Acme Packing Company
The trade deadline came and went without the Green Bay Packers making another big swing, but there are still a handful of holes that general manager Brian Gutekunst will need to address this offseason in order to be a legitimate contender in 2026 and beyond.
While the Packers don’t have a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft due to the Micah Parsons trade, Gutekunst still has a handful of his precious draft picks to try and take some big swings at positions of need. Defensive line and cornerback remain top areas of need, but don’t sleep on the need for an interior offensive lineman, particularly at center, with Elgton Jenkins’ uncertain future in Green Bay.
With that in mind, here are a few names to monitor at these positions who currently aren’t considered first-round picks that the Packers are likely keeping a close eye on.
Assuming Jenkins leaves, the Packers are going to have to figure out the type of center they want to fit with their current offensive line. Signing Aaron Banks felt like a signal that the Packers wanted to keep getting bigger in the trenches and be a run-heavy offense, but the passing game with an ascending Jordan Love has been much more successful this year.
If the Packers decide to lean into pass protection, then Florida center Jake Slaughter could make sense. He’s a good athlete with very good instincts and consistently precise hand placement to lock up interior pass rushers. He has the fluidity and balance to pick up and trade off twists/stunts in pass pro, along with a solid anchor to prevent being bull rushed into the quarterback’s lap.
The problem with Slaughter is that he’s not much of a people mover in the run game, lacking the lower body strength and leg drive to consistently move bodies. That’s not to say that part of his game can’t be worked on, especially if he can improve his pad level.
Center is a tricky spot to need a player at in this draft, but Slaughter could be a starting-caliber option on Day 2 if the Packers want to prioritize pass pro over run blocking.
Other names: Parker Brailsford (Alabama), Logan Jones (Iowa), Pat Coogan (Indiana)
One of the biggest weakness for the Packers this season has been a defensive line that gets worn down by the end of games, allowing teams to start gashing them on the ground. There are some solid players up front, especially Devonte Wyatt, but the team’s lack of depth in the trenches really stands out when rookie UDFA Nazir Stackhouse is forced to play meaningful snaps.
Iowa State’s Domonique Orange could be an upgrade at that rotational nose tackle spot over Stackhouse. He’s an athletic and powerful 325-pound DT prospect with the upper body strength to stun blockers, with enough explosiveness off of the snap to catch them off guard when slanting across gaps at the snap.
Stamina...
