. What Cooper struggled with at times were his assignments and fundamentals.
Last year, Cooper started 16 games and played nearly every defensive snap in those contests. His fundamentals improved and he knew his assignments, but big plays were few and far between. This was partially due to the addition of Micah Parsons to the defense which changed the way Cooper was utilized. He recorded just 0.5 sacks, four tackles for loss and three quarterback hits.
The Packers need a breakout season from Cooper where he continues to be in the right place and knows his assignments while also making his share of big plays.
Number Four: Will Zaire Franklin Get the Job Done?
The Packers traded for linebacker Zaire Franklin from the Colts. The Syracuse alum spent the past eight seasons in Indianapolis and grew from a seventh-round pick to a five-year starter at linebacker.
Franklin earned Pro Bowl honors after leading the league in tackles in 2024. His play last season was less productive. Franklin played the run well, but he struggled in coverage, much like his predecessor, Quay Walker.
As the Packers transition to a three-man front as their base, Franklin will have to play well as an off-ball linebacker. The Packers need him to provide steady play and leadership in 2026. The depth at linebacker is unproven so Franklin will need to play well for the defense to remain effective.
Five Key Questions the Green Bay Packers Defense Must Answer in 2026, Number Three: Will the Packers Get Enough Pass Rush Before Micah Parsons Returns?
Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare are gone and Parsons is out of the lineup until at least mid-October. That means the Packers need to get enough pass rush from their other edge rushers before Parsons returns.
Lukas Van Ness and Barryn Sorrell are the current starters on the depth chart with Brenton Cox, Collin Oliver, and rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton fighting for playing time.
Because the Packers have issues at cornerback, getting pressure on the quarterback will be critical especially early in the season. The early-season schedule is favorable, but someone other than Parsons will have to emerge for the defense to be effective.
Number Two: Who Plays on the Defensive Line?
The new three-man front will likely feature Devonte Wyatt, veteran Javon Hargrave, and rookie Chris McClellan. The team has to settle on a nose tackle with McClellan battling second-year man Nazir Stackhouse for the spot.
The Packers will continue to emphasize stopping the pass, but the run defense will have to be at least adequate.
Wyatt and Hargrave give the team two players who can provide pressure on opposing quarterbacks. McClellan has the potential to do the same but has to prove he can do it at the NFL level.
Five Key Questions the Green Bay Packers Defense Must Answer in 2026, Number One: Who Starts at Cornerback?
The Packers don’t have a legitimate number one cornerback. Keisean Nixon presently holds that position by default, but there are rumors he is unhappy with his contract situation and may hold out at training camp if he doesn’t get an extension or a revised contract.
The other starting spot will be a battle between the returning Carrington Valentine, free agent addition Benjamin St-Juste and rookie second-round pick Brandon Cisse.
The Packers need better corner play to go with their talented and deep group of safeties. The team lost too many games late last season in part due to giving up late leads on big passing plays.
With both Valentine and Nixon in the final year of their contracts, the future at this position is also up in the air.
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