New Packers Coordinators Offer Early Philosophical Looks

Jonathan Gannon and Cam Achrod finally speak

The Packers officially introduced new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and special teams coordinator Cam Achord to local media on Monday, offering an early look at the philosophies both coaches will bring to Green Bay in 2026.

Gannon, who previously served as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and defensive coordinator for the Eagles, said he immediately felt Green Bay was the right fit after an extensive interview process with Matt LaFleur, Brian Gutekunst, Ed Policy and Russ Ball. Having coached against the Packers multiple times in recent years, Gannon praised the roster’s talent level, especially quarterback Jordan Love, calling him a “top-tier guy” who is difficult to defend because of his accuracy, mobility and decision-making.

Rather than committing to a 3-4 or 4-3 identity, Gannon emphasized a flexible, player-first defensive philosophy centered on putting players in positions where they can succeed.

Meanwhile, new special teams coordinator Cam Achord said the Packers’ existing talent and LaFleur’s commitment to special teams made the job especially appealing. Achord introduced his “FACTs” philosophy (Focus, Attitude, Compete, Together) as the foundation for improving Green Bay’s often-struggling special teams. He also embraced the team’s three-way kicker competition, saying competition creates opportunity and accountability throughout the roster.

Which Packers Draft Picks Are Most Likely to Have Early Impact?

It is unreasonable to expect rookies to come in and make a massive impact on a team, especially one that already has quality across a contender-level roster, and without a 1st round prospect. But it does happen, and even if none of Green Bay’s rookies burst onto the scene in year one, they can still contribute.

Today, we’ll look at the likelihood of a rookie impact from the Packers’ 2026 class, in order of most to least likely:

Brandon Cisse There are multiple contenders for which rookie is most likely to have an impact in year one, but Cisse just edges it. Not only is he Green Bay’s highest pick, he walks into a position group where jobs are up for grabs in training camp. Keisean Nixon is probably nailed on to be a starter, but the battle will be on between Cisse, Carrington Valentine and Benjamin St-Juste for snaps. Cisse is still something of a raw player, but has the best tools among the competitors and by all accounts is a film junkie who will work hard to maximize his talent. It would not be a surprise if he wins a starting job from week one, or at least early in the season.

Trey Smack Green Bay’s final pick of the draft has a real chance to be the most important in 2026. If he wins the kicker job over veterans Brandon McManus and Lucas Havrisik, he will be helping to decide games all year long with his performance, including hopefully in the postseason. Beating out a proven kicker like McManus will not be easy, but you would have to imagine a tie would go to the rookie, and the front office would prefer Smack to win out. If he does not, it would be hard to justify keeping him on the roster anyway and using up a spot. But if he was released they would be unlikely to get him back on the practice squad since he was the most highly regarded kicker in the class, and there have been reports of other teams being disappointed to have missed out on him.

Chris McClellan Very much in keeping with the type of prospect he is, the floor for McClellan’s rookie involvement is quite high, but the ceiling may be capped. It is very likely he will start alongside Javon Hargrave and Devonte Wyatt in base, probably as the nose tackle, although Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse may have something to say about that, with Karl Brooks not that type of defensive tackle. He has a talent leg up on Brinson and Stackhouse, so has a good shot to win that role. However in nickel defense, which is most of the time in the modern NFL, the nose tackle will come off the field in a 3-4. That would remove McClellan from the equation and make him a rotational player behind Hargrave and Wyatt, where he would still have opportunities to sub in. McClellan will definitely see the field as a rookie, but he may not be a vital piece.

Jager Burton Burton projects as a potential future starter with his excellent movement skills and ingredients to be a very good pass protecting center. While he will almost certainly not win a starting job out of camp if everyone is healthy, as no spots seem up for grabs, there is a good chance he is the first man off the bench if there is an injury on the interior. The Packers were very beat up on the O-line a year ago, and although they will hope for better luck in that regard in 2026, it is likely to happen at some stage, and Burton could be thrust into the spotlight.

