Packers Fill Their Biggest Needs, But Did They Get The Right Players?

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has always used the term “best player available” when discussing his approach to drafting.

And maybe Gutekunst did exactly that Friday night.

Or perhaps he stretched the truth a bit to take players that will fill immediate holes.

The Packers’ greatest needs entering draft weekend were cornerback and nose tackle. Coincidentally, or not, Gutekunst’s first two picks checked those boxes.

The Packers’ didn’t have a first round pick after trading it away in the Micah Parsons deal in Aug., 2025. When Gutekunst finally was on the clock Friday, he selected South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse in the second round, then traded up for Missouri nose tackle Chris McClellan.

Cornerback. Check.

Nose tackle. Check.

Both should be immediate contributors and potential starters for a team weak at corner and inconsistent in the run game.

“Obviously we’ve got to get them here and we’ve got to get them around our culture, around our team, our environment,” Gutekunst said of the two newest Packers. “But obviously we wouldn’t have taken them this high if we didn’t think they could help us right away.

“Like all these players, every one of them that got picked today and yesterday, and guys that will be picked tomorrow, their NFL journey’s just starting. It’s a whole different world. It’s going to take them a little bit of time to adapt. But … I feel pretty confident that they can help us sooner rather than later.”

Cornerback was Green Bay’s greatest need heading into the weekend and the 20-year-old Cisse will be given every chance to win a starting job.

The Packers bring back the underwhelming duo of Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine, while Benjamin St. Juste was added in free agency.

Cisse is 5-11 ½, 189 pounds and won’t turn 21 until July. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds at his pro day.

Cisse spent two years as a reserve at North Carolina State, then transferred to South Carolina and started all 12 of the Gamecocks’ games in 2025.

Cisse had 27 tackles, one interception, five pass breakups, 1.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble last season. He finished his three year college career with just two interceptions, 10 passes defense and 65 tackles.

While Cisse’s production was so-so, at best, his testing numbers were impressive. He posted a vertical jump of 41 inches, a broad jump of 10 feet, 11 inches and was the sixth cornerback taken in a deep draft for corners.

“A lot to like about Brandon Cisse,” Packers national scout Mike Owen said of Cisse. “Smart, tough, physical corner. Got good foot quickness, can run, so there’s a lot to like about him, and he’s wired right. That’s the biggest thing at the end of the day.”

Green Bay had just seven interceptions in 2025, which ranked 28^th in the NFL. And while Cisse’s interception numbers were paltry, both he and the Packers believe he’ll help from the jump.

“I look forward to showcasing and excited to see where it goes and just excited to show everybody I can make those kind of plays,” Cisse said. “So just taking full advantage of every opportunity.”

McClellan should get plenty of opportunities from Day One, as well.

Gutekunst traded picks No. 84 and 160 to Tampa Bay for pick No. 77 and took McClellan. So when Gutekunst tells you McClellan was the top player on his board, he’s probably not bluffing.

“I just felt that it was important for us to try to acquire him,” Gutekunst said. “And as the third round kept going, he was kind of that one guy sticking out there.”

McClellan had six sacks, eight tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries and 48 tackles during a breakout 2025 campaign with Missouri. In his first three college seasons — two at Florida and one with the Tigers — McClellan had 4.5 sacks, 9.0 tackles for loss and 85 tackles.

Green Bay has lost defensive tackles T.J. Slaton, Kenny Clark and Colby Wooden in the last 13 months. And its run defense was shoddy in 2025, finishing 18^th overall and 28^th in rushing success rate and

The Packers are transitioning to a 3-4 scheme and lack a true nose tackle, a spot McClellan could certainly fill.

“Really excited to get him obviously,” said Milt Hendrickson, the Packers’ director of football operations. “He was a guy that really I think checked a lot of boxes since the middle of the season through the all-star process. Just a guy that the more you watch the more he grew on us and that’s ultimately we made the decision to go get him.

“Big man, good length, he’s got a really good tag. He can do a lot of things. I think there’s a lot of versatility he’s going to be able to bring our defense. So at the end of the day it was a pretty easy decision.”

Maybe the stars aligned just right and Gutekunst filled needs by taking the “best player available.” Or maybe he stretched the truth a bit to fill those needs.

Either way, he left Lambeau Field Friday night feeling a lot better about his team than he did when the day began. Time will tell is he’s right.

“I’m really excited about these two guys,” Gutekunst said. “I think they can help our football team. I think they have really bright futures ahead of them. They were really good players in college, good teammates. I think they’re going to fit here very, very well.”