Key Highlights
- In a 4-3 defense, here’s what the 2026 Packers would look like (assuming that defensive end Rashan Gary is released for cap relief and that linebacker Quay Walker leaves in free agency):DE: Micah Parsons and Lukas Van Ness3T: Devonte WyattNT: Please take someone in the second roundMike: Isaiah McDuffieWill: Edgerrin CooperSam: Ty’Ron HopperCB: Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs/Carrington ValentineS: Xavier McKinney and Evan WilliamsSlot: Javon BullardThere are a couple of things I want to point out here (I know you’re already all screaming about the cornerbacks).
- First of all, the Packers have to come out of this offseason with a better starter at nose tackle.
- I gave the team one in my first mock offseason of the year with Green Bay’s only top-80 selection in the draft. Ideally, I think Ty’Ron Hopper would be the team’s best long-term bet at Mike linebacker, even though he had a rough stretch when we got an extended look at him in Week 18 versus the Minnesota Vikings, because of his athletic upside.
- With that being said, the team has given Isaiah McDuffie that nod ahead of Hopper whenever the opportunity to replace Walker has come up. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWorth noting: McDuffie was coached in college by current Packers linebackers coach Sean Duggan.
- If my life were up to it, I would guess that McDuffie would be Green Bay’s starting Mike linebacker in Week 1 of 2026, and that Hopper would backfill in the team’s third-linebacker role (which McDuffie has previously played). I think that Keisean Nixon will start in 2026 and that the team will make Nate Hobbs and Carrington Valentine compete for the other outside cornerback spot.