Packers D-line depth goes from weakness to strength entering 2026

The Green Bay Packers‘ initial 53-man roster entering the 2026 season has been finalized, and it contains an oddity in that Green Bay opted to keep seven defensive tackles.

That is more than they have rostered in Brian Gutekunst’s tenure as general manager and the most since 2013. It is a different world from where the Packers were a year ago, as the defensive tackle position looked thin entering the season and was decimated by the end of it.

The fact they have decided to keep so many this time around is perhaps a consequence of wanting to avoid such a situation again, but it is more so a testament to the work done to fortify the room this offseason, as well as some impressive growth by various preexisting players.

Javon Hargrave via free agency and Chris McClellan were the headline additions and along with Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks, made the position look stronger.

Beyond those four, no one else was certain of a roster spot entering training camp. In the end, so many other players impressed that the Packers had no choice but to keep seven.

Warren Brinson, a sixth-round pick from last year who played nearly 300 snaps as a rookie, took huge strides this summer, performing well at training camp and in his lone preseason appearance. He unfortunately picked up a calf injury but could return in time to play Week 1 in Minnesota.

Jonathan Ford has been on an interesting journey.

He was picked by Green Bay in the seventh round back in 2022 but did not play a single snap on defense in his first stint. He was claimed off the Packers’ practice squad in 2024 and was then claimed off waivers again by Green Bay in December 2025.

Ford re-signed with the Packers in March and now nearly 28, he finally looks ready to contribute on defense in Year 5. He was excellent in the preseason, ranking as PFF’s top defensive tackle, and is the truest nose tackle body on the roster. His emergence has been a real boost.

Then there is Anthony Campbell, the classic guy who just kept making plays, almost every day at practice and then in the preseason. The hulking 6-6 defensive tackle batted down passes for fun all summer and posted seven total pressures including two sacks in the last two preseason games.

The soon-to-be 26-year-old had an interesting college career, starting off at Independence Community college, which was the setting of the Netflix series “Last Chance U” before he arrived.

After moving up to the FBS level, he played only 321 total snaps across four seasons at Louisiana Monroe and Miami, including only 56 snaps in his last two years with the Hurricanes.

After going undrafted in 2025 he spent time with the Seahawks, before being signed to the Packers practice squad in January of this year.

He would not have been on many people’s radar entering camp but made his presence known quickly and continued to ascend, ultimately making the team.

On Campbell’s unlikely rise to prominence, Gutekunst said: “You don’t usually see guys that barely played in college come in and have the kind of success that he’s had. He’s just scratching the surface of what he might be able to be.”

Green Bay’s defensive tackle battle ended up being so fierce that Nazir Stackhouse, who played 173 snaps last year, did not make it. He was claimed on waivers by the Titans, which speaks to the depth the Packers boasted.

Gutekunst said on losing Stackhouse: “That was tough because he’s a good player and you hate losing those kinds of guys, but it was one of our deeper groups so we wanted to try to keep as many as we (could).”

The Packers will also have Jordon Riley coming back at some point. He was picked up late last season and gave Green Bay valuable snaps, impressing the coaching staff along the way before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury.

Riley will start the season on the PUP list but will be a welcome addition when he does return.

The combination of a commitment by the team to not be left short again, and some welcome growth by some previously unheralded players has left the Packers defensive tackle position in a much healthier state entering the 2026 season.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers D-line depth goes from weakness to strength entering 2026