The Packers have had a very good to a great defense over the past few seasons under now departed defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and the team will be expected to pick up the slack in his absence. The team has now onboarded former Cardinals’ head coach and former Eagles’ defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon to take over the responsibilities from Hafley in the role. Gannon coordinated an Eagles’ defense that nearly won the Super Bowl and was good enough of a coordinator to get an NFL head coaching job. So perhaps the drop off in the level of coaching will not be too large if there is a drop off at all. But like I have said before in regards to Green Bay, they have always had a very strong QB room and coaching staff in the Jordan Love/Matt LaFleur era, and the subpar roster has always been the concern. If Gannon can be a strong replacement for Hafley, then the Green Bay coaching staff and QB room will be very strong once again, and the roster will need to up its game. Here I will go into detail assessing the Packers’ front seven as the 2026 season approaches.
2023 6th rounder Karl Brooks is set to start at the first edge defender spot for the Packers and is a player likely better suited in a reserve role. Brooks had a very strong rookie season grading (44/142) in terms of an overall defense grade among his peers according to Pro Football Focus but has fallen off the past few seasons since. Brooks graded (66/147) in that department in year 2 in 2024, while grading poorly in that department in 2025. Perhaps Brooks can move past his poor 2025 campaign, build off his rookie season and establish himself as a solid starter if not more than that. If he does not however, he will be a prime candidate to transition to a reserve role at some point over the course of the 2026 season.
Veteran Javon Hargrave is set to start at the nose tackle spot and is a very strong player. Hargrave is a two-time Pro Bowler and consistently grades among the better if not among the best overall players at his position according to Pro Football Focus. Hargrave however is not a superstar although likely being the next closest thing and he will play next season at 33 years old so a drop off in his game could be looming soon.
2022 1st rounder Devonte Wyatt is set to start at the other starting edge defender spot and is a strong player who has had his inconsistencies, however. Wyatt taken in the first round, had a very strong rookie season and the performed at an above average clip the following two years as well. Wyatt however dropped off during the 2025 season, grading below average among his peers and it remains to be seen if he can bounce back from it.
2023 1st rounder Lukas Van Ness is set to start at the first linebacker spot and is a player with a high ceiling, but who has shown inconsistencies in his career thus far. Van Ness after being drafted so highly had a very strong rookie season but then performed poorly in year 2 in the NFL. Van Ness then bounced back in 2025 and had a very strong season like he did as a rookie. Van Ness has played in primarily a reserve role thus far in the NFL and will now transition to being a starter. Perhaps Van Ness can find that consistency as he transitions to a starting role.
2024 2nd rounder Edgerrin Cooper is set to start at the second of the linebacker spots for the Packers and has shown superstar potential in the NFL. Cooper as a rookie graded as the fourth best overall linebacker in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus, one of the best rookie seasons any player at any position has ever had. Cooper, taking more snaps in 2025, was not quite as good but still very good grading in the well above average range among his peers taking over 1000 snaps. It will be interesting to see if Cooper emerges as a star at linebacker, but from a worst-case scenario standpoint he will be a very good player.
Veteran Zaire Franklin is set to start at the next linebacker spot for Green Bay and is a player with a lot of inconsistencies and a high ceiling but is likely better suited in a reserve role. Franklin over the course of the 2020 and 2021 seasons played at a borderline elite level in limited snaps in a reserve role and earned himself a starting job afterwards. However, Franklin as a starter has played at a well below average to a poor level over the past four seasons and is likely better suited returning to a reserve role although he is still listed as a starter.
Superstar Micah Parsons rounds out the Green Bay starting front seven and Parsons is one of the premier players in the NFL today at any position. Parsons is a three-time first team All-Pro and provides stability to a Green Bay starting front seven that otherwise lacks it. Parsons is coming off a season ending injury however and recapturing the form he had previously will be a challenge and will likely take time.
From a depth standpoint in the front seven the Packers have a few notable names that could provide some depth and/or could step into the starting lineup if need be, given some of the concerns that Green Bay currently has in their starting lineup. Defensive lineman Jaden Crumedy has looked strong in very limited snaps, the team drafted edge defender Chris McClellan quite high in the third round of the 2026 draft, while Brenton Cox Jr and Nick Niemann have shown starter potential in the NFL.
Overall, the Packers have a solid front seven, however outside of superstar Micah Parsons and emerging young linebacker Edgrerrin Cooper they have question marks everywhere. Even Javon Hargrave who is consistently very strong will play next season at 33 years old and could start to decline. However, if the inconsistent players play to their potential, it could be a very good if not a great front seven next season. A breakdown of the Packers’ front seven heading into the 2026 season can be found below.
Projected 2026 Packers’ Starting Front Seven
LDE – Karl Brooks – C+, could be higher, strong first two years in NFL, before poor play in ’25
NT – Javon Hargrave – B+, will play next season at 33 years old and could soon start to decline
RDE – Devonte Wyatt – C+ to B-, 2022 1st rounder
WLB – Lukas Van Ness – C+ to B-, 2023 1st rounder
LILB – Edgerrin Cooper – B+ to A-
RILB – Zaire Franklin – C+
SLB – Micah Parsons – A+
Notable 2026 Packers’ Front Seven Reserves
ED/DL – Jaden Crumedy – C+ to B-, limited snaps
ED – Chris McClellan – 2026 3rd rounder
LB/DL/ED – Brenton Cox Jr – C+ to B-, limited snaps
LB – Nick Niemann – B
