Journalist Gery Woelfel reported on X that sources close to the Cardinals rave about Gannon’s ability to lead, even during challenging seasons filled with roster turnover. The source stated: “The players here loved him. They (the Cardinals) had a lot of injuries and lost a lot close games. But he (Gannon) kept that locker room together.”

Continuing the praise, the report emphasized that the team “bought into what he was coaching and believed in him,” suggesting a strong culture shift is coming to Wisconsin. Woelfel’s source concluded with a confident prediction for the current roster, noting that “Those players up there (in Green Bay) are going to love playing for him.”

How Gannon can evolve the Packers’ defensive unit

Gannon is focused on creating a bespoke scheme for the 2026 season, telling players the system will be a mix of his successful stints in Philadelphia, Arizona, and even college concepts. “I don’t really get caught up in ‘This is my playbook,'” Gannon explained, promising a fresh start that isn’t tied to rigid, outdated coaching philosophies.

His defensive knowledge is extensive, having served as the defensive backs coach for the Colts and the defensive coordinator for a dominant Eagles unit that reached the Super Bowl. While his record as a head coach faced hurdles, his history of developing secondary talent suggests the Packers’ defensive backfield will see immediate technical improvements.

The opportunity to work alongside Matt LaFleur and a top-tier quarterback like Jordan Love were primary factors that drew Gannon to this “iconic franchise.” By combining his experience with the stability of the Packers’ organization, Gannon aims to build a defense that is as resilient and respected as the team’s historic reputation.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported the move, though the contractual details haven’t been revealed yet. What is definitely true is that Taylor is coming into a QB2 capacity after being a starter in the second half of the season on the Jets.

With Taylor behind starting QB Jordan Love, the Packers released Desmond Ridder in a corresponding move. This means Kyle McCord and Kyron Drones close the depth chart. Taylor should definitely be above Ridder in the quality department.

Is Tyrod Taylor a good replacement for Malik Willis?

Malik Willis was so good as Jordan Love’s backup that he earned a starting quarterback contract with the Miami Dolphins. Is Tyrod Taylor a good fit then? Taylor has started 62 games, so he is much more experienced than Willis in that department.

However, Taylor turns 37 before the season begins, and while somewhat mobile, Willis is much more explosive with his feet. He is a reliable backup to Jordan Love, but the playbook should be less physically-demanding with him than it was with Willis.

The Packers know they need a good backup

Some teams kind of disregard the QB2 matter, but the Packers know they can’t do that with Jordan Love. He’s missed time the last two seasons, and given that they are a playoff team, they can’t afford to throw away games if Love is not fit.

Hence, with Willis out, the Packers now needed to ensure they had a solid backup in place. Tyrod Taylor is that. He is a reliable veteran capable of winning a couple of games if needed. The Packers were clever to sign him.

Claypool was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers and he impressed early on in his career. However, his attitude was an issue and he also had some injury concerns. It ended up costing him his spot on the team.

After that, he had ill-fated stints at the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills. Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reported that Claypool is in fact, attending the Packers mini-camp.

Why has Claypool not played in more than two years?

Claypool went from a very productive weapon (he racked up 1,600+ yards in his first two seasons combined) to a practice squad guy. However, it was not only that his level dipped. Injuries also played a huge role in his absence.

More specifically, it’s been a toe injury the one that hasn’t allowed him to flourish. A receiver runs a lot, and also changes directions and jumps. It’s one of the most demanding positions in football, at least physically. Hence, not being able to do any of that at a high level due to a toe injury will logically hamper Claypool’s career.

Claypool might not be the answer to a WR1, but can be useful

Claypool is clearly not equipped to be any team’s WR1, at least for now. However, he is 27 years old and he can be a great deep threat with huge contested catch abilities if used right. This could help the Packers, as it would allow them to use Christian Watson in even more roles and formations.

The Packers are one of six teams that don’t have a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They opted to trade that pick last year in a deal with the Cowboys that landed Micah Parsons with the Cheeseheads.

