Official 2026 Draft Thread

[bobblehead]

I had completely forgotten the Packers had two firsts that year. They traded 17 to the Falcons. At 5 they took the immortal Buckley.

I was paying more attention to the Browns at the time and they took Touchdown Tommy Vardell at 9.

My new battle cry (at least until Gutes is replaced)....at least we aren't cleveland.

[Joemailman]

Packers official player visits.

1. Georgia State WR Ted Hurst
Height, weight: 6-4, 206
RAS: 9.91
Consensus board rank: No. 85
Quick bio: Tall, highly athletic pass-catcher who produced 1,999 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns over last two seasons at Georgia State. Forced 18 missed tackles and had 16 contested catches in 2025. Senior Bowl participant.

2. Louisville LB TJ Quinn
Height, weight: 6-1, 230
RAS: N/A
Consensus board rank: N/A
Quick bio: Experienced linebacker prospect with over 2,000 snaps played on defense over five seasons at Louisville, where he led the team in tackles each of the last three seasons. Two-time All-ACC pick. Likely undrafted free agent or late-round option.

3. James Madison S Jacob Thomas
Height, weight: 6-0, 215
RAS: N/A
Consensus board rank: No. 370
Quick bio: Former walk-on who played 50 games for a top small-school program. Two-time All-Sun Belt pick. Tested like an elite athlete. Played in the box, in the slot and at free safety. Almost 700 career special teams snaps. Possible Day 3 option.

4. Texas Tech edge rusher Romello Height
Height, weight: 6-3, 239
RAS: 8.80
Consensus board rank: No. 83
Quick bio: Produced breakout senior season at Texas Tech with 10.5 sacks and 62 pressures. Previously played at Auburn, USC and Georgia Tech. Undersized at edge rusher but looks explosive. All-Big 12 pick in 2025. Possible late Day 2 option.

5. Illinois OL Josh Gesky
Height, weight: 6-5, 315
RAS: N/A
Consensus board rank: N/A
Quick bio: Three-time honorable mention All-Big Ten pick with over 30 career starts and 2,000 career snaps at guard. Likely late-round option or priority undrafted free agent type.

6. Stephen F. Austin CB Charles Demmings
Height, weight: 6-1, 193
RAS: 9.97
Consensus board rank: No. 162
Quick bio: FCS All-American in 2025 with nine career interceptions and 35 career pass breakups. Good length, elite athleticism. Played almost 2,000 career snaps on the perimeter. Senior Bowl participant. Possible Late Day 2 or Day 3 option at corner.

7. Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr.
Height, weight: 6-1, 233
RAS: 9.87
Consensus board rank: No. 66
Quick bio: Big and fast. Rushed for over 1,000 yards and averaged over 6.0 yards per carry during All-SEC season in 2025. Played for three different schools (Buffalo, New Mexico State). Fastest running back at the combine with the top Speed score. Likely Day 2 selection.

8. East Carolina WR Anthony Smith
Height, weight: 6-2, 197
RAS: 9.20
Consensus board rank: N/A
Quick bio: Lanky deep threat with 4.4 speed, coming off a 1,000-yard season in 2025. Military Bowl MVP who caught four passes for 156 yards, including two long touchdowns. Older prospect after transferring from NC State.

9. SE Louisiana DT Kaleb Proctor
Height, weight: 6-2, 291
RAS: 9.14
Consensus board rank: No. 107
Quick bio: The 2025 Southland Conference Player of the Year after producing 9.0 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. Tested like an elite athlete at 291 pounds. Big-time pass-rushing potential as a 3-tech. Likely Day 2 pick, although early development is required.

10. Louisiana LB Jaden Dugger
Height, weight: 6-4, 242
RAS: 9.60
Consensus board rank: No. 307
Quick bio: First-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection after producing 125 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks in 2025. Elite blend of size, speed and length. Finished with 57 stops in 2025, seventh-most among FBS linebackers. Possible Day 3 pick.

11. Indiana RB Kaelon Black
Height, weight: 5-9, 211
RAS: N/A
Consensus board rank: No. 181
Quick bio: 1,000-yard rusher for the national champs in 2025. Finished six-year collegiate career with almost 3,000 career yards and 29 touchdowns. Reportedly ran 4.45 at 211 pounds at Indiana's pro day. Likely 3 pick.

12. Georgia DT Christen Miller
Height, weight: 6-4, 321
RAS: N/A
Consensus board rank: No. 46
Quick bio: Standout run defender with the size to play nose tackle at the NFL level. Produced 38 pressures and 31 stops over the last two seasons at Georgia. Didn't test at the combine or pro day. Likely Round 2 option for the Packers.

13. Georgia Tech DL Jordan van den Berg
Height, weight: 6-3, 310
RAS: 10.0
Consensus board rank: No. 246
Quick bio: Penn State transfer who produced a disruptive final season in 2025 with 11.0 tackles for loss and 29 total pressures. Tested like a truly elite athlete at GT pro day. South Africa native with a rugby background. Earned excellent run defense grades in 2024 and 2025 from PFF. Likely Day 3 pick.

