Jan. 26, 2026, 4:15 p.m. CT

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2026 NFL draft.

With Micah Parsons in the fold, the Green Bay Packers have a game wrecker on the defensive line. The problem is, he’s sort of like a Lone Ranger right now.

Rashan Gary didn’t register a sack in the final two months of the season and almost certainly will be a cap casualty this offseason.

There is hope that Lukas Van Ness can build off his strong finish to the season and become a force off the edge playing opposite Parsons. The former first-round pick recorded one sack, a forced fumble, 10 pressures and seven run stops during the final three games of the season.

Kingsley Enagbare is set to hit the open market and the former South Carolina product could get a deal that the Packers won’t be able to match to keep him in the fold. Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver, both figure to take on more work during their second years in the league.

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Needless to say, the defensive end group could get some attention this offseason.

The interior of the defensive line needs a lot of attention. Devonte Wyatt is entering the final year of his rookie contract and the former first-round pick may not get a second contract in Green Bay. Behind Wyatt, there are a bunch of rotational players. Colby Wooden, Karl Brooks, Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse all provide quality depth. None of them are difference makers.

An argument can be made that none of those aforementioned players provide value in a particular role. There are no two-down run-stuffing defensive tackles on the roster. Maybe Stackhouse could carve out a larger snap share in that role during his second year in the league.

A player whom the Packers could target on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft with an eye on making him a two-down run stuffer is DeMonte Capehart. The Clemson defensive tackle checks in at No. 86 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

Capehart spent six seasons with the Tigers and spent most of his career as a rotational piece (12 career starts). He finished his career with 13.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.

” He was a generally reliable rotational defensive tackle his final three years,” Chapel Fowler, the Clemson beat writer for The State, said. “He started about half of Clemson’s games his final two seasons and had modest production. He was good for a big play every few games and was a big body in the middle for a team that historically runs a 4-3 defense pretty well.”

At 6-4, 314 pounds, Capehart has the body mass to clog up run lanes. He’s a powerful player who holds ground against double teams. With his strength, he does a good job of dictating at the point of attack. The Clemson defensive tackle deconstructs blocks with his powerful hands and rarely misses tackles when he gets his hands on the ball carrier. He flashed the short-area quickness to be a disruptor.

“Capehart’s stats don’t pop, but his overall PFF grades for defense and run defense-specific grade weren’t too far off those of Peter Woods, Clemson’s top-tier junior defensive tackle, during a down year,” Fowler said.

Capehart is going to get drafted for his ability to shut down running lanes and eat up double teams. Whatever he offers as a pass rusher will be gravy. His pass-rushing toolkit is predicated on power. He drives offensive linemen backwards with his bull rush and will occasionally flash a swim move.

“Capehart had three career sacks in 57 games at Clemson, and just one sack over his final two seasons,” Fowler said. “For reference’s sake, he was tied for 37th among ACC defensive linemen with 11 QB pressures per PFF.”

Fit with the Packers

The Packers need to shore up their run defense. Capehart may not be the flashiest of players and likely won’t blow anybody away with his athleticism. However, with his ability to eat up space, he’d provide value as a two-down player.

“Capehart has played on big stages,” Fowler said. “He’s a two-time ACC champion and appeared in the College Football Playoff…The end result was a moderately successful career and some decent tape over his last three seasons.”

Capehart’s numbers won’t jump off the page. That doesn’t mean he can’t provide an impact. There were plays this past season where he overwhelmed offensive linemen with his power and just bullied his way to the ball carrier to record a tackle for loss or a run stop. Those flashes are why the Clemson defensive tackle is worth a look on Day 3 of the draft.

For a team that needs to bolster the interior of its defensive line, Capehart’s pathway to playing time if he were to land in Green Bay is clear. Plug him in on first and second down to shut down running lanes and anything he offers in the pass rush department is a bonus.