Wednesday Cheese Curds: Packers banking on internal improvement again

TL;DR

The Green Bay Packers are relying on internal player development for the 2026 season, focusing on recent first-round picks like Devonte Wyatt and Jordan Love. With no new major acquisitions, the team's success hinges on the growth of their existing roster.

Key points

Packers banking on internal player development for 2026
Focus on recent first-round picks like Wyatt and Love
No major roster changes after Micah Parsons trade
Success hinges on growth of existing players
Need for protection and production from key players

Green Bay Packers

CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 10: Jordan Morgan #77 of the Green Bay Packers runs across the field during an NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on January 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but the Packers are going to need a lot of internal growth to reach their full potential this year. Yes, that’s the case for every team, and yes, that’s often the case for the Packers, but it seems to especially be the case this year. The Packers are still in the wake of their last big move: the Micah Parsons trade. They ponied up two firsts and a massive contract. That essentially took care of anything we could really classify as a big swing for the recent past and immediate future. That leaves the Packers making more of what we could call roster tweaks than wholesale overhauls, banking on the growth of what they’ve already got than new influxes of talent. And, for the most part, that means leaning on their most high profile acquisitions: recent first round picks. Devonte Wyatt. Lukas Van Ness. Jordan Morgan. Matthew Golden. All four of these players are looking at bigger, or at the very least higher profile, roles in 2026. And the Packers will be counting on them to succeed. If the Packers’ defensive front is to thrive under new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, they’ll need Wyatt and Van Ness to step up. If is going to be the best he can be, he’ll need protection from Morgan and plenty of production from Golden. This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone with two eyes and half a brain for football. But obvious things are sometimes obvious because they’re important. And in an era where the Packers went all in with one big move, the obvious needs elsewhere become all the more critical. There’s a fun irony to the Packers needing more out of their first round picks in a year when they didn’t make any. What’s on yours? Romeo also made it pretty clear . This is the sort of tiny action that reinforces the very good ol’ boy network the NFL is trying to undo a bit. People out there really think the crowd noise is too loud on the TV broadcast? He calls his 3-foot, 10-inch boat a “micro yacht,” which is one way to spin it.

Q&A

What are the key players the Packers are counting on for 2026?

The Packers are focusing on recent first-round picks including Devonte Wyatt, Lukas Van Ness, Jordan Morgan, and Matthew Golden for the 2026 season.

Why are the Packers not making major roster changes this year?

The Packers have recently made a significant trade for Micah Parsons, leaving them to rely on internal growth and roster tweaks rather than major acquisitions.

How will Jordan Love's performance impact the Packers in 2026?

Jordan Love's success will depend on receiving adequate protection from Jordan Morgan and offensive contributions from Matthew Golden.

What is the significance of the Packers' first-round picks in 2026?

The Packers' first-round picks are crucial for the team's success this year, especially since they did not make any new first-round selections.