Mock Draft Monday: Testing Packers Draft Scenarios for 2026
With free agency still ahead, this episode of Mock Draft Monday all about flexibility — testing draft strategies, reacting to board value, and laying the groundwork for how Green Bay can build its roster heading into 2026.
By Newt Westen
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Newt Westen is the Founder of 0-Tech Draft, contributor for The Draft Professor and Lead NFL Draft Analyst for CheeseheadTV.com. He's a lifetime Packers fan and you can follow Newt at @NFLDraft_Westen on X.
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Comments (23)
TKWorldWide
February 02, 2026 at 08:33 am
How about this for a draft strategy: rank good football players ahead of RAS projects…?
Houndog
February 02, 2026 at 10:05 am
Congratulations, TKW!
Somewhere, Ron Wolf is reaching out to pat you on the back for that comment!
TKWorldWide
February 02, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Shemar Stewart would like a word.
stockholder
February 02, 2026 at 09:45 am
No to Hunter.
In Fact I doubt Gute takes a DT. (Early)
Until we see who he lets go per OL.
Thats a No for now.
IMO He will take a CBs this year.
D'angelo Ponds - Ind. @52
Daylen Everette 3nd rd. @88
A press CB, and the Georgia pipeline.
golfpacker61
February 02, 2026 at 10:01 am
Disagree on DT, we need a run stopper last year and missed. Its a big need this year too. I like Orange from Iowa State and Hunter both. Will either even be there @ #52, last year the DT bucket emptied in a hurry.
I really like Ponds, watched him star for Indiana all year, but will GB take a CB that small.
Daylen Everette is my 2nd CB every mock I do.
stockholder
February 02, 2026 at 10:21 am
You have Wyatt coming back.
The packers need a big NT again.
There are 4 DTs that have better talent later.
You can't waste it on a maybe from the senior Bowl.
Watch the tape. DTs always drop
after testing.
jannesbjornson
February 02, 2026 at 12:38 pm
Yes to Hunter if he is available at #52. McDonald and Corleone probably go first, but Hunter has the NFL profile. He has his whiffs in the O line he will keep to save face. See if Tom can stay healthy over a season? I hope this is not another wasted Contract. He won't take Ponds because of his size, not because of his talent. Just discussing this clown show for another four years is depressing.
Packitin
February 03, 2026 at 10:54 am
Ponds falls WELL short (pun intended) of the Packers' CB standards. Big Citrus is a more likely choice; unlike you, I DO believe that a run-stopping DT is a priority.
On the OL, a Center is a prime target, if Rhyan isn't kept.
TKWorldWide
February 02, 2026 at 09:54 am
Meanwhile, is anyone else concerned that the Harbaughs and LaFleurs are taking over the NFL?
Houndog
February 02, 2026 at 10:11 am
Oh F#*K!
Living in the SF Bay area I'm sick to the point of nearly puking from hearing about "The Shanahan Tree", and now this!
Phucking Round Two!
TKWorldWide
February 02, 2026 at 11:56 am
Stranglehold, baby!
golfpacker61
February 02, 2026 at 10:12 am
That's a pretty Blah draft. Hunter and Tacario Davis are the only 2 I would take for sure, Davis is gone before #124 though. Will Lee was a no brainer with the #84 pick. We gambled and lost last year by not filling our biggest holes at CB & DT. If we miss again this year, our record will be 9-8 maybe 8-9.
52. Chris Johnson-CB San Diego State-great start to fill biggest hole on team
84. Domonique Orange-DT Iowa State-Run STOPPER
120. Daylen Everette-CB Georgia-Dbl up on CB 4.29 40
158. Trey Zuhn III-OC Texas A&M-All SEC @ OT but plas OG & OC
199. DJ Campbell-OG Texas-Earth mover @ OG
236. Kendal Daniels-LB Oklahoma- 6'5 240 lbs and played S, LB, & Edge
254. Sam Roush-TE Stanford- He won't be here this late-best blocking TE in draft
257. Diego Pounds-OT Ole Miss- 340 lb OT could play OG too
No trades
PackEyedOptimist
February 03, 2026 at 02:38 pm
I've picked CB Chris Johnson at 52 several times.