14. Akron CB Malcolm DeWalt IV
Height, weight: 6-0, 197
RAS: 8.94
Consensus board rank: N/A
Quick bio: Junior college transfer who broke out in 2025 with two interceptions and 10 pass breakups. Allowed only 23 catches and a passer rating of 78.6 into his coverage, per PFF. Ran fast (4.38) at Akron's pro day. Earned an elite tackle grade and excellent run defense grade in 2025. Likely late Day 3 or UDFA option.

15. Texas Tech QB Behren Morton
Height, weight: 6-1, 221
RAS: 5.40
Consensus board rank: No. 264
Quick bio: Three-year starter, two-year captain at Texas Tech. East-West Shrine Bowl participant. Threw over 20 touchdown passes and fewer than 10 picks during each of his final two seasons. Won 26 games as a starter, had an 11-1 record in 2025. Likely late Day 3 or priority free agent option.

16. New Mexico RB Damon Bankston
Height, weight: 5-10, 196
RAS: 8.15
Consensus board rank: N/A
Quick bio: Weber State transfer. Rushed for over 1,100 yards during final year at Weber State in 2024 and then producing an exciting all-purpose season at New Mexico in 2025. Scored 10 total touchdowns: five as a runner, three as a receiver and two returning kickoffs. Produced over 400 receiving yards. Small but athletic. Possible dual-threat weapon with return potential at the next level. Likely UDFA.

17. Texas A&M CB Will Lee III
Height, weight: 6-1, 189
RAS: 9.39
Consensus board rank: No. 110
Quick bio: Three-year starter at Kansas (2023) and Texas A&M (2024-25). Hit or miss corner with impressive length and athleticism who broke up a lot of plays and also gave up too many big plays. While on the lighter side, fits Packers athleticism benchmarks. Likely Late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick.

18. Wake Forest CB Karon Prunty
Height, weight: 6-1, 190
RAS: 8.65
Consensus board rank: No. 456
Quick bio: North Carolina AT&T transfer who had a breakout year in 2025. Long, lean corner with good athleticism. Gave up only 25 catches last season, finished career with seven picks. Likely late Day 3 or UDFA option.

19. Ohio State OL Ethan Onianwa
Height, weight: 6-6, 333
RAS: 8.65
Consensus board rank: No. 343
Quick bio: Rice transfer who was unable to win the starting right tackle job during his lone season at Ohio State. Massive blocker with experience at left and right tackle and guard. Tested well at his size. Likely late Day 3 or priority free agent type.

20. ULM defensive back D'Arco Perkins-McAllister
Height, weight: 5-11, 200
RAS: 6.59
Consensus board rank: N/A
Quick bio: TCU transfer who was a starter at Tennessee-Chattanooga in 2024 and Louisiana-Monroe in 2025. Picked off three passes in 2024, blocked a kick in 2025. Long armed defensive back who has played safety and corner, including on the perimeter. Likely UDFA.

21. Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II
Height, weight: 6-4, 198
RAS: N/A
Consensus board rank: No. 54
Quick bio: Tulane transfer who led SEC in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2025. Caught 136 career passes and averaged over 15.0 yards per catch. Deep threat with an 80" wingspan and 4.37 speed. Good hands with low percentage of drops. Likely Day 2 pick.

22. LSU S A.J. Haulcy
Height, weight: 5-11, 215
RAS: N/A
Consensus board rank: No. 57
Quick bio: Four-year starter with almost 3,000 career snaps played across three schools (New Mexico, Houston, LSU). First-team All-Big 12 pick in 2024, first-team All-SEC pick in 2025. Picked off 10 career passes. Played deep at safety, in the box at linebacker and in the slot. Ran 4.52 in the 40 but did no other testing. Likely Day 2 pick.

23. Central Michigan edge rusher Michael Heldman
Height, weight: 6-4, 268
RAS: 9.90
Consensus board rank: No. 270
Quick bio: Athletic, high-energy edge rusher who finished his college career with 41 starts, 34.5 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks. First-team All-MAC in 2025 (10.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, 53 pressures). Tested well pre-draft, looks the part of a Packers edge. Likely Day 3 type.

24. Washington DL Anterio Thompson
Height, weight: 6-1, 306
RAS: 9.38
Consensus board rank: No. 316
Quick bio: Athletic interior defender who produced 32 pressures and 32 stops over the last two seasons. Ran 4.73 in the 40 at over 300 pounds. Madison, Wisconsin native. Played at four different schools before finishing at Washington. Likely Day 3 pick.

25. Texas Tech DL Lee Hunter
Height, weight: 6-3, 318
RAS: 4.21
Consensus board rank: No. 49
Quick bio: Dominant interior lineman. UCF transfer who became a second-team All-American as a leader for Texas Tech's defense in 2025. Played on the nose and at 3-tech. Produced over 30 tackles for loss over a multi-year starting career. Big, tough, powerful and durable. Didn't test well for a top-50 player. Likely Day 2 pick.

