Fans react to the Green Bay Packers pick of Matthew Golden
NFL draft attendees react to the Green Bay Packers pick of Texas Longhorn wide receiver Matthew Golden during the 2025 NFL draft in Green Bay.
The Green Bay Packers don’t have a first-round pick when the 2026 NFL Draft gets going April 23, but they’ll have eight picks on Days 2 and 3 (for now) and plenty of opportunities to add impact players.
The organization and general manager Brian Gutekunst have told us what they value over the years based on the players they select. So who are genuinely the most “Packers players” in the draft if we combine traits, positional need and even whether the player came to Green Bay for a “top-30 visit?”
Basically, it’s a list of players who are most likely to become Packers during the three-day draft in Pittsburgh.
With significant input from Tyler Brooke, who runs the “Best Available” YouTube channel and writes for Acme Packing Company covering the Packers, take a look at some players who best fit the bill and should be available when the Packers are on the clock:
Best bet in Round 2: Dani Dennis-Sutton, edge rusher, Penn State
The Packers have the No. 52 pick (second round) on Day 2 of the draft, and Dennis-Sutton is a name to know for that spot. The 6-foot-5, 256-pounder possesses size, speed, college production, the pedigree of a former five-star recruit and uncommon athleticism.
“He’s a big-fast [guy], and the Packers love those edges. They just can’t help themselves,” Brooke said. “If he’s there at 52, I don’t think they think twice. He screams ‘Packers edge’ as much as you’re gonna get. They love their traits-y guys.”
The big guy: Domonique Orange, defensive line, Iowa State
Speaking of size, the 6-4, 325-pounder known as “Big Citrus” might be just the type of player the Packers are looking for.
“On his pro day, he had some really good, explosive stats,” Brooke said. “His speed scores are really impressive for a guy his size.”
So why might he be available later in the draft? He didn’t have a lot of production at Iowa State, something Brooke dismissed.
“He’s a nose tackle; they don’t put up stats,” Brooke said. “Iowa State runs a goofy 3-3-5 front where basically his entire job is to take on two to three blocks at once and let the linebackers get home. They kept him on the field, and when he wasn’t on the field, they got gashed. The Packers just need a guy like that. That’s the one that seems to make a lot of sense.”
The Day 3 value guy: Charles Demmings, cornerback, Stephen F. Austin
The 6-1, 195-pounder made a top-30 visit to Green Bay and had some great test scores in the pre-draft workouts.
“He’s one of those guys that can press, disrupt guys off the line of scrimmage,” Brooke said. “He’s built almost like George Pickens but playing corner and kind of wired that way, too, which is a compliment. He got a lot of praise for really showing up at the Senior Bowl, a vocal leader, pumped guys up to compete. He’s a small-school guy … but the athletic scores and size … with Jonathan Gannon coming [as Packers defensive coordinator], you really need these big, long dudes who can run, and Dennings fits that mold a lot for me.”
Brooke said if the Packers wanted to take a cornerback earlier, they might be tempted by Ohio State’s Davison Igbinosun, a player who has overcome his early career difficulty drawing penalty flags while maintaining his aggressive style of play.
A running back? Kaelon Black, running back, Indiana
Another player who came to Green Bay for a visit, the 5-10, 210-pounder would look good as a change-of-pace back in the same backfield as Josh Jacobs.
“The Packers don’t run outside-zone stuff anymore, usually run between the tackles, and that’s where [Black] thrives,” Brooke said. “He’s decisive, downhill, balanced. He’s a little thinner so he might not be able to withstand a full workload, but i think of him a little bit like early career Isaiah Pacheco.”
Brooke also has a high opinion of Mike Washington Jr. from Arkansas as an explosive threat, even though he’s more of an outside-zone runner. He did come to Lambeau Field for a visit.
“When he gets outside and gets momentum, he’s either gone or he’s breaking tackles, and then he’s gone. He has ridiculous top-end speed,” Brooke said.
Wide receiver? Ted Hurst, wide receiver, Georgia State
With the departures of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks, it feels increasingly likely that the Packers will pursue a wideout in the draft. Brooke said Hurst, a probable Day 3 candidate, is a perfect fit for Green Bay. The 6-3, 206 pounder has an elite relative-athletic score of 9.9.
“When you think of a big body, you think clunky, stiff, straight-line guy, but he’s really fluid,” Brooke said. “When I coach receivers, something I like more than how fast they can accelerate is how fast they can decelerate and gear down, and Hurst does that. He moves like a 190-pound receiver but still uses his size to his advantage. I like the way he runs routes and how physical he can be when he’s not getting open. Plus, he likes to block and Matt LaFleur loves it when guys like to block.”
Hurst came to Green Bay for a pre-draft visit.
A potential surprise? AJ Haulcy, safety, LSU
The Packers have plenty of safeties, but they did bring Haulcy in for a top-30 visit. The 6-0, 222 pounder has proven to be physical and savvy.
“He diagnoses so well,” Brooke said. “I love that they brought him in because he’s one of my favorite prospects in the class, but if you draft him, does that mean you’re going to put Williams in the slot or Haulcy in the slot? What does that mean for Bullard?”
We can’t forget an offensive lineman, of course: Austin Barber, offensive tackle, Florida
The 6-6, 318-pounder could be a Day 3 catch for the Packers.
“Gutenkust would rather die than not take a lineman on Day 3,” Brooke joked. “Barber moves pretty well, good hand usage and he’s mean, he wants to finish blocks. He had really strong jumps [in testing] and ran well at almost 320 pounds. He just screams swing tackle to me. Thick but moves well enough.”