I like Sam Roush as well.
I like Campbell too, but I'm not sold on Zuhn; I think he's always going to struggle with pad level.
dobber
February 02, 2026 at 10:13 am
Mock drafts before the second week of FA is done are pointless.
13TimeChamps
February 02, 2026 at 10:29 am
To be honest...aren't all mock drafts pretty much pointless? They have zero impact on who the team will select.
Bitternotsour
February 02, 2026 at 10:46 am
truly the worst of the offseason. wait, reconsidering. the worst of the offseason is draft second-guessing.
Turophile
February 02, 2026 at 12:24 pm
Pointless (except that it helps you learn about many of the players).....but fun.
I liked Newt's draft.
Newt Westen
February 03, 2026 at 05:53 pm
Appreciate the kind words!
Duneslick
February 02, 2026 at 11:25 am
We dont have a center unless you are counting on monk. They wont keep Jenkins at his price and Ryan is a free agent
PackEyedOptimist
February 03, 2026 at 02:36 pm
Newt, I'm wondering why you don't seem enamored with QB Cole Payton and DT Zane Durant? I like both of them quite a bit. Payton throws like Favre and runs like a tailback. Durant has a crazy-fast jump cut that would be AMAZING when paired with a Parsons' blitz (I've gotten him at 120 in several PFN mocks, but I think he'll go in the second round).
A decent space-eating DT can be had later.
I REALLY want C Connor Lew at 84 if he drops that far--that would take care of the position for the next four to ten years.
I love getting RB Jadarion Price after a trade-down, but I don't think he'll be available after 84, and that's too early for a RB for us.
I have the same situation with TE Dallen Bentley who I would LOVE as our #2 TE, I see him as a slightly-less potential Tucker Kraft.
Newt Westen
February 03, 2026 at 05:58 pm
I do like Payton, I promise! Payton is always on my radar on late Day 3, I think I just leaned towards the freaky athlete with a missile for an arm.
As for Durant, he's a top 15 DT on my overall big board, but I don't think he will be on the Packers' radar. As an undersized 3T, I don't know how much he adds to the team right now. With that said, I could see it at the right spot.
As for Lew at 84, that would 100% be my pick, but I don't think it will happen, unfortunately. As for Price, round 4 would be phenomenal value, not sure if he's sticking around until then either.
PackEyedOptimist
February 03, 2026 at 09:16 pm
I've come to another interesting thought: The Packers could REALLY use a talented returner AND a young RB--enter the following draft on PFN:
52. Emmett Johnson RB Nebraska Didn't do returning in college, but his skill set just screams All-Pro at it. Meanwhile, he's the ultimate change-of-pace waterbug.
84. Darrell Jackson Jr. DT Florida State
120. Tacario Davis CB Washington
158. Cole Payton QB North Dakota State
199. Bryce Foster OC Kansas I'm starting to think Foster late has the best C value
236. Daylen Everette CB Georgia
254. DeMonte Capehart DT Clemson
257. Patrick Payton EDGE LSU
golfpacker61
February 16, 2026 at 02:40 pm
I love mock drafts PEO. I try different sites for mocks and I find it interesting how the players are rated and evaluated by the different sources. If anything, it makes me at least research other players at the Packers positions of need because none of us are right all the time. But as up and down, mainly down, as the Packers drafts have been the last 10 years, alot of these mocks could help the Packers more than their actual picks do.
Johnson is a fabulous back, he lit up my Hawkeyes very good defense this year. He is phenomenal making the 1st & 2nd guy miss. He isn't really fast though but he is a great pass catcher.
Jackson & Davis are good picks. Again, funny how low some players are rated, GB would run the pick to the podium if Everett fell that far. He is probably a 4th round pick. We gotta get some solid CB in the draft this year, before the 5th round.