It may feel a bit too early to start thinking about the 2026 NFL Draft, but mock draft season will be upon us before you know it. In fact, for many fans, mock draft season started the minute the Green Bay Packers' 2025 season ended.

A lot is going to happen between now and April 23rd, when the draft kicks off in Pittsburgh. Right now, the Packers don't have a first-round pick, and they'll start their selections with pick No. 52, which is in the second round.

Not having a first-rounder in the 2026 and 2027 NFL Drafts was part of the price the Packers paid for getting Micah Parsons. They gave a lot to get a lot back in return, and that's just part of the reality general manager Brian Gutekunst will have to work with unless he's able to swing another trade and somehow get back into the first round.

So who should the Packers target in Round 2 and beyond? There are going to be a ton of names thrown around and many of them will be great picks.

Iowa offensive lineman Genning Dunker:

Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange:

Texas defensive back Malik Muhammad:

Arizona State defensive back  Keith Abney II:

Texas Tech Red Raiders DL Lee Hunter:

Northwestern Wildcats OL Caleb Tiernan:

Texas Longhorns LB Anthony Hill Jr.:

Ohio State Buckeyes CB Davison Igbinosun:

Michigan Wolverines EDGE Derrick Moore:

Indiana Hoosiers cornerback D'Angelo Ponds:

The Packers absolutely have a need on the edges of their defense in this draft. Micah Parsons is a superstar, but he may not be back in action until about a quarter of the 2026 season is gone. Forget 2026 for a minute, though. Parsons is really the only sure bet at EDGE for the Packers moving forward.

Lukas Van Ness has talent, but he's trending to be a bust. Brenton Cox Jr., Barryn Sorrell, and Collin Oliver all have potential, but they're nothing more than high-upside pipe dreams at this point.

It's Parsons and then a bunch of question marks, but the Pack could go out and get themselves a day one starter at EDGE in the person of Gabe Jacas out of Illinois.

Jacas checks in at 6-foot-3, 275 pounds and he brings a nice blend of pass-rushing ability and run-stopping dominance as an EDGE.

He was a Second-team All-Big Ten player last season for Illinois after collecting 11 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss in 12 starts. He also notched three forced fumbles and a pass broken up.

Clearly, Jacas can get in the backfield and be a disruptor.

He's not an elite athlete, which is why he's not a first-round talent, but he has a great motor, incredible physicality and he plays well with his hands on the edges. Jacas is aslo a very strong run defender, and the Packers can use an infusion of run defense off the edge because of the Rashan Gary trade.

"One of my favorite NFL comps in this year‘s draft is Gabe Jacas (Illinois) and Trey Hendrickson," wrote draft insider Todd McShay on X. "Like Hendrickson (pk 39, RD3), Jacas won’t be a RD1 pk because he lacks the athletic profile. But both are excellent with their hands, have strong wrestling backgrounds and play with relentless motors and toughness. Jacas will be one of the steals from the ‘26 class."

There's just a ton to like about the career Jacas put together at Illinois and how it will translate into the NFL. He was a 3-star recruit who was also a state champion wrestler, and he leaves Illinois as one of the best Big Ten defensive ends in recent memory and as the program's second-best pass-rusher all time with 27 sacks through four seasons.

As McShay pointed out, Jacas has steal written all over him -- especailly at No. 52.

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