Chris McClellan highlights show insane potential and versatility that pushed Packers to trade up and secure him in the third round
Green Bay gave up a fifth-rounder to move up seven spots in the third and select the Missouri defensive tackle. And that’s because he is exactly what they needed.
It’s hard to find perfect prospects in the third round of the NFL Draft, and Chris McClellan certainly isn’t that. He plays high sometimes and doesn’t have perfect hand placement at times. But considering the range of the draft and what the Green Bay Packers need on the roster, it was an impressive outcome.
Highlights show his insane potential
Eli Berkovits made this clip of plays, and it shows exactly what Packers fans needed to see. Since the team lost TJ Slaton, Kenny Clark, and Colby Wooden over the past two years, the defensive line room lacked players who could both rush the passer and stop the run at a decent level.
Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks are designated interior rushers, and recently-signed Javon Hargrave is not the run-defender he once was either — even though he was already a huge upgrade over Wyatt and Brooks against the run.
McClellan had 25 tackles and generated 20 pressures last season, creating a career high six sacks in 2025. Throughout his college career, he had 17 tackles for loss.
The Packers see him as a versatile defensive line piece, who can play nose tackle but also 3-tech, where he played the majority of the time at Missouri.
“I can play anywhere off the line, and that’s what I’m willing to do,” McClellan said right after the pick. “Wherever they need me to go, I’ll go and play and contribute to help the team in whatever way I can. I don’t care if I have to be a zero nose or a five-technique, wherever I can go to play and help the team is where I want to be.”
How McClellan can affect the game
According to McClellan himself, power is his biggest and most impactful tool to disrupt opposing offenses.
“Breaking down the tape and watching everything, I’ve truly found my identity as a pass rusher in more of a power player first, and being able to work my moves off the power,” he added. “I’m always going to initially take power on and then work off of that.”
Day 2 was huge for the Packers’ defense, addressing the two most obvious needs. Before taking Chris McClellan in the third round, general manager Brian Gutekunst had drafted cornerback Brandon Cisse in the second.
