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Green Bay had an eventful offseason with roster and coaching staff turnover, so new pieces will have to step up.
The Green Bay Packers went through significant roster and coaching staff turnover this offseason. General manager Brian Gutekunst lost relevant pieces on both sides of the ball, saw defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley leave, and had to address a cornerback room that lacked established high-level starters.
The result is a 2026 roster with several new faces who will carry outsized responsibility for whether Green Bay takes a step forward or stalls. Three newcomers in particular stand out as the biggest difference-makers for the Packers this season.
Brandon Cisse, cornerback
The second-round pick out of this year’s draft is only 20 years old and profiles as a raw, developmental cornerback. That said, if Cisse can play at a high level from the start, the impact on Green Bay’s defense would be massive.
Cornerback remains one of the Packers’ weakest positions. Last season, the combination of Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine as starters produced inconsistent results, particularly because free agent corner Nate Hobbs fell short of expectations. The projection heading into 2026 is that Nixon and Valentine will again open as starters, which presents a real challenge for a defense trying to improve.
The Packers don’t necessarily expect Cisse to start from Week 1. But they believe in his talent enough to make him their top draft selection this year, and if he can work his way into the lineup as the season progresses, it would address one of the roster’s most glaring weaknesses.
Javon Hargrave, defensive tackle
Green Bay signed the veteran defensive tackle after the Minnesota Vikings released him. Hargrave wasn’t dominant in Minnesota last season, but he was a passable, solid interior lineman who was part of a Super Bowl appearance with the Philadelphia Eagles, then signed a big free agent deal with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.
The Packers need a high-quality, all-around interior defensive lineman, and Hargrave can fill that role. He’s no longer the run defender he once was at this stage of his career, but he still provides an upgrade over what the Packers had with players like Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks. His ability to rush the passer while remaining at least competent against the run gives the defense a versatility it lacked.
Green Bay lost three interior defensive linemen over the past two offseasons (Kenny Clark, TJ Slaton, Colby Wooden), and the front office hopes the combination of signing Hargrave in free agency and drafting Chris McClellan in the third round will solve at least part of those issues.
Jonathan Gannon, defensive coordinator
This is the biggest addition of the offseason off the field. Gannon replaces Hafley, and the stylistic shift will be significant. Packers fans appreciated Hafley’s aggressiveness, but the defense actually regressed last season under that system, even after trading for Micah Parsons.
Gannon tends to run a more passive scheme with heavier zone coverage and softer shells. That might not sound exciting on paper, but his strength lies in creativity with disguises and defensive back coverages. The Packers have the personnel versatility to execute that kind of scheme, and a more creative approach could unlock improvements the defense failed to find last year.
Green Bay has fielded a top-10 offense by DVOA in each of Matt LaFleur’s seasons as head coach and offensive play-caller. Defense and special teams tend to be the limiting factors. If Gannon can establish even a competent level of defensive play with the talent already on the roster, that alone could push the Packers back into contention.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: 3 newcomers who will help determine how successful the Packers are in 2026
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