26. UCF edge rusher Nyjalik Kelly
Height, weight: 6-5, 256
RAS: 5.78
Consensus board rank: No. 328
Quick bio: Miami transfer who produced 49 pressures, 17.0 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and five forced fumbles over the last two seasons. Long-armed, with a wingspan over 82". Didn't test well pre-draft. Still only 21 years old. Likely Day 3 pick.

[Fritz]

So here's my lazy question: when people write "day two pick," what rounds are picked in day two? Rounds two and three?

[run pMc]

Yes, Day 2 = R2&3.

[mgordo]

Yes, Day 2 = R2&3.

I miss the days of everything being on Saturday and Sunday. You don't see GMs reach and bet the farm on a player or two. It's more measured and media event and controlled. Where are the days of a Mike Dikta giving up an entire draft for Ricky Williams and then wearing dreads smoking a cigar thinking he won the draft. Ah, the good old days.

[bobblehead]

I scanned the list and saw Jordan VandeBerg with a perfect 10.0 RAS projected to got post pick 250....this will be gutes pick at 52 unless he trades up for him.

[Joemailman]

I scanned the list and saw Jordan VandeBerg with a perfect 10.0 RAS projected to got post pick 250....this will be gutes pick at 52 unless he trades up for him.

RAS.football
@MathBomb

Jordan Van Den Berg is a DT prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 10.00 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 2 out of 2098 DT from 1987 to 2026.

Behind only Jordan Davis, who has a huge lead that'll be tough to best.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, van den Berg played rugby in his home country before moving to the United States at 10 years old and picking up football as a sophomore in high school.

A linebacker at the prep level, he switched to defensive line at Iowa Western Community College and was a 3-star recruit in the 2021 JUCO class who originally went to Penn State. The former Nittany Lion was a backup for three years, collecting 26 tackles, four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 28 games at Happy Valley.

van den Berg transferred to Georgia Tech for his last two seasons of eligibility, earning first- and second-team All-ACC honors in 2025 and 2024, respectively, by racking up 67 tackles, 16 TFLs and four sacks in 26 games.

[texaspackerbacker]

I look at the draft like a birthday gift. I mention the categories I want, but no specific brand or product. Then when I unwrap it, I'm usually get what I need and end up satisfied. Coincidentally, Day 2 of the draft is my birthday.

I'm hoping to unwrap a nice new Corner (or two). Beyond that, it's more a matter of whatever is on the shelf and looks good than needs.

[jklowan]

2nd - DL Christen Miller
3rd - WR Ted Hurst
3rd - DL Gracen Halton
3rd - CB Malik Muhammad
5th - EDGE Caden Curry
5th - CB Julian Neal
6th - TE Dallen Bentley
7th - LB Lander Barton

[Joemailman]

2nd - DL Christen Miller
3rd - WR Ted Hurst
3rd - DL Gracen Halton
3rd - CB Malik Muhammad
5th - EDGE Caden Curry
5th - CB Julian Neal
6th - TE Dallen Bentley
7th - LB Lander Barton

Need to put this in the Draft Contest thread.

[Joemailman]

Albert Breer
@AlbertBreer

Full terms of the Giants/Bengals deal ...

• Bengals get: DT Dexter Lawrence.

• Giants get: 10th overall pick.

No other picks involved. Cincinnati gets its guy. New York is now picking fifth and 10th overall on Thursday night.

[jklowan]

Need to put this in the Draft Contest thread.

sucks getting old

[Fritz]

I scanned the list and saw Jordan VandeBerg with a perfect 10.0 RAS projected to got post pick 250....this will be gutes pick at 52 unless he trades up for him.

Bobble, we know you don't like the job Guter is doing. I'm not sure if I do or not, but I'm open to the criticism you offer. I wish there were a way to actually measure football acuity and football desire, because while I definitely understand Guter's love for top-notch athletic traits - these are the best of the best athletes, and the superstars aren't guys with pedestrian athletic traits, they're just not - but at the same time, there is that missing link. Yes, superstar players are elite, freak athletes amongst only slightly less elite and freakish athletes, but to be elite also requires some difficult-to-define qualities. Love for the game. Blind desire to be the best. Some kind of intuitive sense of angles. Wide-angle vision. Instantaneous comprehension and anticipation of what's unfolding on the field in the moment.

[pbmax]

Albert Breer
@AlbertBreer

Full terms of the Giants/Bengals deal ...

• Bengals get: DT Dexter Lawrence.

• Giants get: 10th overall pick.

No other picks involved. Cincinnati gets its guy. New York is now picking fifth and 10th overall on Thursday night.

Trading up for another quarterback is my guess.

[Fritz]

I scanned the list and saw Jordan VandeBerg with a perfect 10.0 RAS projected to got post pick 250....this will be gutes pick at 52 unless he trades up for him.

This looks like a Guter-esque pick:

https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/green-bay-packers-analysis/81787/nfl-draft-kaleb-proctor-dt-southeastern-louisiana-scouting-report

Freaky RAS, doesn't quite fit the Packers' scheme, will take two years to develop at all.