Matt LaFleur opens door for new defensive addition but subtle hint should create excitement around the Packers for 2026
Green Bay has a need to supplement the edge defender room, but the head coach seems satisfied with some of the pieces on the roster.
The Green Bay Packers drafted Dani Dennis-Sutton in the fourth round, but the roster had lost Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare earlier in the offseason. With Micah Parsons expected to miss the first few games of the season, the edge position is still a question mark in Green Bay.
The big topic of conversation is if the Packers will want to add an external, veteran player or if the coaching staff will try to develop one of their young pieces. Head coach Matt LaFleur left the door open for both scenarios.
“I think there’s always opportunities to add,” LaFleur said ahead of an OTA practice earlier this week. “But everything just has got to line up right.”
Developmental pieces
The Packers drafted two Day 3 edge defenders last year, Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver, plus Dennis-Sutton this year. While Oliver spent time in the rehab group this week, Sorrell was the initial starter opposite Lukas Van Ness.
“Those guys are working hard and we’re early in the process,” LaFleur added. “But I like what I’ve seen from some of the guys.”
That’s the big piece of news. If the Packers can get one of these young players to perform at a high level, it’s both the perfect short- and long-term scenario for the team. Early indications show that Sorrell could be that guy.
Besides these top options, the depth also has Brenton Cox Jr., Arron Mosby, undrafted rookie Nyjalik Kelly, and Dante Barnett, who’s a member of the International Pathway Program.
External alternatives
Edge defender is one of those positions where you can usually find decent, productive veterans for a reasonable cost in free agency even late in the offseason.
Players like Jadeveon Clowney, Joey Bosa, A.J. Epenesa, Haason Reddick, Leonard Floyd, Von Miller, and Cam Jordan are all available.
The problem here is that if a vested veteran is on the roster by Week 1, his base salary becomes fully guaranteed for the entire year. That means any veteran addition wouldn’t just have a small cost while Parsons is out, the player would be around for the full season. Therefore, it has to be a player with the potential to start early on, but who then would become a rotational piece after Parsons gets back.
It’s a delicate combination. And one the Packers might be willing to skip if the young players develop at an intriguing pace throughout the offseason program and training camp.