Unpacking Future Packers: No. 6, Georgia Tech DT Jordan van den Berg

Jordan Van Den Berg is a DT prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 10.00 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 2 out of 2098 DT from 1987 to 2026.

Behind only Jordan Davis, who has a huge lead that'll be tough to best.pic.twitter.com/pTnUXnufqN

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) March 19, 2026 The Georgia Tech product has a powerful upper half and can be hard to displace in the run game. He uses his power and strong hands to throw blockers to the side. He can be a straight up bully at the point of attack. He has the lateral agility to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage. With his initial quickness and strength, he’s able to force his way through gaps to impact the play behind the line of scrimmage. This past season, van den Berg recorded a career high in stops (19) and tackles for loss (11). He can clog up running lanes with his mass and power, but with his athleticism, he's also an active interior presence capable of creating negative plays. Jordan van den Berg is a former rugby player and is naturally strong.

The Georgia Tech DT recorded 16 TFL and 32 stops during the past two seasons. The former LB has active traits and will likely be high on Green Bay’s board on Day 3. pic.twitter.com/IqszfKvIPV

— Brennen Rupp (@Brennen\_Rupp) April 14, 2026 "I think you have to start with the technique and the fundamentals," Bishop said. "Working with defensive line coach Jess Simpson has helped, too, but van den Berg's constant focus on technique and positioning is special. Van den Berg, of course, is an athletic dude down there in the trenches, too, perhaps part of his game that can be underrated at times." With his blend of initial quickness and power, van den Berg has the tools to develop into a force as an interior pass rusher. He has the ideal play strength and can walk offensive linemen back into the quarterback’s lap. There were reps when Georgia Tech stand up over the center like he was Micah Parsons. He's coming off a career-best season in which he recorded three sacks and 29 pressures. That uptick in production leads one to think there is still plenty of meat left on that proverbial pass rush bone. Jordan van den Berg has the first step quickness and power to collapse the pocket.

I think he’s more than just a two-down player. He recorded career highs in sacks (3) and pressures (29) this past season. pic.twitter.com/cUjF1UeSBg

— Brennen Rupp (@Brennen\_Rupp) April 14, 2026 "I think as van den Berg has grown from a kid originally from South Africa who played at a small high school, to junior college to Penn State to Tech, you can sort of trace his ability to get into the backfield as he's grown, not only in size, but in understanding tendencies of offensive lineman," Bishop said. "There's some intellect there as well to be able to recognize when to fire off the ball and split gaps. I would expect that tool to continue to improve when he gets to the next level."

Fit with the Packers

The appeal with van den Berg on Day 3 of the draft comes down to traits and his work ethic. He’s gotten better each season during his college career, and that trajectory should continue at the next level. In a defensive line room that needs more disruption, van den Berg's athleticism and size should be appealing to a team that needs a player who can both clog up running lanes and make splash plays. "You're going to get a guy who is a gym rat because of a commitment to perfection and growing his game," Bishop said. "I think there is room there, too, to grow physically, which means you have a prospect you can expect to mold over time. He has shown he can compete and produce against high-level offensive lines during his career. If you believe you have the tools to help him to take his game to the next level, then he's your guy." The combination of size, explosiveness, and effort gives him a legitimate ceiling as a disruptive interior defender. If the Packers can continue to unlock that upside, van den Berg has the tools to outperform his draft position. The Packers had van den Berg in for a 30 visit, so there is at least some form of interest. With the Packers needing more impactful players along the defensive line, van den Berg just screams Packers type on Day 3. *This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Unpacking Future Packers: No. 6, Georgia Tech DT Jordan van den Berg*