Packers have the resources to move up early in 2020 NFL Draft
If there’s a player GM Brian Gutekunst loves in the early rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers have the resources to trade up.
Brian Gutekunst has shown in his first two drafts that he’s willing to move to where he feels most comfortable taking a player he feels will improve the team.
He traded down then back up in 2018 to select Jaire Alexander in the first round. Last season, the Packers moved up in the opening round for Darnell Savage. And so far, he’s done a fine job of moving around the board and still selecting the players he wants.
What if the Packers love a player on the draft’s opening day, perhaps an inside linebacker or defensive lineman, but feel the only way to have a chance is to move up?
Well, it certainly can’t be ruled out. The Packers are well-positioned to be flexible on draft day given the number of picks they have. Green Bay will enter April’s event with nine picks, two of which have come from trades.
Gutekunst isn’t afraid to make an aggressive move if he feels that player can step in and contribute right away. Oftentimes, it’s at a position of need.
As always, if the Packers wanted to move up into the early 20s of the first round, for example, they’d need a trade partner. A team willing, or even aiming, to move down.
There are a few candidates that immediately come to mind.
The Seattle Seahawks only have six picks in the draft, including zero in the third round. They do own two second-rounders, however. But it’s possible they’d be willing to make a trade, moving down three positions with the Packers and receiving a mid-round pick in return.
Interestingly, in both drafts under Gutekunst the Packers have traded up in the first round, and both times the deal has been with the Seahawks.
The New Orleans Saints are another candidate to move down from No. 24 overall. They only have five picks in total and none in the second round. They could be a team looking to add more picks in a trade.
Similarly, the New England Patriots traded away their second-round pick so could also be looking for more Day 2 selections in a trade.
For the Packers to trade up, they would need to believe a player they love won’t still be available at No. 30, which is what happened when they moved up for Savage last year. In that scenario, the Packers have plenty of mid-round picks to offer and there could be a few interested teams.