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Packers could target hyper athletic tight end late on Day 3
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- Packers could target hyper athletic tight end late on Day 3
The Green Bay Packers addressed their two biggest roster needs on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft with the selections of cornerback Brandon Cisse and defensive tackle Chris McClellan.
Now the page turns to Day 3 of the draft, where Brian Gutekunst currently has five picks at his disposal, including three in the final two rounds.
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A target with one of those picks could be the ultra-athletic tight end John Michael Gyllenborg . With the Packers in need of tight end depth, the Wyoming product could be an attractive late-round target.
A three-star recruit who only played three games of high school football, Gyllenborg redshirted during his first season with the Cowboys and then caught three passes for 21 yards in 2022. The following season, he reeled in 23 receptions for 360 yards and three touchdowns. Despite missing three games in 2024, Gyllenborg recorded 30 receptions for 425 yards and three touchdowns. This past season, Gyllenborg missed three games due a nagging hamstring injury, and recorded 24 receptions for 217 yards and one touchdown.
"John Mike was a main focal point of our offense in the passing game and the running game," Wyoming tight ends coach Shannon Moore said. "In his last two years, we would work to put him into formations where he would have the best opportunity to catch the ball. Even in 2023, as he was really growing in the system, we already knew what he could do and started putting him in those spots early on, even before he was our every-down starter for us."
At 6-5, 249 pounds with easy athleticism, Gyllenborg is a big target that moves like a wide receiver. At the NFL Scouting Combine, he clocked a 4.60 40-yard dash and a 10-08 broad jump. There is a reason he was No. 54 on Bruce Feldman's Freaks list this summer.
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"John Mike is one of the most athletic football players I have been around," Moore said. "For a big, skilled body, he is extremely athletic. He has the ability to plant is foot and get in and out of cuts or run a comeback/curl route with very minimal chopping. He can sink his hips and get out of cuts just like a wide receiver and has the quickness to get back to full speed very quickly. He is explosive getting off the ground and is very solid in his change of direction."
The Wyoming tight end is a size, speed threat. He has the tools to create mismatch problems. at the next level. He's a big target with the speed to threaten the seam. He accelerates quickly off the line of scrimmage and shows good route urgency. As he's still new to the game, there are warts to his game, such as drops and learning how to use his body to box out defenders at the catch point. With his quickness, he has the ability to be a YAC threat.
"I believe that his strengths are his ability to put vertical pressure on you and create separation in and out of his breaks at the top of his route," Moore said. "He does a really good job of leaning into contact and using his hands to create that separation. I think his understanding of coverages and knowing what windows to work really increased over the last season."
Blocking is a part of Gyllenborg's game that improved each season during his time at Wyoming. He's at his best when he's on the move and can get a head of steam going. As an in-line blocker, he showed improvement, but he'll need to improve his hand placement and technique to shake it at the next level.
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"Throughout the spring of 2025 and fall camp of 2025, that was a main focal point for us. We knew teams wanted to see more from him in the run game and sticking to his blocks. I think his strengths in the run game are blocking on the perimeter and also when he is directly at the point of attack."
The Packers have one of the best tight ends in football in Tucker Kraft and he'll likely get a contract extension at some point this summer.
With Luke Musgrave entering a contract year, the Packers could look to add Kraft's future running mate on Day 3 of the draft.
Gyllenborg is a logical replacement. He's an ascending prospect who could have his best football in front of him. In terms of a late Day 3 pick, Gyllenborg's size and athleticism are easy things to bet on. Don't be shocked if the Wyoming tight end is one of the final pieces to Green Bay 's 2026 draft class.
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"John Mike has high character and is not going to do anything off the field to hurt the organization," Moore said. "The organization that drafts him is going to get a player that is a natural leader, very competitive, has a high football IQ and will do anything that is asked of him. My final note would be the fact that he is still learning a lot about playing the game of football. He played three games his senior year, and that was the only football background he had before we signed him at Wyoming. His first two years were mainly on the scout team, just learning to run block, run routes, and protections. Then, for his last three years, he was a starter for us, so he is nowhere near reaching his ceiling. He has so much more room to grow and potential that he is going to be a great fit for any organization to mold him and keep developing him."
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers could target hyper athletic tight end late on Day 3
