Packers' division rivals make picks in first round of 2026 draft

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com: "Miller lined up at right tackle for the Tigers. A high school wrestler, the iron man started 54 games at Clemson. He has ideal size, length and strength for the position. In pass protection, he has enough quickness to cover up speed rushers off the edge. He uses his length and strong hands to latch and control defenders. He can sink his weight and anchor down against power rushers. He plays with awareness to pick up twists and stunts. In the run game, he can generate movement on down blocks and he always strains to finish. When working up to linebackers, he’s effective on a single track but struggles to redirect and wall off defenders in space. Overall, Miller has the ideal profile for a starting NFL right tackle."

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: "Ultimate iron man at right tackle with 54 career starts. Miller has unusual lateral quickness and fluidity in space despite playing too upright. His hands lack accuracy and command in both phases, but he can recover and make blocks with a finisher’s mindset. Miller is rarely beaten by rush games, but he has his edges attacked because of his hand issues. He will encounter difficulties at the next level without better pad level, core strength and cleaner technique. If he tightens up in those areas, Miller can become a solid NFL right tackle."

Minnesota Vikings: DL Caleb Banks, Florida

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The Vikings delivered one of the underrated surprises of the first round, taking Banks at No. 18. He was the No. 44 player on the consensus big board, and Daniel Jeremiah did not have him ranked in the top 50 players (No. 51). Banks is huge at 6-6 and 327 pounds, and his flashes of disruptive ability are as good as any interior defender in this draft class. But inconsistency and recurring injuries in his left foot made him a polarizing prospect. If Banks stays healthy, Brian Flores could turn him into a real weapon. This is a true boom or bust pick for Minnesota.

Dane Brugler, The Athletic: "Banks is a towering athlete with the fluid athleticism and unique physical traits to be impactful against the pass and the run. He is long and strong enough to claim early wins when he stays disciplined in his initial attack. But his taller stature can zap his power and take him out of plays, as he allows blockers to out-leverage him and stay attached. He leaves too much production on the field, although his tackling should improve with better conditioning. Overall, Banks has a rare combination of size, raw power and big-man twitch, all of which lead to big-time flashes and glimpses of his ceiling. However, the absence of a healthy senior season complicates his projection, and his draft grade will depend on each team’s appetite for risk."

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: "Big-framed, long-limbed interior defender whose play needs more polish to consistently match his traits. Banks has a quick first step. He can stun/control single blocks when his hand strikes are timely and accurate, but he needs faster disengagement to increase his tackle count. His high center of gravity allows double teams to generate displacement, so a move to odd-front end could be in his best interest as a run defender. Like a grappler without submission knowledge, Banks is still learning to unlock his physical advantages so he can turn them into sacks. His traits and flashes at the Senior Bowl make him an enticing prospect, but injury concerns are a potential stumbling block for him."

Chicago Bears: S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

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The Bears used the 25th overall pick on Thieneman, a versatile and athletic safety who was a truly elite player across three seasons at Purdue (2023-24) and Oregon (2025). He can run, cover and tackle, and he'll team nicely with free agent signing Coby Bryant at safety for the Bears secondary. Chicago didn't get a pass rusher here, but Thieneman is a solid all-around defensive back with real upside as a playmaker.

Dane Brugler, The Athletic: "With his open-field athleticism, Thieneman has a lot to offer in the NFL because of his versatility making plays over the top in coverage or downhill versus the run. He shows impressive range and anticipation from the deep half of the field, as well as the intelligence to understand what opponents are trying to do. Although he doesn’t always play up to his testing numbers, he can guard both sidelines and sort through routes. He can clean up some things in the run game, too — he has a nose for the ball and doesn’t hesitate flying to the contact point. Overall, Thieneman reminds me of Justin Reid because of his scheme-friendly recognition skills and eagerness to get busy as a run defender. He projects as a durable NFL starter and has versatility that should appeal to a variety of defensive structures."

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com: "Thieneman was a versatile chess piece in Oregon’s defense. He lined up in the box, in the deep half and over the slot. When he’s aligned in the back end, he can anticipate and range over the top to find and play the ball. He has excellent closing speed and takes good routes. He shows a fluid, smooth pedal when aligned in the slot. He’s quick to plant/drive on throws in front of him and he’s a reliable tackler most of the time. He will occasionally fail to break down and have a fly-by missed tackle. Against the run, he trusts his eyes and explodes into the alley. Overall, Thieneman does a lot of different tasks at a very high level. His skill set is highly coveted around the NFL."

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: "Savvy three-year starter with NFL size, speed and alignment versatility. Thieneman is an extension of his defensive coordinator, aligning and adjusting the secondary to motion and pre-snap shifts. He’s an instinctive, rangy safety who can roll down into big nickel or robber positioning. He has a good feel for play design and route concepts in zone but has average change of direction to match breaks in man. He’s not a big thumper near the line, but he rushes into the action with a relentless pursuit that should allow him to keep stacking high scores in the tackle columns. Thieneman checks important boxes for teams looking to add versatile playmakers in the secondary."

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers' division rivals make picks in first round of 2026 draft