Ths offseason hasn’t exactly bolstered confidence for the Packers.
The amount of talent that’s departed Green Bay, and the adoption of a ‘next-man-up’ mentality as a result, make it fair to wonder if teams such as the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions have created some separation in the NFC North.
However, there could be a few reasons to believe, for the Packers, that the 2026 campaign could be a step forward for Matt LaFleur’s squad.
Packers have reason to be bullish on rookies
Over at CBS Sports, NFL analyst Bryan DeArdo put together a list of each team’s biggest reason for optimism in the 2026 season ahead, including the Packers’ crop of incoming rookie defenders.
“The Packers received stellar grades for their first three draft picks,” DeArdo writes for CBS Sports. “Former South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse, former Missouri defensive tackle Chris McClellan and former Penn State pass rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton. Green Bay also received high marks for the selection of former Alabama cornerback Domani Jackson in the sixth round.”
There’s a genuine chance that the Packers could see at least two of their rookies contribute starter-caliber snaps this season.
While the rest of the NFC North looks to pull away, Green Bay’s commitment to a youth-driven defensive overhaul suggests that their window for contention is far from closed. It may even prop wider open if these college playmakers can become difference-makers on defense in the NFL.