Locker room comparisons to Micah Parsons fuel high expectations for explosive pass-rusher Collin Oliver, who looks to overcome injuries and make a name for himself with the Green Bay Packers.
We're officially 29 days from the start of the 2026 NFL season for the Green Bay Packers. Whether you're ready or not, football season is here.
The Packers kick off their 2026 season against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Sept. 13, from U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Talk about pressure. The Vikings are certainly in a transitional place as a franchise, but getting going against an NFC North foe ratchets up the intensity of this season from the get-go.
It's a big season for the Packers. There's a belief that they're in a Super Bowl window right now, which means every single game is important. That means the intensity will be there in Week 2 at MetLife Stadium against the New York Jets and it will certainly be there in Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons, when the Packers will play at Lambeau Field for the first time in 2026.
There's going to be a lot of proverbial ink spilled on this 2026 season and we here at PackersRoundtable hope that you spend as much time as possible with us talking about the ins and outs and ups and downs of the Packers.
As we prepare for the 2026 season, though, we're going to kick things off with a rankings series looking at the Top 50 Packers heading into the 2025 season.
At No. 29, we have defensive end Collin Oliver
Ranking the Top 50 Packers Heading Into 2026: No. 29, Collin Oliver
Green Bay Packers rookie linebacker Collin Oliver is interviewed by the media during rookie minicamp on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers selected Oliver with their fifth round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.Admittedly, having Collin Oliver ranked this high in the rankings is a bit of a projection. The Packers have extremely high hopes for Oliver, though, and much of their hopes are projection as well, so it seems only fair to have Oliver in the Top 30.
This is the guy who was nicknamed "Baby Micah" last season because his game reminds folks in the locker room of Micah Parsons.
Oliver is a 6-foot-2, 240 pound pass-rusher from Oklahoma State who the Packers selected with the 159th pick (fifth round) in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Green Bay took Oliver even though he only played two games in his senior season at Oklahoma State due to a right foot injury. He then suffered a hamstring injury at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, which kept him out for all but one game in his rookie season in the NFL.
And yet, Oliver has tremendous potential that we saw at Oklahoma State.
As a freshman in 2021, he posted an incredible 11.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. He never again got to that level of sacks, but he did notch 15.5 tackles for loss and six sacks in his junior season to go along with four fumbles.
In 43 collegiate games, Oliver put up 23.5 sacks, 40.5 tackles for loss, seven passes defended and five forced fumbles.
He's a terror when he's healthy, and that's why the Packers are so excited for him. He also spent the offseason working out with Parsons.
2025 Synopsis:
Oliver played in just one game in 2025. He was activated for the final game of the regular season, against the Minnesota Vikings, and he notched two pressures, two hits and one tackle in just 31 snaps.
Notable Quotables:
"That last game was really nice to get him out there to see what he could do. He can really run, and then his ability to chase the quarterback is something that you need in this league. I think there's a lot of versatility and upside in Collin." - Brian Gutekunst
Projected Role in 2026:
Oliver is going to get chances to rush the passer, especially early on in the season with Parsons sidelined and the Packers looking for pressure. He should be a rotational player on the edge this season and he could get more snaps depending on if his upside is real or not at the NFL level.
It feels like he could easily snag four-to-five snacks in a specialized pass-rushing role.
Previous Rankings:
