Jan. 30, 2026, 3:35 p.m. CT
For the Green Bay Packers, the end of the 2025 season and the start of the 2026 offseason should provide a stark realization: Given the team’s list of free agents, current salary cap situation and lack of draft capital (minus a first-round pick), much of the improvement between 2025 and 2026 will likely have to come internally. There isn’t going to be another Xavier McKinney or Josh Jacobs arriving via free agency or a trade for a Micah Parsons-level player. The Packers will need several of the most important young players on the roster to make a leap and drive the team’s development in 2026.
Fortunately for the Packers, the roster has answers waiting, and internal improvement is truly possible given the opportunity likely to become available at several key spots next season.
So, who is the most important breakout candidate for the Packers in 2026?
Our staff at Packers Wire made our picks:
Zach Kruse: DE Lukas Van Ness
I posed this question to the staff because I truly believe there are several appropriate answers available. And I think the question is one of the most important to determining the ceiling of the Green Bay Packers in 2026. Veteran starters Rasheed Walker, Romeo Doubs and Quay Walker could all depart in free agency. Hello, Jordan Morgan, Matthew Golden and Ty’Ron Hopper. Want to cut or trade Rashan Gary? Lukas Van Ness becomes the new Robin to Micah Parsons’ Batman. Can the offensive line get better after a shaky 2025 season? A big leap from Anthony Belton as a starter somewhere would sure help. While I don’t think you could go wrong answering any of the five listed above, I’m going to pick Van Ness — who likely would have enjoyed his true breakout season had he not suffered a debilitating foot injury midseason — as my answer. His arrow is pointed straight up after a strong start and start finish to 2025, and he’s almost guaranteed to step into a much bigger role opposite one of the game’s most dominant pass-rushers. The opportunity for Van Ness is considerable. If he becomes a game-wrecking level of player, the Packers’ pass-rush under Jonathan Gannon would likely be Super Bowl worthy in 2026, regardless of whether Gary returns or if Parsons has to miss time early on. The signs are all there for Van Ness. Now it’s time for it all to come together.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Brandon Carwile: DE Lukas Van Ness
If Rashan Gary becomes a cap casualty and Kingsley Enagbare walks in free agency, Van Ness would be in line to start opposite Micah Parsons once Parsons returns from injury next season. Van Ness has shown growth over his first three seasons, though not at the level typically expected from a former top-15 draft pick. His four sacks as a rookie remain a meager career high, but there are encouraging signs beneath the surface. According to Pro Football Focus, Van Ness posted a career-best 16.2 percent pass-rush win rate in 2025, a notable improvement from 9.5 percent the previous year. While the sack totals haven’t followed yet, Van Ness is beginning to win more consistently as a pass rusher, which often precedes a jump in production. The Packers can’t afford to give up on him just yet, but Year 4 is pivotal. Green Bay’s pass rush needs Van Ness to help take pressure off Parsons as he works his way back from a torn ACL.
Mark Oldacres: OT Jordan Morgan
Morgan has been through the Packers O-line apprenticeship in his first two years in the league, seeing his first snaps at guard before finally getting an opportunity to play his natural position of tackle towards the end of the 2025 season. With Rasheed Walker seemingly on the way out, it looks like the former first-round pick will be Jordan Love’s blindside protector next year. The offensive line was a disappointment for Green Bay this past season, and while injuries had something to do with that, it cannot be repeated in 2026. Morgan hitting the ground running and being a reliable presence at left tackle will be crucial for the Packers’ offensive success.
Brennen Rupp: WR Matthew Golden
Surprise, surprise, I’m going with Matthew Golden. Before the season my bold prediction was that the 2025 first round pick was going to set Green Bay’s single season record for receiving yards. Well, that clearly didn’t happen, but Golden’s showing in the NFC Wild Card loss to the Chicago Bears was an encouraging sign of what’s in store during his second year in the league. With Christian Watson missing the start of the season and Jayden Reed being sidelined, the Packers never really got to see what the offense looked like with those three rolling and healthy. That’s going to change in 2026 and Golden has all the tools to develop into a dynamic playmaker and he could help take Green Bay’s offense to the next level.