Dani Dennis-Sutton With elite athleticism and some bright flashes of pass rush ability, Dennis-Sutton will hope to have some moments in his rookie year. But right now he is not reliable enough as a run defender to start opposite Lukas Van Ness when the Packers open the season (likely without Micah Parsons), which would place him behind Barryn Sorrell on the depth chart. When Parsons returns, he will fall even further down the pecking order, but should still see the field in obvious pass situations to try to supercharge the pass rush, with the potential to rush outside or inside against interior O-linemen.

Domani Jackson Jackson is the rookie who has the toughest path to make the team. He has a decent chance, but will be competing with the likes of Kamal Hadden and coaching staff favorite Bo Melton. It will also depend how many corners the Packers choose to keep. Assuming he does make the roster, which is fairly likely, as Brian Gutekunst will probably not want to turn an already small six-man draft class into just five, he has a lot of players ahead of him in Nixon, Valentine, St-Juste and his fellow rookie Cisse. He is more of a developmental pick, needing to hone and trust his technique to avoid being victimized by NFL caliber receivers.

Packers exercise 5th year option on Lukas Van Ness

The Packers have exercised the fifth-year option on Luka Van Ness. The former first-round pick is now locked in for 2027 with salary at approximately $14.5 million.

Van Ness enters the 2026 season slotted as the No. 2 edge rusher behind Micah Parsons, giving the Packers a formidable one-two punch off the edge. While his development has shown flashes, injuries, most notably a foot issue that cost him half of last season, have slowed his momentum. This decision suggests the organization believes those setbacks are behind him.

The timing is notable. Rather than waiting for a fully healthy breakout campaign, Green Bay is betting on the trajectory they’ve seen internally, with his physical tools, his versatility, and his fit within the defensive scheme under coordinator Jonathan Gannon.

Given what starting EDGE players are making, the option represents a reasonable investment for a premium position, especially if Van Ness takes the expected step forward. For a team with championship aspirations, securing impact players at edge just makes sense.

Now, the focus shifts to Van Ness delivering on that belief in 2026 and beyond.

Breaking Down the Packers Draft Class (…and Why the Kicker Might Steal the Show)

The Packers’ 2026 draft class is in the books, and Aaron and Billy are breaking down the group on the latest Carry The G Radio: The Podcast. The guys zoom out on how the class fits into Green Bay’s roster, what traits the front office clearly prioritized, and which players could carve out roles early.

Packers sign veteran QB Tyrod Taylor

The Packers have added a veteran presence to their quarterback room, signing Tyrod Taylor in a move that signals both stability and depth behind Jordan Love.

Taylor, a longtime NFL journeyman with starting experience with multiple teams, brings an ability to step in without the offense completely changing shape.

This signing also reflects a broader shift in Green Bay’s roster-building approach. After leaning heavily on youth over the last few seasons, Brian Gutekunst has shown a willingness this offseason to incorporate experienced veterans who can raise the floor of the roster. Taylor fits that mold perfectly.

Brandon Cisse Could Be the Packers’ CB1 of the Future

CHTV NFL Draft analyst Newt Westen takes a closer look at Brandon Cisse and why Green Bay may have landed one of the biggest steals of the 2026 NFL Draft.

How Many Roster Spots Are Actually Open?

While the Packers are beginning to report for offseason activities, the rookie minicamp and voluntary OTAs, it’s only natural for Packers fans to begin to look ahead to the “training camp battles”, when players directly compete against each other for playing time. But is this actually a reality of how the modern NFL, and the Green Bay Packers, actually operate?

The Packers will have fewer “camp battle winners” than they’ll have “these two players will rotate during the season” outcomes. Besides, as far as actual “starting” positions on the roster, many of the positions are pretty much settled from the get-go.

Let’s take a look.

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Which UDFAs Have the Best Chance to Make the Team?

For 21 consecutive seasons, an undrafted free agent has made the Green Bay Packers' roster. Last season, that player was Nazir Stackhouse. The Packers carry a deep and talented roster, so cracking the 53-man group is never a given — but it's far from impossible. Brian Gutekunst drafted just six players last weekend, and none of the rookie tryout players appear to be signing a contract with the team. That leaves the door wide open for another undrafted free agent to make his mark.