That pick turned out to be pick number 20 in this year’s first round. It’s safe to say the Packers must feel relatively good, given that Parsons is one of the few truly elite players in the NFL, which is worth way more than a 20th pick. That’s said despite the fact that Parsons tore his ACL last season.

Parsons’ return date with the Packers

Micah Parsons tore his ACL on December 14th, 2025. While it’s not been confirmed when he will return, the hopeful think he could be back for Week 1. However, the more realistic target is for Parsons to return in Week 3 or Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season.

Parsons was wrecking havoc before falling down to the injury. In 2025, Parsons had 12.5 sacks, 41 combined tackles, and 27 QB hits in 14 games. Despite the injury, he ended up third in Defensive Player of the Year votes.

What will the Cowboys do with the 20th pick?

It’s just the fourth time in history that the Cowboys have two or more top 20 picks in the NFL Draft. The Cowboys first had that privilege in 1975, then 1991, and more recently in 2005. They used five of those picks in defensive players, and traded another one for more draft capital. These are the teams that have multiple first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.

While it’s pretty likely that their first pick will be used on defense, the 20th pick might be too. However, there’s also the possibility of taking an offensive tackle, or picking the best player available. That will depend on how the draft develops.

However, it’s the first round the one that matters the most. All top-tier talent is usually gone after the first 32 picks. This year, though, there are six teams that have no first-round picks. Each time will have different picks but the same time to select in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, and Cincinnati Bengals have no first round picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Conversely, this means there are teams with multiple first-round picks.

Why do these teams have no first-round picks?

The Jaguars traded their 2026 first-rounder to the Cleveland Browns in a 2025 draft deal to move up to pick Travis Hunter. The Falcons traded their pick to the Los Angeles Rams as part of a package for a 2025 first-round used in OLB James Pearce Jr.

The Packers traded away their pick as a part of the Micah Parsons deal. The Colts traded their first-rounder to acquire Sauce Gardner. As for the Broncos, their first pick was traded to the Dolphins for WR Jaylen Waddle. Lastly, the Bengals traded their 10th overall pick to the Giants to acquire Dexter Lawrence.

Can these teams still have something to say?

Not having picks doesn’t mean that these six teams won’t play a part. It’s been heavily rumored that the 2026 NFL Draft will feature plenty of trades. Hence, don’t discard any of these teams jumping in and being a part of draft day if they see the opportunity to enhance their roster.

In the 2025 season, many saw the Packers as top contenders. However, they failed to win the NFC North title and exited the playoffs after a tough Wild Card round loss to the Bears.

“Some of our young guys, I’m interested to see with our new coaching staff how they adapt to what we’re going to ask them to do,” GM Brian Gutekunst said, via the team’s website. “But we do need to add some numbers there.”

When is the Packers’ first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?

While the Packers are reportedly interested in projected second-round pick Ted Hurst (WR, Georgia State), they may be forced to move up if they want to select a top-tier prospect, as they currently do not have a first-round pick.

The Packers first appear on the board at No. 52 overall, which is not the ideal position to draft an elite prospect. Consequently, there are rumors that they may look to reclaim a first-round pick by trading away a veteran player.

The best cornerback in the 2026 NFL Draft according to scouts is Mansoor Delane (LSU). However, he is projected as a top-15 pick, which would currently leave the Packers out of the race for the standout defender.

“Source: Georgia State WR Ted Hurst is visiting the Giants, Packers and Chiefs this week,” the insider Jordan Schultz revealed on X. “The 6-4, 206-pound Hurst – who recently visited the Falcons, Saints, Dolphins, Colts and Vikings – clocked a 4.42 40 with an impressive 11-2 broad jump. He is a likely 2nd-round pick.”

Hurst has shown the necessary traits to make the leap to the NFL as a high draft pick. Will he be running routes alongside Jaxson Dart or Patrick Mahomes, or will it ultimately be Jordan Love who targets him through the air?

