🚨 PACKERS MAY HAVE FOUND THE STEAL OF THE ENTIRE DRAFT! THIRD-ROUND ROOKIE CHRIS MULLEN IS ALREADY STEALING FIRST-TEAM REPS — AND GREEN BAY’S DEFENSIVE LINE COULD BE ABOUT TO CHANGE FOREVER 🚨

Just when Packers fans thought the biggest rookie storyline would revolve around the wide receivers or the offensive line, another name has suddenly exploded onto the scene, and honestly, it may end up being Brian Gutekunst’s smartest move of the entire draft. That player is Chris Mullen, and the early reports coming out of Green Bay are creating a level of excitement that very few third-round picks ever generate. While most rookies spend OTAs simply trying to learn the playbook, Mullen is reportedly doing something far more impressive—earning legitimate first-team reps and forcing the coaching staff to seriously consider giving him a major role before he has even played a single NFL snap. That’s the kind of development that immediately grabs attention because the Packers don’t hand out first-team opportunities by accident. You earn them. And according to multiple reports, Mullen has done exactly that.

The craziest part? Brian Gutekunst apparently believed this would happen all along. After the draft, the Packers’ general manager admitted the organization had given Mullen a second-round grade and couldn’t believe he was still sitting on the board. As pick after pick came off the board, Green Bay kept waiting for another team to grab him. It never happened. Eventually Gutekunst decided he had seen enough, traded up, and made sure the Packers walked away with the defensive tackle they had been targeting the entire time. At the moment, some fans questioned whether moving up for a third-round defensive lineman was really necessary. Fast forward to today, and suddenly that decision looks like pure genius.

According to the latest reports, Mullen has already shown a level of versatility that most rookie defensive linemen simply don’t possess. Coaches have been moving him between nose tackle and traditional defensive tackle without missing a beat, and he has reportedly looked comfortable everywhere they’ve lined him up. In today’s NFL, that kind of flexibility is incredibly valuable. One snap he’s lining up directly over the center as a true zero-tech. The next he’s shaded over a shoulder. Then he’s sliding outside into different alignments depending on the defensive front. That’s exactly the type of versatility defensive coordinators dream about because it allows them to disguise looks, create mismatches, and keep offenses guessing before the ball is even snapped.

But here’s what really has Packers fans excited.

It’s not just where Mullen lines up.

It’s how he plays.

Watch his college tape and one thing immediately jumps off the screen. He simply refuses to get moved. Offensive linemen struggle to knock him off the ball because he plays with tremendous leverage, incredibly heavy hands, and outstanding lower-body strength. Time after time he wins at the point of attack, controls blockers instead of reacting to them, and clogs running lanes before plays even have a chance to develop. Those are traits that usually translate extremely well to the NFL, especially for young defensive tackles.

And honestly?

That’s exactly why many people inside Green Bay believe Mullen could become one of the biggest rookie contributors on the entire roster.

Some analysts are already going even further.

In fact, there’s growing belief that Mullen could end up playing more defensive snaps than any other rookie selected by the Packers this year. That’s a bold prediction considering Green Bay added talent at several positions, but it also tells you just how highly people inside the organization think of him. The current expectation is that Javon Hargrave will lead the room while Devonte Wyatt continues returning from injury. But after those veterans? The competition is completely wide open, and many observers already believe Mullen has positioned himself as the No. 3 defensive tackle before training camp has even started.

That’s remarkable.

Especially for a third-round rookie.

What’s even more fascinating is how perfectly he appears to fit Jonathan Gannon’s defensive philosophy. Gannon has always valued interior defenders who can anchor against the run while still offering enough versatility to move around the formation. Mullen checks every one of those boxes. His size, strength, discipline, and football IQ make him exactly the type of player defensive coordinators love building around. Add veteran Javon Hargrave to the equation—a player who already knows Gannon’s system inside and out—and suddenly Mullen couldn’t ask for a better mentor as he begins his NFL career.

And honestly, that’s what makes this story so exciting.

This doesn’t feel like another developmental prospect who needs three years before seeing meaningful snaps.

This feels different.

It feels like Green Bay drafted someone who could help immediately.

The Packers desperately wanted to become tougher against the run this season. They wanted more physicality. They wanted more flexibility along the defensive front. They wanted young players capable of growing into long-term starters.

Chris Mullen may check every single one of those boxes.

Of course, the real test is still coming. OTAs and minicamp are one thing. Training camp with full pads is something completely different. Veteran offensive linemen won’t make life easy. Every snap will become more physical. Every mistake will be magnified. That’s when rookies either rise or disappear.

But if the early reports are any indication, Chris Mullen isn’t planning on disappearing anytime soon.

In fact, he may already be forcing the Packers to rethink their entire defensive line rotation.

And if that happens, Brian Gutekunst may have pulled off one of the biggest steals of the entire 2026 NFL Draft without anyone realizing it until it was far too late.