GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers are officially entering the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine with a glaring hole at cornerback and no first-round pick to fill it. After a 2025 season where the secondary struggled to find consistency despite the massive investment in free agent Nate Hobbs, General Manager Brian Gutekunst is pivoting back to the draft. The latest projections suggest a major injection of Big Ten talent is coming to Lambeau Field.
The Igbinosun Era Begins at Pick 52?
In a fresh seven-round mock draft from Pro Football Network, the Packers ignore the lack of Day 1 capital by snagging Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun in the third round. But don’t let the draft slot fool you; Igbinosun carries a first-round frame. Standing 6-foot-2, he towers over a Green Bay corner room that mostly measures in at 5-foot-11.
His 2025 tape at Ohio State was nothing short of dominant. Igbinosun locked down his side of the field, allowing a measly 47.8 percent completion rate. Even more impressive? He surrendered zero touchdowns on 46 targets. While his 16 penalties in 2024 raised eyebrows, he cleaned up his play in 2025, cutting that number to just five. He isn’t just a finesse cover man; he’s a punisher who hits like a safety. Scouts at the Senior Bowl already clocked him as the fastest corner in attendance, making him a terrifying prospect for NFC North wideouts.
Beefing Up the Trenches
With the second-round pick, Green Bay turned to Northwestern’s Caleb Tiernan. The 6-foot-7, 329-pound mountain of a man started three years at left tackle for the Wildcats, but his future in Green Bay likely lies inside. Tiernan finished 2025 with an 84.3 PFF pass-blocking grade, the third-best in the Big Ten. He allowed zero sacks in eight of his nine conference games last year. If the Packers move on from Elgton Jenkins or Sean Rhyan, Tiernan’s “brick wall” style provides immediate insurance.
The defensive interior also got a facelift. After losing Kenny Clark and T.J. Slaton in 2025, Gutekunst doubled down on Michigan’s Rayshaun Benny and Minnesota’s Deven Eastern. Eastern, standing 6-foot-6, brings the rare height and “local grit” the Packers front office loves. He racked up 2.5 sacks and 14 pressures in his final season with the Gophers.
“Physical, tough, leader, just an all-around guy. He’s a center and that’s what he is. If you want an ideal center, that’s who you’re going to get.”
— Aidan Chiles, Michigan State Quarterback (on teammate Matt Gulbin)
What’s Next for Green Bay
The NFL Scouting Combine kicks off this week in Indianapolis. All eyes will be on Igbinosun’s 40-yard dash time and Tiernan’s lateral agility drills. For a Packers team still reeling from the Micah Parsons trade—which stripped them of their 2026 first-rounder—these mid-round selections aren’t just depth; they are expected to be Day 1 starters. If Igbinosun’s speed translates to the Lucas Oil Stadium turf, he won’t be available in the third round for long. Gutekunst may need to get aggressive with his remaining picks to secure the secondary’s future.
