Full Breakdown
Packers Bolster Defense with Day 2 Draft Picks: Cisse and McClellan
4/26/2026, 4:40:05 AM
Day 2 Selections and Trade-Up
On April 24 2026 the Green Bay Packers selected South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse at No. 52 overall and Missouri defensive tackle Chris McClellan at No. 77. To secure McClellan the Packers traded their third-round No. 84 pick and a fifth-round No. 160 pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, moving up seven spots.
Background & Context
Entering the offseason, Green Bay faced a depleted interior defensive line after losing Kenny Clark, TJ Slaton and Colby Wooden, while contract years loomed for Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks. The team added veteran Javon Hargrave and retained Hargrave’s two-year deal, but needed a versatile interior piece. In the secondary, the release of Nate Hobbs left a gap that the new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon expects to fill with a press-capable corner. Both needs aligned with the Packers’ draft strategy.
Data & Statistics
- Brandon Cisse – 5 ft 11 in, 189 lb; 27 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception and 5 pass break-ups in his final season at South Carolina.
- Chris McClellan – listed at 6 ft 4 in and 313–324 lb; 48 tackles, 8–13.5 tackles for loss, 6–8.5 sacks, 21 pressures and 27 run stops (PFF grade 78.2, 7 % missed-tackle rate). His 11-inch hands rank in the 99th percentile for the position.
Official Statements & Responses
General manager Brian Gutekunst highlighted McClellan’s “ability to play the nose, the three, and actually rush the passer,” calling the pick a “classic Gutekunst” move that could help the line immediately. Gutekunst also praised Cisse’s “off-man and press” skills, noting his youth and upside. Scout Mike Owen described Cisse as having “a chip on his shoulder” that fuels his competitiveness. Senior personnel executive Milt Hendrickson emphasized McClellan’s hand size and positional versatility as key assets.
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts from USA TODAY and Bleacher Report gave Cisse a B-/C grade, citing raw technique, underdeveloped instincts and the need to master multiple coverage concepts under Gannon’s scheme. McClellan drew criticism for inconsistent hand usage, a limited anchor as “not a natural knee-bender,” and an average first step that could hinder his pass-rush effectiveness.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on McClellan’s production: sack totals appear as 6, 8.5 and 8.5; tackles-for-loss range from 8 to 13.5. Height and weight are reported as 6 ft 4 in/313 lb, 6 ft 4 in/324 lb and 6 ft 3 in/313 lb. No contract details have been disclosed for either rookie.
Verbatim Quotes
2. “You can feel that chip on his shoulder when you talk to him, about getting overlooked by South Carolina, coming full circle and then really helping his team and helping that defense elevate to a different level,” — Mike Owen, Packers National Scout (on Cisse)
3. “I think the combination of being able to play the nose, the three, and actually rush the passer — there's a lot of these guys that don't do that. He can,” — Brian Gutekunst, General Manager (on McClellan)
4. “He's one of the few guys that can play off man, can play press. His suddenness through transition is something that stood out to us. He's very young, we think his best football is ahead of him. We think he's got so much left in the tank not only as a player but physically as well, he'll get bigger and stronger…really like the fact that he took the step and went to South Carolina last year, better competition, and really showed well this past year.” — Brian Gutekunst, General Manager (on Cisse)
Why It Matters / Impact
McClellan adds size, hand strength and the ability to rotate across the interior line, giving Gannon flexibility to keep Hargrave, Wyatt and Brooks fresh and to plug the nose-tackle void left by Clark and Wooden. Cisse provides a press-capable, athletic option for a secondary that lost Hobbs, complementing veterans Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine. Together the picks address the Packers’ most pressing roster holes and expand scheme options for the 2026 season.
What’s Next
The rookies will report to rookie minicamp in early May, followed by a competition for snaps in training camp. Green Bay still holds fourth-round No. 120 and fifth-round No. 153 selections, which could be used to add depth or address remaining positional needs. Contract extensions for interior linemen remain under discussion as the team evaluates McClellan’s early performance.