Hurst’s standout 2025 in College Football

During his senior season in 2025, Ted Hurst established himself as a premier vertical threat for Georgia State, earning First-team All-Sun Belt honors. He led the Panthers with 71 receptions for 1,004 yards and 6 touchdowns, averaging 14.1 yards per catch.

Standing at 6’4″, Hurst finished the year ranked 12th nationally in total receiving yards, a performance that has recently solidified his status as a rising prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Where does Hurst fit best?

Among the three teams meeting with him this week, the Kansas City Chiefs might represent the most intriguing fit for Ted Hurst. While the Packers value his 9.90 RAS and the Giants desperately need his 6’4″ frame for their rebuilding offense, Hurst’s 4.42 speed and vertical tracking make him a lethal weapon for Patrick Mahomes.

The Chiefs have traditionally favored smaller, shifty receivers, but adding Hurst’s would provide a much-needed physical presence in the red zone. If he lands in Kansas City, his ability to stretch the field could turn him into the ultimate deep-threat complement to their existing speedsters.

The early draft picks of these teams

Wicks was a useful guy, hence why the Eagles traded for him amid all the AJ Brown saga. Still, the Packers saw no issues in letting him go. They also lost Romeo Doubs this offseason, so it’s quite a shakeup in the WR room.

Christian Watson is set to be the WR1 of the team. Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden come as the next alternatives. The Packers also have Will Sheppard, Savion Williams, Skyy Moore, Bo Melton, Isaiah Neyor, and Jakobie Keeney-James on the roster.

The Packers must pray Christian Watson stays healthy

The talk around the Packers’ wideouts is that they are always filled with B+ players, not playmakers. The one that could go to that tier is Christian Watson. However, he is consistently injured. Hence, if Watson is healthy, they have a gamechanger, but having him available has been an issue.

Many pressure is also on Matthew Golden too. Golden was a first round pick, so the expectations for him is quite big. He must deliver and take a step forward on this offense if the Packers want a top-tier offense in the NFL.

A healthy Packers offense is a problem

If Watson is healthy, and Golden takes a leap, the Packers should be a big-time offense. Jordan Love is an above average quarterback, and Josh Jacobs is a top-tier running back in the NFL. All this lined up with the playcalling of head coach Matt LaFleur.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Eagles sent a 2026 5th-round pick, and a 2027 6th-round pick to the Packers for Wicks. Not only that, but Wicks will sign a one-year, $12.5 million extension with Philadelphia.

While Eagles GM Howie Roseman assured that AJ Brown still belongs to Philadelphia, Roseman is also known for being an aggressive negotiator, especially when the draft rolls around. That’s how he landed Brown in the first place.

Why don’t the Eagles want to lose AJ Brown?

Brown is an elite, cornerstone wide receiver in the middle of his prime. Arguably a top five wideout in the NFL, Brown was instrumental for the team’s Super Bowl run in 2024. However, things have gone sour between Brown, the team, and quarterback Jalen Hurts.

With Brown on the roster, the Eagles have won 73.5% of the games, bolstering a 50-18 record. While Roseman is reluctant to let him leave, he must be working on a plan B if push comes to shove. After all, Wicks is not good enough to replace him.

The Eagles might already have Brown’s replacement

Lining up in the other side of the field, it’s Devonta Smith. He is a very talented receiver, and has WR1 quality. Hence, if the Eagles need it, they could promote him to WR1, and get a haul for Brown and use it to strengthen other areas.

If Brown gets traded, the assets coming in should be of a top quality. Hence, there are options. Wicks coming in from the Packers, as well as the return of tight end Dallas Goedert, could be signs of what’s to come.

While not compelled to trade Lawrence, New York may find it best to move on from its star defensive lineman rather than drag out the drama and risk tension inside the locker room. If that’s the case, a report indicates the Giants have established their asking price for Lawrence to the rest of the NFL. As a result, the Bills and Bears may have a significant advantage over the Packers and Jaguars.

