{"id":859372,"date":"2026-04-07T17:17:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T17:17:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/859372\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T17:17:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T17:17:22","slug":"4-packers-veterans-who-could-easily-be-replaced-in-the-2026-nfl-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/859372\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Packers veterans who could easily be replaced in the 2026 NFL Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"md:font-group-tiny md:text-[14px] text-darkGrey text-sm\">Bullet point summary by AI<\/p>\n<p>The Green Bay Packers head into the 2026 NFL Draft with limited picks, especially after trading their first-round selection.Several veteran players are under scrutiny for their performance and depth, and could be potential replacements.The team\u2019s focus on future-proofing its defense and offensive line could lead to strategic draft moves targeting young talent to secure long-term stability.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"b5\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/fansided.com\/nfl\/green-bay-packers\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Green Bay Packers<\/a> don&#8217;t have many selections in the <a href=\"https:\/\/fansided.com\/nfl\/nfl-mock-draft-2026-full-3-round-projection-with-trades-less-than-three-weeks-out-01knez8ghsgx\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">2026 NFL Draft<\/a>. Particularly, the team won&#8217;t be able to select in the first round thanks to its trade for Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys last season.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"b8\">When you look at the Packers depth chart, they look like a team that &#8216;s just one piece away from threatening for a Super Bowl title. That being said, there are also a few names that could find themselves on the outside looking in by this time next year.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bb\">Let&#8217;s take a look at who those players could be and which prospects may take their spots eventually.<\/p>\n<p>DE Karl Brooks<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bh\">Despite the addition of Parsons last year, Green Bay&#8217;s pass rush felt like it was lacking late in the year. Brooks was given a 47.5 overall grade by Pro Football Focus which ranked him 109 out of 134 defensive linemen. He logged 25 pressures which was 50th in the league and suggests he&#8217;s still got something to contribute.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bk\">However, the Packers would be best served by trying to find some additional pash rushing help in this draft. Auburn&#8217;s Keyron Crawford could be that gem on day two who provides an extra punch when guys like Brooks and Parsons need a rest. Any kind of success he finds, though, would spell the end of Brooks&#8217; tenure at Lambeau Field.<\/p>\n<p>OT Darian Kinnard<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01knmbp8e4aqx2ta3zc6.jpg\" alt=\"Green Bay Packers guard Darian Kinnard\" title=\"Green Bay Packers guard Darian Kinnard\" width=\"5398\" height=\"3036\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"bx\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Green Bay Packers guard Darian Kinnard | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"c1\">Some may find it unusual that a backup tackle is on this list but that&#8217;s exactly who is mostly on the chopping block for Green Bay. The team&#8217;s starters are all invaluable at the moment but it&#8217;s the depth that needs the most attention. If starter Zach Tom goes down with another injury, Kinnard may not be be able to handle the necessary workload.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"c4\">Finding a late-round depth piece like Memphis&#8217; Travis Burke would be a prudent decision to make. He doesn&#8217;t need to be starter-caliber but if he can show greater control against edge rushers and an ability to keep rushing lanes open, he&#8217;s a younger option with more longevity. Kinnard was probably already on his way out but the front office has a responsibility to find someone who could be slid into his spot seamlessly.<\/p>\n<p>DE Javon Hargrave<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01knmbr0nr4yyn0f2vwx.jpg\" alt=\"San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave\" title=\"San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave\" width=\"7259\" height=\"4083\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"ch\"\/><\/p>\n<p>San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"cl\">Hargrave was brought in via free agency from the rival Minnesota Vikings and will probably start this year. He makes Green Bay&#8217;s defensive front even scarier but he&#8217;s on the wrong side of 30 and in the twilight of his career. This may be the one position the front office finds it necessary to trade up for a solid talent.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"co\">Texas A&amp;M&#8217;s Cashius Howell is considered a Top 10 edge rusher in this draft and would be a great compliment to Parsons in the future. Snagging him in the second or third round would be a great investment and give the team a successor to Hargrave if he gets seriously injured or simply cannot live up to his previously displayed abilities in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n<p>CB Benjamin St. Juste<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01knmbsy2j4zrwja4e06.jpg\" alt=\"Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Benjamin St-Juste\" title=\"Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Benjamin St-Juste\" width=\"8001\" height=\"4500\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"d1\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Benjamin St-Juste | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-16\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"d5\">The earliest Green Bay can select is No. 52 overall and some mock drafter have the team taking a safety. Specifically, Arizona&#8217;s Treydan Stukes and while that may not match up with St. Juste&#8217;s position, the Packers need versatile defenders.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-17\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"d8\">Stukes could easily be converted into cornerback or play closer to the line of scrimmage if needed and be more valuable than St. Juste if he can&#8217;t establish himself. The journeyman spent 2025 with the Los Angeles Chargers but was a long-time Washington Commander prior. Sitting in the reserve role on the depth chart is the biggest signal that a team finds you expendable.<\/p>\n<p>More Green Bay Packers news and analysis:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Bullet point summary by AI The Green Bay Packers head into the 2026 NFL Draft with limited picks,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":859373,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2072],"tags":[7,41,345,2514,2513,6,428],"class_list":{"0":"post-859372","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-green-bay-packers","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-green-bay","10":"tag-green-bay-packers","11":"tag-greenbay","12":"tag-greenbaypackers","13":"tag-nfl","14":"tag-packers"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116364565882694446","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/859372","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=859372"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/859372\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/859373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=859372"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=859372"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=859372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}