GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers brought Texas A&M cornerback Will Lee III — nicknamed “The Blanket” — in for an official pre-draft visit, signaling their heavy focus on the secondary with the first pick now locked in at No. 52 overall.
Secondary Remains Priority After Micah Parsons Trade
The Packers gave up their 2026 and 2027 first-rounders plus veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark to land star edge rusher Micah Parsons last summer. That blockbuster deal turned a typical first-round evaluation process into a scramble for Day 2 value. General manager Brian Gutekunst now hunts the best player available at 52 and 84 without the luxury of an early swing.
Lee III, who started 34 games across Kansas and Texas A&M, fits the mold. He plays faster than his 4.52-second 40 time and blankets receivers in press coverage. Bill Huber of Packers on SI first reported the visit Friday, and it lines up perfectly with the team’s repeated emphasis on corners who can handle man coverage in Jonathan Gannon’s flexible scheme.
You could sense the shift in Lambeau’s draft meetings this spring. After the Parsons trade, the front office stopped chasing splash names in the top 20 and started hunting long, physical athletes who can step in right away or develop fast.
Mock Drafts Paint Clear Picture of Packers Targets
National analysts have zeroed in on Green Bay’s second-round range:
- Jordan Reid (ESPN) — Ohio State CB Davison Igbinosun at No. 52. The 6-foot-2, 189-pound athlete matches the Packers’ prototype: big, explosive, and still raw in technique.
- Field Yates (ESPN) — Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter at No. 52. New defensive coordinator Gannon wants 3-4 elements, and Hunter anchors the run defense immediately.
- Josh Edwards (CBS Sports) — Iowa OT Gennings Dunker at No. 52. The pick signals Green Bay still values offensive line depth even after last year’s investments.
- Tim Crean (ClutchPoints, PFF Simulator) — Cincinnati LB Jake Golday at No. 52. The edge-linebacker hybrid could replace departed Quay Walker and rush in sub packages.
Later, ESPN’s Ben Solak mocked Arkansas QB Taylen Green to Green Bay at No. 160. With Malik Willis gone in free agency, the Packers continue shopping for athletic backup traits behind Jordan Love.
What It Means for the Roster and 2026 Season
The visit with Lee III does more than check a box. It shows Gutekunst and Gannon refuse to let the missing first-round pick limit their aggression. They will still address cornerback, defensive tackle, and offensive line in the first 100 picks while leaving room for a developmental quarterback late. The Parsons acquisition bought them a superstar pass rusher; now the mid-round haul must deliver immediate rotation pieces and long-term starters.
Fans packed the Lambeau parking lot for the first spring workouts last week. The chill in the air did nothing to cool the buzz around a defense that already features Parsons. One more lockdown corner could turn good into elite. The Packers enter the draft with picks at 52, 84, and beyond — and every reporter in the room agrees the board looks deeper at those spots than it did a year ago.
Green Bay’s draft strategy feels more focused than ever: grab the best value where need meets talent, keep building around Love and Parsons, and trust the process that turned a trade into a championship window. The real work starts Thursday night when the second round begins.
