Green Bay traded up to secure its big man in the third round

Wes Hodkiewicz

GREEN BAY As the second day of the NFL Draft rolled along, Brian Gutekunst kept glancing up at the top of the Packers' draft board and seeing one name staring back at him.

Missouri'sChris McClellan.

Green Bay did its research on the 6-foot-3, 313-pound defensive tackle and saw a physical, do-it-all workhorse whose stock kept rising throughout the pre-draft process.

After months of watching McClellan from afar, the Packers weren't willing to wait any longer.

With need and value coming into full alignment, Gutekunst dealt a fifth-round pick to Tampa Bay to move up seven spots and draft McClellan in the third round (No. 77 overall).

"He was sticking out there like a sore thumb," Gutekunst said. "Like all right, that's the highest guy and let's go get him."

Coming off an impressive season in which he set career highs in tackles (48), tackles for loss (eight) and sacks (six), McClellan came regarded for his leadership, quick twitch and 11-inch hands that he utilized to control the SEC trenches for four years.

The Packers thought enough of McClellan's traits that Gutekunst said they considered taking him with their second-round pick (52nd overall) before settling on South Carolina cornerbackBrandon Cisse.

McClellan had an inkling of the Packers' possible interest after talking with them the past few months, but it wasn't until they dealt one of their two fifth-round selections to move up that the 22-year-old defensive tackle knew just how badly Green Bay wanted him to be part of the defense it's building.

That gesture told McClellan everything he needed to hear.

"We had some communication at the Senior Bowl, at the combine and then did a couple Zooms, as well," McClellan said. "But for them to trade up to come and get me is a great feeling."

McClellan's across-the-line versatility is a product of him originally committing to Florida as a four-star defensive end out of North Tulsa, Okla. He played his first two collegiate seasons for the Gators before transferring to Missouri in 2024.

He gradually moved inside and beefed up courtesy of the Tigers' detailed nutrition plan. Soon, McClellan become a focal point of the Tigers' defense, racking up 87 tackles (13 for loss) with 8 sacks and four pass breakups in 28 games with 23 starts.

McClellan followed that up with a strong Senior Bowl and then nearly cracked the 5-second mark in the 40-yard dash while weighing 313 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine. He also comes equipped with some of the largest hands in this year's draft class.

That combination was enough for Green Bay to make McClellan the sixth interior D-lineman off the board, ahead of Texas A&M's Albert Regis (No. 81 to Jacksonville) and Iowa State's Domonique Orange (No. 82 to Minnesota).

"He was a guy that really I think checked a lot of boxes since the middle of the season through the all-star process," Packers director-football operations Milt Hendrickson said.

"The more you watch, the more he grew on us and ultimately, we made the decision to go get him. Big man, good length, he's got a really good tag. He can do a lot of things. I think there's a lot of versatility he's going to be able to bring our defense."

McClellan's college career was an exercise in growth and adaptation. He not only learned how to be a two-gapping defensive tackle who could free up his linebackers but also how to penetrate and pressure the quarterback.

As he gained more comfort at Mizzou, McClellan wasn't afraid to demand more from his teammates. Last year, he began pulling his position group together every Wednesday for extra film sessions.

"That was really something we harped on this year," McClellan said. "It was more in the sense of like, I can't do it by myself. A big thing for me, taking on a leadership role on my team this year, my message to the guys was take guys with you. If I was going to watch extra tape, I'm making sure my guys are watching extra tape with me."

McClellan is excited to blend his talent with an experienced interior defensive line that includesDevonte Wyatt,Javon HargraveandKarl Brooks. Of course, he's also excited to play on the same front as All-Pro edge rusherMicah Parsons.

Familiar with the Packers' reputation for draft-and-developing men at his position, McClellan can't wait to get things started.

"I know it's one of the most legendary franchises in the league and I know the expectation is to win games year in and year out," McClellan said. "I know they've had great success with defensive linemen in the past with guys like I know he's not there anymore but Kenny Clark and things like that. Just wanting to go in there and learn from all the guys there and try to soak up as much knowledge as I can."