Packers should have plenty of picks to trade up in 2021 NFL Draft

Brian Gutekunst has put together three draft classes as general manager of the Green Bay Packers. In each, he’s traded up in the first round.

Should he wish to do so again, the Packers will have the resources to make a deal possible.

The Packers are likely to be rewarded with compensatory picks along with the seven picks they already have in this year’s draft, potentially one even as high as the fourth round. Over The Cap projects Green Bay to receive three additional picks which would take the team’s total to 10.

Gutekunst has been aggressive in the past and for good reason.

He pulled off a rare trade-down then trade-up in the same round in 2018, eventually jumping up to the 18th overall selection for cornerback Jaire Alexander. Three years on, Alexander is an All-Pro, Pro Bowler, and one of the best in the league at his position.

In the trade-down part of that, the Packers received a 2019 first-round pick in return from the New Orleans Saints. A year on, Gutekunst traded that pick away to move up for safety Darnell Savage. Savage was part of the PFWA All-Rookie Team that year and played some incredible football in the second half of 2020. He, too, could be a future All-Pro.

Last offseason, Gutekunst traded up again in the first round, this time for quarterback Jordan Love. Unlike the other two, who started right away, Love is yet to play an NFL snap. He got a front-row seat for Aaron Rodgers’ third MVP campaign.

We won’t know for a while whether that will be another good pick by Gutekunst or a mistake.

But the key takeaway here is that Gutekunst identifies a prospect he thinks can help the team and he’s not afraid to be aggressive in a trade to move up.

With the Packers potentially owning as many as 10 picks in this year’s draft, don’t be surprised if Gutekunst trades up again.