Through six weeks of the 2026 season, the Green Bay Packers are rolling on a three-game winning streak, and the rookie class has been part of the push back to 4-2 after that 1-2 start. The veterans have done their share, but the 2026 draft haul has already shaped the season in a real way.
A few months ago, The Leap ranked the Packers’ draft picks by their chances of making an impact as rookies. With the season now a third of the way in, it’s worth checking that list against what has actually happened.
Domani Jackson entered the year as a long shot for immediate snaps, with a path blocked by Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Benjamin St-Juste, and the other cornerback draft pick. Javon Bullard, of course, was already set for slot work and safety duties.
The expectation in April was that Jackson might have to settle for special teams while simply trying to hang onto a roster spot. Instead, his start to camp was derailed by health issues, and he missed the preseason opener.
Those lost reps showed up in his exhibition performances, and he wound up missing final cuts in late August.
Jackson is still in Green Bay, though, just on the practice squad. There was even a path to a call-up last week when multiple starting cornerbacks landed on the injury report, but the Packers did not elevate him for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. The upside that made him a late-draft swing remains there, but he’s still waiting for his first real chance to show it.
Jager Burton’s situation has taken on a different kind of life among Packers fans. Back in April, the rookie lineman was seen as an immediate threat to Jacob Monk, with the idea that even replacement-level play could be enough to take Monk’s job. There was also some thought he could eventually push Aaron Banks, Anthony Belton, or Sean Rhyan, though that seemed ambitious for a late-round pick.
Over the first six weeks, Burton did nothing to quiet the conversation, but he also didn’t seize the moment. He became a talking point for fans frustrated with Monk and with Banks’ inability to stay healthy.
Yet the actual tape has been inconsistent. Burton gave up no pressures after stepping in for Banks in the middle of Week 2 against the New York Jets, then allowed 10 pressures in his first start the next week.
Since then, he hasn’t been on the field at all, not even on special teams, and the Packers made him a healthy scratch this past Sunday.
That doesn’t shut the door on Burton’s season. Sean Rhyan’s play at center, which is Burton’s natural position, has missed the mark too often. But Burton is going to have to show a lot more before the coaching staff gives him another shot.
In Other News...
Packers Suddenly Have A Backfield Question Fans Didn't Expect
Green Bays 23-13 win over Dallas brought plenty of encouraging signs, from Matthew Goldens impact in the passing game to a secondary that helped keep the Cowboys in check. Jordan Loves offense moved efficiently enough despite a few drops, and Matt LaFleurs plan drew positive notice as the Packers continued to show a more balanced feel on that side of the ball.
The one unexpected wrinkle came in the backfield, where MarShawn Lloyd never found much rhythm and Pierre Strong Jr. ended up handling the bulk of the work early. For a team that left Week 6 feeling good about several key pieces, the running game suddenly looks like the place where Green Bay has to sort out who it wants carrying the load going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Offense Still Looks Broken After Another Brutal Loss
Dallas looked stuck in neutral again at Lambeau Field, where the Packers turned a promising afternoon into another rough result for a Cowboys offense still searching for answers. Green Bays defense bothered Dak Prescott throughout the day, and the game tilted quickly as the Packers built a lead that put Dallas in chase mode before halftime. Jordan Love did enough to keep Green Bay in control, throwing for 276 yards and accounting for two touchdowns as the Packers moved to 4-2.
The bigger concern for Dallas was how familiar the script felt, with the offense failing to find rhythm and the defense unable to keep the game within reach. Green Bays interceptions of Prescott were part of the damage, and the Packers never really let the Cowboys settle into anything comfortable on either side of the ball. For a team that came into the day at 2-3, the loss leaves another lingering question about how much better this offense can get before the standings start to harden around it. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Gannon Is Already Changing The Feel Of This Packers Defense
Six weeks into the season, Jonathan Gannon has already given Green Bays defense a noticeably different edge. The former Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator has helped steady a unit that looks much more disruptive and organized than it did a year ago, with several players stepping up around him and making the group more competitive on a weekly basis.
The results have shown up even with key names missing from the lineup, which makes the early turnaround stand out even more. Green Bay has found a way to stay productive and force mistakes while waiting for pieces to get healthy, and the question now is how much higher this defense can climb once the full group is available again. [Read more 🡒]