The most important part of NFL free agency has come and gone. The first week-plus is when the biggest names get scooped up and the largest contracts are signed. In the following weeks, each passing day might have a nibble of news, but for the most part teams are getting ready for the draft.
The Packers have addressed some of their biggest roster needs already. First, they traded for Zaire Franklin to be the replacement for Quay Walker in the middle of Jonathan Gannon’s defense (and created another need in its place, more on that later).
Their next move was bringing in some competition for incumbent outside corners Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine when they signed special teams ace and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, who thrived in a part-time corner role for the Los Angeles Chargers last season. Finally, they acted quickly to reunite Javon Hargrave with his former defensive coordinator Gannon to help anchor and provide the interior of the defensive line with some pass rush. The hope is that playing again for Gannon will help bring out the best of what Hargrave has left in his 33-year-old body.
But with most quality free agents plucked off the market at this point, is the draft the best avenue for the Packers to acquire a true starting nose tackle? It’s arguably the biggest need left for Brian Gutekunst to address.
When the Packers decided to replace Walker with Franklin, they had to trade away their starting nose tackle from a season ago in Colby Wooden. The 6’4”, 273-pound Wooden was always a little undersized to play nose tackle, a big reason why he started to wear down toward the end of last season. He also wasn’t the best fit for the system we think Gannon is going to play in Green Bay for the 2026 season.
Known for using both 3–4 and 4-3 elements in his scheme, Gannon requires a true run-stopping, big-bodied nose tackle to anchor the middle of the defensive line, something the Packers don’t have on their roster and frankly didn’t even have before trading Wooden away. Hargrave played nose tackle last year for Brian Flores, but it was one of his lowest-graded seasons, showing nose is not his strong suit.
The biggest issue with the draft is that the best big bodies go quickly, true for both the defensive and offensive lines. Quality big men that can come in and make an impact quickly don’t typically hang around into the later rounds. If the Packers are going to want to get one, they will likely need to act with one of their first two picks (#52 & #84). Based on the 2026 consensus interior defensive line rankings, there are seven defensive tackles in the upcoming draft that are actually classified as true nose tackles. Two of those seven are top-40 prospects: Kayden McDonald and Lee Hunter. It’s likely both of those guys will be off the board before the Packers even get on the clock in the second round.
Once they get on the clock with their first pick deep into the second round, if they follow their true best-player-available philosophy and take a player at another position, then by the time they are back on the clock at pick 84 there might not be a nose tackle worth taking. That could put them in the precarious position of either taking a player higher than they normally would to fill a large need (not the Packers’ style), or maybe trading back to acquire some more picks for more bites at the apple.
Nose tackle is historically a hard position for rookies to come in and make an impact right away, which is what Green Bay is going to need. Relying on a rookie or two to come in and solve all their woes might be foolhardy on Green Bay’s end.
As mentioned, the free agent market is well picked over at this point, but there are still a few options out there that could be getting cheaper by the day. DJ Reader is the biggest name. The 31-year-old appeared in all 17 games for the Lions last year and was solid, if not spectacular, against the run. While he is not the same type of player as in his younger years in Cincinnati, he could come in and help provide some solid run defense on early downs while his counterparts Devonte Wyatt and Javon Hargrave focus on rushing the passer. His 68.9 PFF grade was good for 30th among 134 qualifying interior defensive linemen. If they can get him on a team-friendly deal, that could be a great short-term solution on the free agent side of things.
If the Packers really want to get wild, they could bring in another Jonathan Gannon favorite by signing 40-year-old mercenary Calais Campbell, who has played nose tackle well in his scheme. This offseason has shown they are no longer opposed to the older player, after all.
If they are looking for veteran help and none of the available players tickle their fancy, then they could look at the trade market. Harrison Phillips is a player who might pique their interest. The 29-year-old is currently a member of the New York Jets, a team that is far from being a contender. Maybe dangling a draft pick to them could be enough to acquire the run-stuffing Phillips. Phillips would come in and provide the Packers with a proven and reliable nose tackle that has racked up tackles at every stop he’s been.
The Jets traded away a 6th-round pick in 2026 and a 6th in 2027 for him last year. Maybe repaying them their 6th for next year will get the job done. They will have at least three comp picks coming their way, after all.
The best solution for the Packers’ hole at nose tackle is honestly probably a combination of all of these. Drafting a player in the middle rounds to come in and provide competition and fill out the bottom of the depth chart, while signing or trading for a capable veteran. More players will shake loose post-draft as the June 1 cuts start to roll in.
If I’m Gutekunst, I want to add a body sooner rather than later, and simply going into next month’s draft with your fingers crossed that a quality player falls to you isn’t the best way to play this out.