Packers draft preview: Restocking edge rusher after big change arrives

The  Green Bay Packers  are going into the 2026 NFL draft with only eight draft picks and plenty of roster needs to address after another promising season fell apart late. Despite three straight playoff appearances, the Packers haven't finished higher than the No. 7 seed in the postseason field or advanced past the divisional round during the Jordan Love era.

Without a first-round pick due to the Micah Parsons trade, the Packers will need to win Day 2 and 3 to find contributors and long-term foundational pieces in this year's draft. Can the Packers use the 2026 draft to finally get over the hump in the NFC? Packers Wire’s position-by-position draft preview continues at edge rusher: On the roster Micah Parsons (signed through 2029) Lukas Van Ness (signed through 2026) Barryn Sorrell (signed through 2028) Collin Oliver (signed through 2028) Brenton Cox Jr.

(signed through 2026) Arron Mosby (signed through 2026) Short term need Moderate to high. In Parsons and Van Ness, the Packers have two expected starters, and Sorrell, Oliver and Cox provide young, developing depth behind them. But Parsons will likely miss time to start 2026, Van Ness isn't a proven commodity after three seasons, and the Packers lost over 1,000 snaps from 2025 when Rashan Gary was traded to Dallas and Kingsley Enagbare signed a new deal in New York.

If Parsons returns at full strength, Van Ness stays healthy and takes a step, and one of Sorrell, Oliver or Cox takes over as a capable rotational backup, the Packers will be in decent shape. But that's a lot of "ifs," and every team is hunting for more pass-rushers. The Packers have plenty of incentive to add to the edge rusher position ahead of 2026.