After analyzing the best and worst case scenarios for the Green Bay Packers offense, it is now the defense’s turn to go under the microscope.
Green Bay has a new coordinator in Jonathan Gannon, as well as new pieces at all three levels of the defense hoping to lift a unit which disappointed last year once Micah Parsons was out of the picture.
With the Packers hoping for growth from plenty of young players, here is the best they can hope for from each defensive position group in 2026, as well as the nightmare scenario at each spot:
Defensive tackle
Best case: Javon Hargrave is revitalized after reuniting with his old defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. Devonte Wyatt is finally able to put together a full season, while the likes of Karl Brooks and Warren Brinson are more impactful on a lower snap count. Jonathan Ford holds down the nose tackle role he has been utilized in during preseason, while rookie third-round pick Chris McClellan and unlikely camp success story Anthony Campbell are also valuable parts of a deep, heavy rotation of defensive tackles.
Worst case: Hargrave does not have enough left in the tank to be a consistent factor and Wyatt is banged up again. The group as a whole underwhelms across the board and although it is a deep group, none of them are difference makers on the interior.
EDGE
Best case: Micah Parsons returns at the earliest possible opportunity in Week 5 and looks like Micah Parsons. Lukas Van Ness takes a Trey Hendrickson style fourth-year jump and they form a formidable tandem. Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox Jr, Dani Dennis-Sutton and Collin Oliver add some juice as rotational players and the Packers suddenly have a strong stable of pass rushers.
Worst case: Parsons’ return takes longer than hoped and he does not look like his old self. Van Ness does not take a step and is less effective without Parsons drawing the attention, and none of the younger edge rushers are ready to be starters, making Green Bay’s pass rush underwhelming.
Linebacker
Best case: A change of scenery is just what Zaire Franklin needs to get back to the All-Pro standard he set two years ago, as he captains the defense and frees up Edgerrin Cooper to be at his play-making best. Isaiah McDuffie and Ty’Ron Hopper serve as high level backups, with the latter showing real growth in Year 3.
Worst case: The 2025 version of Franklin is what the Packers get in 2026 as it becomes clear he is in decline and is a downgrade on what they got from Quay Walker previously. Cooper has to take on more responsibility as a result and cannot be the attacking linebacker he wants to be. McDuffie gets exposed in coverage if he has to play and Hopper does not progress, meaning the Packers are not comfortable using him on defense.
Cornerback
Best case: Brandon Cisse backs up his strong training camp with excellent regular season performances and wins rookie of the year, anchoring a Packers cornerback room that desperately needed someone to stand out. Less pressure is put on Keisean Nixon and he bounces back from a difficult 2025, while Benjamin St-Juste makes good on the flashes he showed in Los Angeles last year and Carrington Valentine improves his tackling, giving the coaching staff more trust in him. After entering the season with question marks, the Packers are four deep at cornerback with trustworthy boundary options.
Javon Bullard stars as a slot corner, continuing to ascend after a fantastic 2025 campaign, while also adding interceptions to his game. Kamal Hadden is a worthy backup slot and even allows Bullard to play more safety as the coaches trust Hadden to hold down the nickel position.
Worst case: Cisse struggles as a 21-year-old rookie, while Nixon takes a poor end to last season and an underwhelming summer into the new year. St-Juste’s strong showing last season turns out to be a flash in the pan, and Valentine is still not a viable starter due to his run defense.
Bullard comes back down to earth a bit at a somewhat volatile position and Hadden does not look ready to contribute with the starters when he gets in the game.
Safety
Best case: Jonathan Gannon’s three-safety looks cause opposing offenses fits, as a talented trio of Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams and Bullard anchor the defense from the back end. The interceptions return in bunches for McKinney and Williams takes a step from good to great.
Worst case: McKinney has another strong season but still does not hit the heady heights of 2024, while Williams hits his ceiling as a reliable, if not game-changing safety.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Best, worst case scenario for Packers at each defensive position entering 2026