After trading up to secure him, the Green Bay Packers are betting on explosive rookie Chris McClellan to anchor the interior and ignite the pass rush.
We're officially 30 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. 30, we have defensive tackle Chris McClellan
Ranking the Top 50 Packers Heading Into 2026: No. 30, Chris McClellan
Missouri Tigers defensive tackle Chris McClellan (7) celebrates his sack as Auburn Tigers take on Missouri Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Missouri Tigers lead Auburn Tigers 10-7 at halftime. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.Here's yet another rookie in the Top 50 and in fact, Chris McClellan is a Top 30 player for the Packers heading into 2026. That can either be a good thing or a terrible thing for the Packers.
You don't want to rely on rookies in the NFL. That's a losing proposition. The Packers selected McClellan with the 77th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft because they believe in him, though. They believe in him so much they actually traded a fifth-rounder to go up seven spots to get him.
It makes sense, too. McClellan has that size and speed combo that can make a defensive tackle very dangerous.
He checks in at 6-foot-3, 313 pounds, but he's more than a run stuffer. In two seasons at Florida followed by two seasons at Missouri, McClelland notched 10.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, four passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and 133 total tackles.
The Packers believe McClellan can be a disruptor from the jump.
2025 Synopsis:
McClellan started 13 games for Missouri, notching 48 tackles (15 solo), six sacks, eight tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.
Notable Quotables:
"I mean, the guy led the SEC D-tackles in sacks last year. He brings that pass-rush edge (and) the biggest thing is growing and being a pro, honestly. He's doing a really good job at being a pro." - Warren Brinson
Projected Role in 2026:
McClellan will fight early on in camp to be the first defensive tackle off the bench and new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will undoubtedly use him in pass-rushing situations.
There's certainly a world in which he eventually replaces Javon Hargrave as the starter next to Devonte Wyatt on talent alone.
Previous Rankings:
