Packers: 5 first-round options in 2018 NFL Draft

Five options the Green Bay Packers could have when they hit the clock in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Draft season is here, and the Green Bay Packers have their highest draft pick in almost a decade.

Making the call will be new general manager Brian Gutekunst, who takes over from Ted Thompson. How Gutekunst approaches the offseason is going to be interesting to watch. Will he take on a similar style to Thompson? Maybe Gutekunst will be a risk-taker, not afraid to move up early in the draft. Only time will tell.

Assuming the Packers don’t move from the No. 14 spot in April’s draft, they will have a number of options in the first round. It’s a rare opportunity for Green Bay to land a potential difference-maker on Day 1. The eight-year playoff streak was fun to watch, but it hurt the Packers at this time of year.

A season outside of the postseason may lead to some long-term benefits entering the final stretch of Aaron Rodgers’ career. His window for winning championships is slowly closing with each passing year, and the Packers need to put him in the best position to succeed. With the 14th overall pick, Gutekunst could select a player able to help make the Packers legitimate Super Bowl contenders in 2018.

We’re going to learn a lot about Gutekunst’s philosophy in the coming months. Will he draft for need — seeking the top cornerbacks or edge rushers available — or will he simply take the best player regardless of position?

Maybe Gutekunst will break the Packers’ recent trend of selecting a defensive player with their top choice. Under Thompson, Green Bay has used its past six opening selections on defense. Could this be the year the Packers address the other side of the ball on Day 1? What we do know is that the Packers will have options this April.

Let’s look at five players that could be available for them at No. 14.