Packers Draft Pick Called Out by Top NFL Scout: 'Who Is This Dude?'

The Green Bay Packers did not have a first-round draft pick this year, so they really had to get creative in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Packers filled a big need with their top draft choice at No. 52, landing South Carolina Gamecocks cornerback Brandon Cisse, and then, at No. 77 in the third round, they nabbed Missouri Tigers defensive tackle Chris McClellan.

This was a very deep defensive tackle draft class, and while McClellan wasn't exactly a complete no-name, he wasn't viewed as an elite prospect.

Just ask one top NFL scout, who told Packers insider Bill Huber that he didn't even recognize McClellan when Green Bay selected him.

"I’m not going to lie to you, that was probably the most surprising," the scout said. "We just didn’t know much about him. We didn’t talk much about him. Maybe we’re messed up. Like, we didn’t really like him. We didn’t really spend that much time on him. During the draft, I’m like, ‘Who is this dude?’ Usually, you remember guys during the draft, even if it’s a player you didn’t like, but I do not remember this dude at all."

Sheesh.

To not know McClellan at all seems a bit ridiculous considering he racked up 48 tackles, eight tackles for loss and six sacks while playing in the SEC last season.

That being said, McClellan was generally viewed as a Day 3 pick, so the Packers may have taken him just a bit too early.

“We did not like him very much, but I can see why Green Bay liked him," the scout added. "He tested much better than we thought. Everything’s average.”

McClellan began his collegiate career at Florida in 2022 and spent two years with the Gators before transferring to Missouri in 2024.

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound defender was a productive player throughout his NCAA tenure, but there is no doubt that 2025 represented a breakout season for him.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst loves McClellan's versatility, citing his ability to play nose tackle (which Green Bay needed) to go along with the fact that he can slide up and down the defensive line.

Was McClellan the right pick over someone like Domonique Orange or Darrell Jackson? The latter two seemed to fit the Packers' needs more, but when it comes to mid-to-late round draft picks, we should probably trust Gutekunst's judgment.

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