The Green Bay Packers 2026 draft is completed, and the team added six players this season who hope to make the team and make an impact as soon as possible. GM Brian Gutekunst attempted to address many of the team’s pressing needs and improve a team that hopes to take a step forward next season. Here is a look at the top five Packers 2026 draft choices with the best chance of contributing significantly as rookies. The list is a combination of team needs, and the NFL readiness of the players selected:
NFL rookies often struggle as they adjust to life in the NFL. The speed of the game and the overall level of play is much higher than college and the playbooks are thicker and the plays more complicated. Most of the team’s 2026 rookie class are not expected to start immediately.
2026 Green Bay Packers Draft Choices with the Best Chance of Contributing as Rookies, Number Five: Edge Dani Dennis-Sutton
Edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton has outstanding athletic traits but needs to improve his technique to excel in the NFL. He also has many players ahead of him on the depth chart before he can see significant action.
Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Collin Oliver, Brenton Cox, and once he’s healthy, Micah Parsons will all start training camp ahead of Dennis-Sutton on the depth chart.
The rookie out of Penn State may have a better chance to see the field early in the season before Parsons returns from knee surgery, but he will also be less ready early in the season than he presumably will be as he gains experience.
Look for Dennis-Sutton to start the season as the team’s fourth or fifth player on the edge rotation depth chart with the chance to move up as the season progresses.
Number Four: OL Jager Burton
Interior offensive lineman Jager Burton wasn’t selected until the fifth round of the draft but the Packers lack of depth and his positional versatility give him a chance to contribute as a rookie.
Burton can play both center on either side at guard. He will likely battle Jacob Monk to be the top backup at all three positions in training camp.
If any of the three starters suffer an injury or play poorly, Burton has a chance to step in and see some regular action at any time during the regular season. Neither Sean Rhyan nor Anthony Belton are considered strong starters at their respective positions while starting left guard Aaron Banks suffered through an injury-plagued 2025.
Even if he doesn’t play extensively on offense, Burton will likely carve out a role on several of the Packers special teams units.
2026 Green Bay Packers Draft Choices with the Best Chance of Contributing as Rookies, Number Three: CB Brandon Cisse
As the Packers top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, cornerback Brandon Cisse has a good chance of eventually playing a role on defense for the Packers this season. The Packers are thin at cornerback with only Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Benjamin St-Juste having experience at the position.
Cisse has outstanding raw athletic ability, but he needs to improve his technique and his ability to play in zone coverages to see more playing time.
Cisse will likely start the season as the number three or number four cornerback on the depth chart. He has a good chance to move up the depth chart as he becomes more comfortable in the defense. Any injuries to the top three corners on the depth chart would speed up that process.
Number Two: DT Chris McClellan
The Packers are switching to a three-man front as their base under new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. That means the team will need a different type of interior defensive lineman than last season when they played a 4-3 base.
Third-round pick, Chris McClellan has a chance to carve out a role on defense this season. The team lacks a run-stuffing nose tackle type. McClellan can play multiple spots along the front which will work to his advantage. The team’s increased needs and lack of depth at the position also helps his chances.
2026 Green Bay Packers Draft Choices with the Best Chance of Contributing as Rookies, Number One: K Trey Smack
Since NFL teams typically keep only one kicker on their active roster at a time, Trey Smack faces an all or nothing shot here. If he wins the kicking competition with incumbent Brandon McManus in training camp, he will start the season as the team’s kicker.
Even if Smack loses the job, the Packers could try to keep him on the practice squad or use a second roster spot to try to prevent other teams from signing him. If McManus struggles, the Packers could always elevate Smack to the top kicking spot.
The Packers wouldn’t have traded up to select Smack in the sixth round of the draft if they didn’t anticipate him winning the job. Now we’ll see if he can beat out McManus and establish himself as the team’s kicker for the foreseeable future. If he does, he’ll be the Packers 2026 draft pick who contributes the most this season.
Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
Click here for more great Packers coverage
Check out our YouTube channel here
