The success or failure of the Green Bay Packers in 2026 will likely depend heavily on the performance of two recent first-round picks.
Edge rusher Lukas Van Ness and left tackle Jordan Morgan were both put in the spotlight by national outlets while answering these broad questions: Who is each team's X-factor, and who is under the most pressure?
Ben Solak of ESPN highlighted Van Ness as the Packers' X-factor entering 2026. The 2023 first-round pick will be the featured pass-rusher for the Packers until Micah Parsons returns, and he needs to be the pass-rusher who can take off pressure and consistently win when Parsons inevitably is double-teamed upon his return to the field in October.
From Solak: "The Packers anticipate playing without Micah Parsons
for at least the first six weeks of the season as he returns from a torn left ACL. Van Ness must give Green Bay a three-down presence as a penetrator who creates negative plays. I'm not sure where those negatives would come from otherwise. He has all the physical tools of a highly disruptive player -- strong, quick and long with inside/out versatility -- but the pieces have yet to come together. Over his career, he has a pressure rate of 10.2% (the average for a league edge rusher is 12.7%) and a QB hit rate of 4.2% -- right on league average. Most of these snaps were as a rotational player, too. Now that Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare are gone, Van Ness will have to take a higher percentage of snaps this season."
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst believes Van Ness will be that player for Jonathan Gannon's defense in 2026, given he's healthy and expected to be a starter and full-time player in Year 4.
"We see him every day. When he’s been in there in the past, he’s been impactful, and I think he’ll be impactful like he has been in the past. He’ll just have more opportunities this year, more than likely," Gutekunst told Pete Dougherty of PackersNews.com.
On the other side of the football, the Packers are transitioning from Rasheed Walker to Morgan at left tackle. The 2024 first-round pick is taking over a premium position along the offensive line, and his performance will have a big say in whether the Packers offensive line takes a step forward after a disappointing and injury-plagued 2025 season.
Not surprisingly, Morgan was listed as one of the players most under pressure in the NFL entering 2026 by ESPN's Bill Barnwell, who placed Morgan among a group of 2024 first-round picks who must play well in 2026 to secure the fifth-year option on their rookie deals. A good season from Morgan would not only help the Packers but also give the left tackle a chance to cash in financially.
"Morgan was physically overpowered playing guard last season, so the Packers will hope that a move to tackle unlocks his potential," Barnwell wrote.
There are question marks across the Packers offensive line, both in terms of health (see: Aaron Banks, Zach Bako-Bewele) and new starters (Sean Rhyan at center, Morgan at left tackle, Jacob Monk at right guard). If Morgan struggles, the whole house of cards could collapse. But if he proves exceedingly capable, the whole line could stabilize around him. Another factor is how deadly Jordan Love has proven to be as a passer from clean pockets; if Morgan can keep the game's best pass-rushers off him, Love could have a big season throwing the ball to a host of explosive playmakers at receiver and tight end.
Both Van Ness and Morgan looked the part during the preseason. In Pittsburgh, Van Ness delivered a run stop and a pressure resulting in a sack over only three snaps. Morgan was excellent as a pass protector during both appearances. But the regular season always presents a much bigger test.
Are the two recent first-round picks ready to go? The Packers better hope so. The season is partially dependent on Van Ness and Morgan becoming difference-making players in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Lukas Van Ness, Jordan Morgan in spotlight as Packers enter 2026