The Giants are reportedly asking for a late first-round or second-round 2026 selection in return for Lawrence. Chicago and Buffalo both have late first-round picks (25th and 26th overall picks, respectively) for the upcoming NFL Draft, whereas Green Bay and Jacksonville have both traded their first-rounders (20th and 24th overall, respectively).

The Packers and Jags could always make a trade to get back into the first round of the draft, but the odds of them making a move for a first-rounder only to send it to the Giants are slim. Thus, the Bills and Bears could be in pole position to make a trade for Lawrence happen. Both teams could really use a powerful nose tackle, and “Sexy Dexy” may be the best option out there, even as he comes off a down year in East Rutherford.

If it comes down to a second-round pick

In case the Giants settle for a second-round pick in a move involving Lawrence II, then the Bills could be in trouble. Buffalo traded its second-rounder (60th overall) to none other than Chicago, that has two picks in the second round (57th and 60th overall).

As for the Jaguars and Packers, they could tilt the scale in their favor thanks to their second-rounders. Still, it seems Jacksonville (56th) and Green Bay (52nd) would have to give up something more to come away with Lawrence. Especially if Chicago is in the mix, and is serious about bolstering its defense that recorded just 35 sacks last season—tied for fifth-least in the NFL.

Lawrence’s stats in 2025

Coming off a career year in 2024, Lawrence seemed to be missing a gear in the 2025 NFL season. He followed his career-high 9-sack campaign in 2024 with a measly 0.5 sacks the following year. Considering Lawrence missed five games in 2024 and didn’t miss a single outing in 2025, his low production definitely raised concerns in New York.

Now, he is looking for a fresh start elsewhere. Lawrence isn’t interested in seeing what John Harbaugh can make happen in the Big Apple. Whether the feeling is reciprocal or not remains to be seen. One thing is clear, though: the Giants won’t give Lawrence away. If New York trades him, it won’t be for peanuts.

In the 2025 NFL Players Association survey, Matt LaFleur suffered a setback in his grade from Packers players. He dropped from an A-minus in 2024 to a B-minus in 2025, with players indicating they felt the head coach did not treat them with enough respect.

LaFleur is aware of the massive impact this perception can have inside the locker room. For that reason, the head coach believes he must improve communication with both players and coaches to avoid any misunderstandings that could impact their performance.

“I don’t feel that way, but unfortunately some guys did,” LaFleur said, via ESPN. “That tells me I’ve got to do a better job of communicating. It goes back to the relationship piece. I think it’s so critical. We always talk about connected teams are powerful teams, and we have to grow that connection. Certainly that’s been a topic of conversation within our building of — how do we get these guys a little closer? Because the more they know each other, I think the more they’re going to battle for one another.”

A lot of pressure in Green Bay

Prior to signing his contract extension, Matt LaFleur stated multiple times that he believed he would stay in Green Bay for the long term. Now that the club has given him a new deal, the pressure is on the head coach.

The Packers have not yet reached the level of success expected with Matt LaFleur as head coach and Jordan Love as quarterback. While they have reached the Conference Championship twice, they lost both games, which is not at all what the front office envisioned.

This year, following a disappointing 2025 season, the pressure has increased significantly. With a new contract, LaFleur needs to prove he was the right choice. Love is also under the spotlight following the massive four-year, $220 million extension he signed in 2024.

The panorama in the NFC North

Last year, the Chicago Bears surprised many by winning the NFC North title. While the Packers also advanced, they were eliminated in the Wild Card round by those same Bears, their longtime rivals.

For 2026, the outlook appears even more complicated. The Vikings are set to improve with either J.J. McCarthy or Kyler Murray under center, and the Lions are not expected to have as poor a year as their last one. Meanwhile, the Bears now appear to be the frontrunners to secure the division title for the second year in a row. It is a tough scenario for Matt LaFleur and the Packers.