Unpack the future packers Countdown is counting down to 100 potential customers green bay packers Can be drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Green Bay Packers need more punch from within their defensive line. Devonte Wyatt, who has played in just 10 games this season, leads the defensive tackle group with four sacks and is tied for the club lead with six tackles for loss.
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The remaining defensive tackles combined for one sack and seven tackles for loss. Karl Brooks led the position group with 25 pressures. Wyatt had 22 pressures before suffering a season-ending injury. The rest of the group combined for just 30 pressures.
A potential target in the 2026 NFL Draft is Rayshawn Benny. The Michigan State defensive tackle is ranked No. 56 on the Future Packers Countdown.
A four-star recruit and Michigan native, Benny had a breakout season during his junior season in 2023, recording 5.5 tackles and 1 sack. The following season, Benny recorded 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Last season, Benny had three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
“Going into the year, Benny was viewed as one of the most important players on Michigan’s defensive front,” said Maize-N-Brew writer Nick Durand. “He was one of the few returning players with experience in the defensive scheme, and because of that, he ended up with the most steals on the team and had his most productive season.”
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Benny has good initial speed off the snap and can quickly explode downfield to disrupt action in the backfield. He has short-area twitch ability and can make plays at and down the line of scrimmage. The 6-foot-3, 298-pound defensive tackle has good leverage and excellent balance through contact. He’s slippery and can get out of blocks very well. He has active hands that help him stay clean. He has recorded 50 run stops over the past three seasons. He has enough wingspan and strong hands to complete the interception task. In his final seasons at Michigan, he was tagged with just four missed tackles.
“Running is definitely his strength,” Durand said. “He’s a defensive player who can break the ball quickly and moves well laterally to meet running backs in the hole. Additionally, his play strength and good technique keep him off the skates by interior offensive linemen, allowing him to stay in the game. On top of that, he’s also a good tackler and if he gets the ball carrier, he doesn’t let them get past him.”
As a pass rusher, Benny wins with his quickness and rushing ability. He has the strength and level to push offensive linemen back. Over the past few seasons, Benny has recorded 38 pressures and three sacks.
“He’s made some progress in that area this season with 1.5 sacks,” Durand said. “His biggest asset is he never gives up the play and is always looking for a route to the quarterback. He doesn’t necessarily have the deepest moves, but he can rush and he takes advantage of that well occasionally.”
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fit for the packers
The Packers’ top priority this offseason is strengthening the interior of the defensive line. They desperately need more leverage from this position group.
Against the run, he provides immediate value as part of the defensive tackle rotation. His first step quickness, leverage and balance allow him to control gaps and finish plays.
Benny may not be a double-digit sack scorer as a pass rusher, but that’s not necessarily what the Packers need. They needed internal disruption, someone who could empty their pockets. That’s what Benny offers.
“I chose Benny because of his experience playing the NFL-style defenses that Michigan has employed over the past five seasons. He has a relentless drive and great skills (as most Michigan defensive linemen typically do), and while he may not have the ceiling that other defensive tackles in the draft have, he is a guy who plays his position well and will always try to find a way to make a play.”
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Benny could be a third- or fourth-round target for the Packers. For a team looking to get stronger up front, Michigan State’s defensive tackle could fill the bill.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers of the Future Revealed: No. 56, Michigan DT Rayshaun Benny