Making the team comes down to two things: talent and opportunity. Some undrafted free agents earn their spot on pure ability. Others aren't the most talented players in the room, but they find themselves in the right situation at the right time and make the most of it. Both paths are in play for this year's crop. With OTAs and training camp right around the corner, all ten will get their shot.

Here are the three with the best case for those final roster spots.

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More Appreciated Now Than Ever: Mason Crosby

For a long time as a Green Bay Packers fan, kicking woes were never something you had to worry about. One man would be the sole reasoning to that sentiment, Mason Crosby. In a league where kickers frequently come and go like wind gusts over Lambeau Field, Mason Crosby represented dependability for 16 seasons.

Not only did Crosby capture the Packers' kicking position as a rookie after being selected in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft, he never relinquished it. He was one of the most significant players in team history because of his longevity, reliability, and capacity to perform well under pressure.

Examine the times when everything was at stake if you want to comprehend Crosby's excellence. His most memorable performance was against the Dallas Cowboys in the 2016 NFC Divisional Round. Crosby scored two field goals of 50 yards or more in the last two minutes, including a game-winning 51-yard shot as time ran out, with the season on the line.

Crosby would compile moments in Packers history that showed pure guts. Whether it was his game-winning kick to keep the Packers undefeated (12-0, 18 in a row overall) in 2011 with a 38-35 win at a cold MetLife Stadium vs the New York Giants. Or his 49-yard game-winning kick as the time ran out vs the San Francisco 49ers in 2021. Completing an improbable 37 second, no time out game winning drive by Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, and company.

What has seemed to elude Green Bay in the succeeding years, game-altering missed kicks have helped Green Bay lose playoff games in 2023 (49ers), 2024 (Eagles), and now 2025 (Bears). The Packers, in search of that killer mentality as a collective group, especially need it from their kicker.

Anders Carlson, Brayden Narveson, Brandon McManus, and Lucas Havrisik each have been relied upon at some point in the past few years. The position has become such a question mark, that Green Bay decided to use a draft pick for the first time since 2007 (Mason Crosby) on top 2026 kicking prospect Trey Smack.

Like Crosby, Trey Smack would be selected in the sixth round. After notably witnessing Colorado kicker Mason Crosby make a 58-yard field goal in the Orange Bowl, Packers scout (and future general manager) Brian Gutekunst recognized Crosby as a top potential. His exceptional leg strength and long-range field goal ability were commended by scouts.

Fast forward now 19 years, Trey Smack’s scouting report reads “Smack has a strong leg and can deliver beyond 50 yards at a high rate without having to drive balls with a lower trajectory. His repeatable process and consistent placement give him an above-average chance of making it in the league.”

Ted Thompson’s eye for talent back in 2007 led to a Green Bay Packer all-time leader in points, and Super Bowl-winning kicker in Crosby.

Perhaps history repeats itself in Trey Smack

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Could J. Michael Sturdivant be the Next Undrafted Gem?

Every year as soon as the NFL draft concludes, many fans anxiously wait for the news of which undrafted free agents the Packers sign. The Green Bay Packers have built part of their modern roster-construction identity on finding value where other teams fail to look hard enough. It is not just about first-round picks or splashy free-agent signings. It is about uncovering overlooked talent and developing it into contributors. That philosophy has repeatedly paid dividends in the undrafted free agent market.

Every year, Green Bay seems to identify one or two players who arrive with little fanfare and leave training camp forcing their way into the conversation. In 2026, one of the most intriguing names in that category is wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant.

On the surface, he is another camp body — an undrafted receiver looking to carve out a role in a crowded room. But dig a little deeper, and the profile starts to look familiar. Size, speed, athletic upside, flashes of high-level production, and untapped developmental potential. Those are exactly the traits the Packers have historically bet on. And if Green Bay’s track record tells us anything, Sturdivant may be far more than just another undrafted signing.