Packers alternative draft 2026: 'Best player available' at each pick

The Green Bay Packers had a productive weekend at the 2026 NFL Draft, adding talent to their roster at various positions of need. But did they make the right choices? There has been plenty of debate about the value of the consensus board in the wake of the draft, which is compiled by media analysts.

While it is used as a data point by some teams, and is ignored by others, history suggests that regularly veering from it with significant "reaches" is not a wise approach. So if the Packers simply followed the consensus board each time they were on the clock, how would their draft have looked? Some rules: Only positions the Packers actually drafted at some point will be considered.

The player selected at each Green Bay pick in this exercise must have been drafted by another team before the Packers picked next. Players who fell due to injury or off-field concerns are not included. Here is Green Bay’s "parallel universe" draft, based on the best player available according to the consensus big board: Pick No.

52: CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina Just like a year ago, the Packers made the clearly correct choice with their first pick. Cisse was ranked 45th on the consensus board and was sitting there for them to take at 52. Brian Gutekunst did not pass that opportunity up.