The Green Bay Packers selected Missouri defensive tackle Chris McClellan in the third round (No. 77 overall) of the 2026 NFL draft.

Breakdown: Florida transfer who anchored the middle of the Missouri front over the past two seasons. Long, powerful and versatile interior defender who consistently caught the eye of Packers brass on the SEC tape. At his best, can control gaps and shed blocks using long arms (34") and gigantic hands (11"), and there's legitimate pass-rushing juice for a 313-pounder. Well-conditioned big man who didn't need to come off the field on third down. Beat single blocks and finished sacks (6.0) in 2025, an All-SEC season. Played in 51 games over four seasons, proving durability. Potential to play snaps on the nose, at three-technique and even on the end in the 3-4. Packers valued his versatility.

Dane Brugler’s scouting report: "A two-year starter at Missouri, McClellan lined up as an interchangeable one-/three-technique (depending on the formation) in defensive coordinator Corey Batoon’s scheme. He spent two seasons as a backup at Florida before becoming a steady force for the Tigers as a junior and senior. His production won’t blow anyone away, but his impact gradually increased each season. McClellan looks like an NFL player, with his big frame and bear-claw hands. He can be a tough guy for centers to defend when he times up the snap and uses his full extension or arm-over moves to create interior pressure. However, he can get stuck on blocks and needs to be more efficient with his hands to deconstruct and shed. Against the run, he can hold the point and respond well to double teams. Overall, McClellan isn’t a consistent disruptor, but he checks boxes with his physical characteristics and developing recognition skills. He projects as a rotational lineman on the interior who can give teams quality snaps as a zero-/one-technique."

Lance Zierlein's scouting report: "Two-year starter who is solidly proportional with adequate length. McClellan is not a natural knee-bender, which limits his anchor, and he allows blockers too far into his frame too often. He has flashes where he can dominate a rep, but he will need to improve his take-on technique and hand usage to be more consistent. His first step is average and his pass rush isn’t overly explosive, but McClellan can pry open edges with strong hands. He plows through to collapse pockets once his foot is in the door and projects as a backup nose tackle in an even-front defense."

Pro Football Sports Network: "Chris McClellan began his career as a four-star recruit with the Florida Gators in 2022, then transferred to Missouri in 2024 after a two-year stint as a rotational defender in Gainesville. In his first year with the Tigers, McClellan logged 2.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss, and in 2025, he achieved career-highs in both sacks (6) and TFLs (8), as well as a strong 80.2 PFSN DT Impact grade. McClellan has an ideal combination of natural leverage, mass, and proportional length at 6'3", 315 pounds, with 34" arms, and at the Senior Bowl, he flashed in a similar manner to what's on his film. McClellan can drift a bit high with his pads at times, and he's high-cut with below-average flexibility, but he's also undeniably explosive and agile, with excellent power capacity and natural strength. Right away, McClellan sizes up well as a one-gapper from 3-tech and adjacent alignments, and he has exciting pass-rush upside if he can continue to refine his pass-rush plan and counter consistency."

They said it: "First of all, 6-4, 315 pounds. Can stop the run, he holds his ground very, very well. Very good pass rusher, can play up and down the line. Very versatile, which we like very much. Played in the SEC. Young player, proven already at a very high level at college. He's going to be a good fit here." -- GM Brian Gutekunst

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Green Bay Packers 2026 third-round pick: DL Chris McClellan