The Chris McClellan Pick Is A Predictor Of Green Bay’s Future

General manager Brian Gutekunst said Missouri defensive lineman Chris McClellan was in contention to be taken at pick No. 52 by Green Bay in the second round. Instead, the Packers selected South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse. However, as Round 3 carried along and McClellan was still available, Gutekunst traded up seven spots to No. 77 to also snag McClellan.

The pick will have an immediate impact, but it's more about the long term.

The Packers lost a pillar of their defense a year ago when they traded Kenny Clark for Micah Parsons. Of course, getting the All-World player in Parsons justified the decision, but Clark had spent the first nine years of his career in Green Bay and was a key contributor. There was no passing of the torch to 2022 first-round pick Devonte Wyatt. Wyatt has been productive when on the field, but injuries have derailed multiple seasons for him.

Gutekunst stepped outside of his comfort zone this offseason by signing veteran defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. The lack of comfort stems from Hargrave being 33, which is much older than the Packers usually prefer in a free agent. It was a mostly short-term solution.

The Packers signed Hargrave to a two-year deal that will expire once he's 35. The hope is that he gives Green Bay a tremendous 2026 season, or perhaps two great years if he has the stamina.

Meanwhile, the Packers picked up Wyatt's fifth-year option last offseason. Still, after breaking his fibula and tearing ligaments in his ankle last Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions, there have been no talks of an extension.

Enter McClellan, who has a role immediately as a rookie. In Jonathan Gannon's 3-4 defense, it'd be surprising if he didn't get a good amount of run.

The opportunities to mix and match Wyatt, Hargrave, and McClellan on the interior of the defensive line should keep Green Bay’s new defensive coordinator content. Hargrave could slot in at nose tackle and mentor McClellan for a lot of this upcoming season. Wyatt could also get run at nose tackle, although he's probably better suited at defensive end. There's always the chance the best solution is to have Wyatt and Hargrave at the end and slide McClellan into the nose tackle spot. The combinations are plentiful, but McClellan's selection had a longer-term feel.

Hargrave will be around for at most 2 years. After that, even if he really shows out, it's hard to see Gutekunst putting ink to paper on an extension for a then 35-year-old defensive tackle. Wyatt's future is also uncertain, not because of age but injury history. All of these factors go into the decision to draft McClellan.

Gutekunst

Packers senior personnel executive Milt Hendrickson echoed Gutekunst's thoughts and first spoke of McClellan's versatility when discussing the pick.

That ability to play multiple positions set McClellan apart from other defensive linemen the Packers looked at, according to Gutekunst.

That versatility will pay off handsomely in the years to come if McClellan first establishes a role and then thrives in it. Parsons is the blue-chip piece coming off the edge, and he isn't going anywhere. Elsewhere, there are great contributors, but their status beyond 2026 is in question: Wyatt, Lukas Van Ness, Brenton Cox Jr., and more. That isn't to suggest McClellan will be playing edge rusher anytime soon. Instead, it’s evidence that the Packers will have plenty of pieces moving in and out of the defensive front after this season.

McClellan won't be. He'll likely be a mainstay after signing his rookie deal. Any impact he can make this year is great, but we will see his real value in the coming years. McClellan was a pick made with the future in mind, and it provides a glimpse into what that future will look like.