Javon Hargraves addition signals shift on the defensive interior

Wes Hodkiewicz

"Pre-draft picture" is a position-by-position look at the Packers' roster heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. The series continues with the defensive line.

GREEN BAY It's back to the future for the Packers' interior defensive line and new coordinator Jonathan Gannon.

Green Bay is set to shift back to a 3-4 base front under Gannon, who reunites with 11th-year defensive tackleJavon Hargraveafter the two worked together for two seasons in Philadelphia.

A 2016 second-round pick by Pittsburgh, Hargrave earned the first of his two Pro Bowl appearances in 2021 while playing in Gannon's defense, setting career highs in both tackles (63) and quarterback hits (18).

In search of a do-it-all defensive tackle, the Packers were quick to sign Hargrave after the rival Minnesota Vikings released the 33-year-old veteran on March 11 in a cost-cutting move.

The 6-foot-3, 304-pound D-lineman has been a workhorse throughout his NFL career, tallying 432 tackles, 85 quarterback hits and 49 sacks in 146 regular-season games (130 starts).

Hargrave's addition came days after the Packers traded starting defensive tackle Colby Wooden to Indianapolis to acquire former All-Pro linebackerZaire Franklin, a move that signaled a major change on Green Bay's defensive front in 2026.

Green Bay will partner Hargrave with veteranDevonte Wyatt, who stepped into the spotlight last year after three-time Pro Bowler Kenny Clark was dealt to Dallas to acquireMicah Parsons.

Wyatt was on pace for a career year before suffering a significant leg/ankle injury on Thanksgiving in Detroit. Despite missing the final seven games of the regular season, Wyatt still finished third on the team in sacks (four) and fourth in QB hits (seven).

Former sixth-round pickKarl Brooksreplaced Wyatt in the starting lineup after his injury. The 6-foot-3, 296-pound defensive lineman has 72 tackles and eight sacks in three seasons and will again be part of the rotation up front in 2026.

The Packers return a pair of intriguing second-year players in former Georgia teammatesWarren BrinsonandNazir Stackhouse. Green Bay drafted Brinson in the sixth round before signing Stackhouse as a college free agent hours later.

Last summer, Stackhouse extended the Packers' streak to 21 consecutive years with at least one undrafted rookie making the Week 1 roster. The 6-foot-4, 327-pound defensive tackle registered 12 tackles in 13 games.

Green Bay has a bit more stability at edge rusher but is counting on its young pass rushers to step up while Parsons works his way back after tearing his ACL last December in Denver.

Acquired in an August trade with Dallas, Parsons was nothing short of sensational prior to the injury. He was named first-team All-Pro for the third time in his career after recording 41 tackles, 27 quarterback hits and 12 sacks in 14 games (13 starts).

While anxiously awaiting Parsons' return, the Packers also must replace more than 1,000 defensive snaps after Rashan Gary was traded to Dallas and Kingsley Enagbare signed with the New York Jets as an unrestricted free agent.

Those two departures should clear the way for 2023 first-round pickLukas Van Ness, who was rounding into form when he injured his foot during a sack of Cincinnati quarterback Joe Flacco last October. He missed seven of the next eight games.

The 24-year-old Van Ness has played both outside and inside within Green Bay's scheme, compiling 81 tackles, 23 QB hits and 8 sacks in 43 games.

Three more prospects looking to take the next step in 2026 are former undrafted free agentBrenton Cox Jr.and 2025 draft picksBarryn SorrellandCollin Oliver, who spent a portion of their offseason working out with Parsons in Texas.

Sorrell won over the hearts of Packers fans when he attended the NFL Draft in Green Bay last April, allowing the 6-foot-3, 256-pound pass rusher to walk across the stage when the Packers selected him in the fourth round (No. 124 overall).

Sorrell had to be patient early on but recorded eight tackles, a sack and three pressures in the regular-season finale against Minnesota. Oliver missed all but one game of his rookie season due to a hamstring injury but shined against the Vikings, generating four pressures and two QB hits.

Cox was pegged for a breakout in 2025 after notching seven QB hits and four sacks during the final seven games of the 2024 season. Instead, Cox missed 13 games after sustaining a core muscle injury in the opener against Detroit.

Activated off injured reserve in late December, Cox finished with five tackles, three QB hits and a sack in four games. Green Bay didn't tender either Cox or special-teams stalwartArron Mosbyas restricted free agents but eventually re-signed both.

Interior defensive line ranks near the top of Green Bay's needs entering the NFL Draft, but the Packers have several in-house candidates who will push for the 53 this summer.

Former seventh-round pickJonathan Fordrejoined the Packers in late December and re-signed with the team in March. Other roster hopefuls include international playerDante Barnett,Anthony Campbell,Jaden CrumedyandJames Ester, who has spent the past two years on Green Bay's practice squad.

VeteranJordon Rileyhas a contract for 2026, but his status remains uncertain after suffering an Achilles injury against Baltimore in late December. The third-year defensive lineman had two tackles in four games after signing off the New York Giants' practice squad on Dec. 3.

Pre-draft picture series, previous installments

QBs:Love still on rise as search for new backup begins

RBs:Looking for better health

WRs/TEs:Confidently moving forward

OL:Changes up front coming into focus