Packers sign five draft picks, ten rookies

The Packers used the first day of rookie minicamp to turn draft weekend into actual roster business. Green Bay signed five of its six draft picks on Friday, May 1, and also finalized deals with 10 undrafted rookies. That sounds routine — and mostly it is — but this is the point where projections become a depth chart fight. The only unsigned draft pick left is second-round cornerback Brandon Cisse, so most of the class is now officially in the building. ### Which draft picks signed? The signed draft picks were third-round defensive tackle Chris McClellan, fourth-round edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton, fifth-round lineman Jager Burton, sixth-round cornerback Domani Jackson, and sixth-round kicker Trey Smack. That leaves Cisse as the lone holdout from Green Bay’s six-man draft class. In practice, that means the Packers got almost their entire rookie draft group on the field for minicamp right away. ### Why does the unsigned name matter? Because second-round contracts are where teams still have a little friction. Rookie deals are mostly slotted now, so there usually is not much drama, but the top pick in a small class is still the one most likely to lag behind. Cisse being unsigned does not automatically signal a problem — it mostly means the Packers have one piece of paperwork left while the rest of the class starts work. ### Who are the undrafted rookies? The 10 undrafted signings were guard Dylan Barrett, quarterback Kyron Drones, guard Josh Gesky, edge rusher Nyjalik Kelly, safety Murvin Kenion, tight end RJ Maryland, running back Jaden Nixon, linebacker TJ Quinn, wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant, and guard Dillon Wade. That group is heavy on offensive line bodies, plus a few athletes at premium developmental spots like edge, receiver, and quarterback. Basically, Green Bay added competition all over the back half of the roster. ### Why so many linemen? Because rookie minicamp is part evaluation, part survival drill. Teams need enough blockers to run a functional practice, but they also use this window to hunt for one or two cheap depth pieces. Green Bay signed three undrafted guards — Barrett, Gesky, and Wade — which tells you the Packers want a long look at interior-line competition heading into the summer. ### Is there a name to watch? Kyron Drones jumps out. Not because he is likely to become the backup tomorrow, but because undrafted quarterbacks always get attention in camp and he brings real college production plus running ability. The Packers also took swings on traits players like Nyjalik Kelly off the edge and J. Michael Sturdivant at receiver — the kind of prospects who can hang around if they flash on special teams or in preseason games. ### What is rookie minicamp really for? It is less about instant starters and more about sorting. Coaches get a first live look at movement, conditioning, and how quickly players absorb the playbook. For drafted players, the goal is to start clean. For undrafted players, the goal is simpler — prove you belong long enough to make it to OTAs, training camp, and maybe the practice squad. ### Why does this matter for the Packers? Green Bay is not just filling out a weekend roster. The Packers have a long history of finding useful players outside the top of the draft, and these early signings shape the summer competition at the margins — special teams, reserve offensive line spots, developmental defenders, emergency quarterback reps. Most of these names will not make the 53-man roster. But one or two sticking would be the whole point. ### Bottom line? This was the administrative start of the Packers’ 2026 rookie class, but it also set up the first real audition phase. Five draft picks are under contract, 10 undrafted rookies are in the mix, and now the question shifts from “who did they add?” to “who can survive the summer?”