The Packers took a swing on Chris McClellan, and the first returns are exactly the kind of thing they were hoping to see.
Green Bay’s choice to take McClellan over Domonique Orange at No. 77 overall drew plenty of reaction when it happened. Some saw the upside right away, especially with McClellan’s pass-rush ability and what that could mean for Micah Parsons.
Others leaned toward Orange, who was a favorite in mock drafts and a popular name around the fanbase. The consensus board backed that view, too.
Still, the Packers made their call, and Orange didn’t go far - the rival Minnesota Vikings grabbed him at No. 82. That kind of draft sequence naturally invites comparisons, especially for Packers fans who still remember the Josh Myers-over-Creed Humphrey outcome and how badly that one aged.
For now, though, McClellan is giving Green Bay a reason to feel better about this one.
He’s been working with the first team throughout the offseason program, and the coaching staff has already noticed how quickly he’s settling in. Defensive line coach Vince Oghobaase didn’t hold back when describing the early progress.
"What we were able to do in two days from a technique, a scheme standpoint, he was picking it up, picking it up, picking it up faster than I thought he would," said defensive line coach Vince Oghobaase, via The Athletic's Matt Schneidman.
That’s a strong early sign for a player who is expected to keep building once training camp opens on July 29. It’s also the kind of start Green Bay needed after making a pick that split opinion.
The Packers’ decision also ran a little against Brian Gutekunst’s usual draft leanings. He typically chases athletic traits, even when a prospect needs more development and has less college production. In this case, McClellan was the more productive player, while Orange had the edge in athleticism.
McClellan finished his college career with 8.5 sacks over his final two seasons and 13.5 tackles for loss. Orange had one sack and five tackles for loss. The Packers are betting that McClellan’s football production will matter more than Orange’s physical upside.
Orange still has a clear path to becoming a difference-maker. His run-stopping potential could make him an ideal fit in Minnesota, especially after the Vikings lost Hargrave and Jonathan Allen. That gives him real home-run appeal.
But Green Bay doesn’t need the answer right now. The real verdict on this pick won’t come for a couple of seasons. Until then, McClellan has done the one thing the Packers could ask for early: make a strong first impression and give the coaching staff something to believe in.
In Other News...
Packers Suddenly Face A Brutal NFC North Reality
The early look at the 2026 NFC North is not exactly flattering for Green Bay. Bleacher Report analyst Moe Moton has the Packers pegged for a last-place finish, a projection built on worries at both ends of the roster and the kind of uncertainty that can make a division race turn quickly. Even before camp opens, the offense has already taken hits with Romeo Doubs departing in free agency and Dontayvion Wicks getting traded away, leaving Jordan Love with fewer proven targets to work with.
The bigger concern is that the Packers could be forced to navigate the season with more questions than answers in key spots. Josh Jacobs status remains unsettled because of an ongoing legal case and possible league discipline, while the defense is waiting on Micah Parsons as he works back from a torn ACL with meniscus damage. In a division where every game tends to matter, that combination is enough to make a once-promising roster look a lot more fragile than it did a few months ago. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Suddenly Have A Season Defining Question Around Josh Jacobs
Josh Jacobs enters the Packers offseason with more uncertainty than anyone would have expected just a year ago. Green Bay is letting the legal process play out, and the league is doing the same, but the situation alone has turned one of the teams most important offensive pieces into a major storyline as the 2026 season approaches.
The football questions are piling up, too. Jacobs was already dealing with lingering ankle and knee issues late last season, and at 28, he is at the age when running backs start to face the usual durability and decline concerns. Even so, there remains a belief in league circles that he can still be a productive back, which is why the Packers suddenly have a real decision to make about how much they can count on him moving forward. [Read more 🡒]