Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst traded up to land Jordan Love, and he could make a similar move to help his franchise quarterback. A recent NFL.com mock draft has the Packers trading up for Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, and it's exactly the kind of bold move Gutekunst should consider.
As Chad Reuter notes in the seven-round mock draft, most of the top cornerbacks had come off the board, so Green Bay made a move to upgrade its receiving corps.
Egbuka could transform the Packers' offense and make Love's life far easier, and the price to move up is well worth it.
The projected trade cost Green Bay its third-round pick, but it received a fifth-rounder from Tampa Bay in return. It's worth it. The Packers went on a near-decade run of burning third-round picks, so it's a small price to pay to land a receiver with game-changing potential.
Gutekunst could go in several directions on draft night, and history shows he isn't afraid to trade up.
Many point to the Packers' two-decade-long stretch without drafting a receiver in the first round as proof that they won't select Egbuka, but it's a myth. Green Bay has attempted to make Day 1 moves at the position in recent years, and it could finally happen this time.
Packers trading up for Emeka Egbuka would make Jordan Love's dreams come true
Here are the full details of the proposed trade from the NFL.com mock draft:
Love had everything working against him last season. He battled multiple injuries, beginning with an MCL sprain in the season-opening defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles. His receivers let him down — Pro Football Reference credited the Packers with 33 drops, the third-most in the NFL.
Egbuka would change that.
He has understandably drawn comparisons to former Ohio State teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is a rising star for the Seattle Seahawks, earning his first Pro Bowl honors in 2024. Egbuka is arguably the most pro-ready receiver in the class. He is an outstanding route-runner, has inside/outside versatility, and rarely makes mistakes. Egbuka dropped only 12 passes across four seasons for Ohio State.
The Packers showed interest by hosting Egbuka before the draft. Draft analysts are divided on when he will get drafted, with opinions ranging from a top-15 pick to falling to the late 20s.
Gutekunst shouldn't hesitate if he's there at No. 19 and the Buccaneers are willing to make a deal.
Egbuka is a dream target for the Packers. If that means trading up four positions and giving away a third-rounder, so be it.