The Green Bay Packers started Day 2 of the 2026 NFL draft by staying put at No. 52 and taking cornerback Brandon Cisse and ended the night by attempting to trade back into the third round after trading up earlier in the third round to get defensive lineman Chris McClellan. Despite not having a first-round pick, general manager Brian Gutekunst was able to aggressively attack his roster’s two biggest long-term needs on Friday night.
Oh, and the Packers also re-signed receiver Jayden Reed to a three-year contract extension before the picks started rolling in.
Here’s a quick recap of the Packers’ work on Day 2:
CB Brandon Cisse at No. 52
Brian Gutekunst made it clear his team needed to add numbers at cornerback in this draft. He probably couldn’t have envisioned a top 50 consensus player at cornerback falling to him at No. 52. But that’s exactly what happened, and he didn’t hesitate given the opportunity. Cisse is a 20-year-old corner with elite athleticism and substantial upside after starring in the SEC in 2025. The Packers love his movement skills, toughness and versatility. While he’ll need time to develop, especially as a younger prospect with only two years of starting experience, Cisse should give the Packers a competitive rookie with a clear pathway to starting on the perimeter in 2027. Instant stability at a premium position.
Trade up to No. 77
After anxiously watching players come off the board in the third round, the Packers moved up seven spots from No. 84 to No. 77 to get Chris McClellin — the highest player left on their board and a player Green Bay considered among a batch of prospects in the second round. The cost? A fifth-round pick, No. 160. By most trade value charts, the swap of picks between the Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers was even.
DL Chris McClellin at No. 77
The Packers value versatility along the defensive line, but even Gutekunst could acknowledge the need for a nose tackle type given the switch to a 3-4 base front under Jonathan Gannon. Selecting McClellin in the third round appears to check both boxes for the Packers. He has impressive size, power and length, giving him block-eating capabilities on the nose, but the Packers also think he has untapped potential as a pass-rusher (6.0 sacks in 2025) from multiple alignments. This was a player the Packers truly loved. They liked him as a second-round talent and were willing to sacrifice a fifth rounder to go get him at 77. Now, McClellan will get a chance to play real snaps for the Packers as a rookie in 2026.
Failed attempt to trade back up
How well did the board hold up on Day 2? Gutekunst admitted he tried (but failed) to trade back into the third round. It didn’t happen, but it speaks to the quality of player still on the Packers’ board to end Day 2 and possibly to start Day 3. Maybe Gutekunst will attempt to move up from No. 120 to target a player to start Saturday.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Recapping Packers’ Day 2 of 2026 draft: Attacking the roster’s two biggest needs
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
