Iowa's Gennings Dunker, a mauling offensive lineman, could be the Green Bay Packers' second-round answer to their interior line needs. Get ready for this draft crush.
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? There are going to be a ton of names thrown around and many of them will be great picks, but let's start with the prospect who just feels like he's made to play football for the Packers.
That would be Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Gennings Dunker.
Dunker has burst onto the national scene thanks to a great showing during Senior Bowl week in Mobile, Alabama, which is effectively college football's All-Star game and the official kickoff to draft season.
I mean, just look at the guy and listen to him talk. From Iowa City via Lena, Illinois, where he grew up, Dunker deserves to play NFL football in the Midwest. Preferably, not in Detroit, Minnesota, or Chicago:
Forget vibes for a minute. As far as football is concerned, Dunker is a straight-up mauler.
He checks in at 6-foot-5, 320 pounds and was a First-team All-Big Ten (media) and third-team All-Big Ten (coaches) player in 2025 for the Hawkeyes. You can certainly find ways to criticize Kirk Ferentz and his program up in Iowa City, but the one thing they do consistently is produce solid NFL players. If you're getting a lineman or tight end from Iowa, you can expect them to be ready to play NFL football from day one.
That's the type of player Dunker can be for the Packers. He played right tackle for Iowa, but he profiles as a guard at the NFL level. He even said at the Senior Bowl that he's prepared to play center if a team wants him to. He may need a bit of development as a pass-blocker, but there's almost nobody more exciting in this draft when it comes to the ability to drive his feet and run block at an elite level:
The Packers have a big need on the interior of their offensive line, with guard/center Elgton Jenkins likely to become a cap casualty this offseason and guard/center Sean Rhyan entering free agency and not guaranteed to be re-signed.
Dunker is projected to be a second-round pick, which means the Packers will absolutely have a shot to pick him up on day two.
If he's available, they'd be smart to really consider it.
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