GREEN BAY, Wis. — The goal for Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst in free agency is to balance his roster adequately enough that he can draft the best player available come April (with need also in mind) instead of reaching for positions of need.
A week into 2026 free agency, let’s examine how the Packers will fill vacancies left by departing players and what holes may remain.
Inside linebacker: Lost Quay Walker, acquired Zaire Franklin
Defensive tackle: Traded Colby Wooden, signed Javon Hargrave
Center: Released Elgton Jenkins, extended Sean Rhyan
Cornerback: Released Nate Hobbs, signed Benjamin St-Juste
Left tackle: Lost Rasheed Walker, turning to Jordan Morgan
Wide receiver: Lost Romeo Doubs, leaning on Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and Matthew Golden
You could argue defensive end, backup running back and backup quarterback (and even outside cornerback) remain pressing needs after the Packers lost Malik Willis, Emanuel Wilson and Kingsley Enagbare in free agency while trading Rashan Gary. The Packers have Desmond Ridder and Kyle McCord behind Jordan Love, Chris Brooks and MarShawn Lloyd behind Josh Jacobs and Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Collin Oliver and Brenton Cox Jr. at edge rusher to start the season while Micah Parsons finishes rehab. Will they further address those spots before the draft or perhaps rely on rookies to patch up the roster, if Gutekunst even views those positions as ones needing reinforcements?
With the first wave of free agency in the rearview, let’s have a crack at another Packers seven-round mock draft (or in their case, it’s more like six rounds).
Round 2, Pick 52: Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M
The Packers need better depth on their offensive line, specifically on the interior. That depth consists of Jacob Monk, Donovan Jennings and Lecitus Smith right now. Fans probably want a first pick who will contribute immediately, but Gutekunst clearly doesn’t require that. His last three top picks are Van Ness, Morgan and Golden, none of whom played a significant role off the bat. Bisontis (6-foot-5, 315 pounds) was the Aggies’ starting left guard and also started at right tackle and right guard in college. The Packers like for their reserve offensive linemen to play at least three positions. Their sixth and maybe even seventh offensive linemen will probably get a chance to start at one of them after inevitable injuries.
Dane Brugler’s scouting report: “Bisontis offers a well-rounded skill set — athleticism, strength and the ability to create movement. The key questions center around his position flexibility and blocking leverage, but his contact balance and consistency point to him being a successful pro, sooner than later.”
Round 3, Pick 84: Rayshaun Benny, DT, Michigan
With the Packers set to employ more 3-4 base defense principles under new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, they could benefit from beefing up on the interior defensive line. They already signed Hargrave, in part to replace Wooden, but you can never have enough powerful defensive tackles. Brugler listed Benny as his “winner” at defensive tackle during Senior Bowl week, so he probably caught Gutekunst’s attention in Mobile, Ala., too.
Brugler writes, “Benny was consistently impactful each day, showing both quickness and power to defeat blocks in different ways. More specifically, his ability to run through gaps and his long arms will help him make an impact right away in the NFL.”
Round 4, Pick 120: Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
Keisean Nixon is rolling into next season as the Packers’ No. 1 cornerback, whether you like it or not. However, both Nixon and Carrington Valentine have one year remaining on their contracts. If at least one of them departs in free agency next offseason, the Packers need reinforcements. Going back to the earlier point of Gutekunst portioning out his roster so he can draft the best player available, doing so also allows him to draft for the future instead of panicking in the present. This would be a pick with the future in mind, though Muhammad could also provide immediate depth in a thin cornerback room.
Brugler’s scouting report: “Muhammad (6 feet, 188 pounds) is a good-sized athlete who isn’t shy about throwing his hands into receivers to jam at the line. He doesn’t have top-tier speed, but he can mask that with smooth transition skills and the coverage confidence to stay within arm’s length of receivers.”
Round 5, Pick 160: Logan Jones, C, Iowa
This feels like a draft in which Gutekunst will draft multiple offensive linemen to bolster the back end of that group and potentially develop future starters. Jones won the 2025 Rimington Trophy, given to the country’s best center. The Athletic’s Big Ten/Iowa reporter Scott Dochterman writes of Jones, “Jones compares favorably to his predecessor, Tyler Linderbaum, but he’s a little longer, heavier and more athletic. Perhaps he’s not quite as mean, but he’s close.”
Round 6, Pick 201: Seth McGowan, RB, Kentucky
Wilson was a productive backup running back for the Packers, but they opted not to re-sign him, and he joined the Seattle Seahawks. Brooks is back, and so is Lloyd, but the former is more of a situational third-down back, and the latter is too injury-prone to rely on. How many years do the Packers think Jacobs has left as a reliable workhorse back? The answer is at least one, but they might draft someone to develop behind him. McGowan tied for the sixth-fastest 40-yard dash among running backs at the combine (4.49 seconds) and carried 165 times for 725 yards and 12 touchdowns last season while catching 19 passes for 126 yards.
Iowa’s Kaden Wetjen averaged 29.8 yards per kickoff return and 26.8 yards on his punt returns last season. (Jeffrey Becker / Imagn Images)
Round 7, Pick 236: Kaden Wetjen, WR, Iowa
The Jet Award is given annually to the top return specialist in the country. Wetjen became the first two-time recipient last season in the award’s 15-year history. Past recipients include Christian McCaffrey, Tavon Austin, Ty Montgomery, Tyler Lockett and Marcus Jones. The Packers struggled returning punts and kickoffs last season, and Wetjen could be a player they add strictly for special teams usage (they also just signed return specialist Skyy Moore). Wetjen ranks first in Big Ten history in punt return average (17.7 yards) and third in kick return average (27.5). He returned four punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns in his career and got 46 offensive touches last season, 23 each as a receiver and rusher.
Round 7, Pick 255: Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech
Gutekunst said at the combine that he wanted more competition in the secondary. He probably more so meant at cornerback, but the Packers could use a body at safety and on special teams after they let Zayne Anderson walk to the Miami Dolphins. Wisniewski started every game for the No. 3 scoring and total defense in the country after transferring from North Dakota State. He also contributed six tackles for loss and six pass breakups.