This year, the Green Bay Packers have the luxury and privilege of hosting the 2025 NFL Draft which will certainly keep the team in the spotlight.
It got started early when Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst gave the media a real spicy nugget.
Per The Athletic's Packers beat writer Matt Schneidman, Gutekunst has officially been given permission to trade the team's first-round pick. Gutekunst said permission was granted via team CEO Mark Murphy.
Asked if that meant going after an edge rusher, Gutekunst said:
“Depends who that edge rusher would be."
This also begs the more broad question of just whom the Packers could be targeting in a trade. If edge rusher, then Myles Garrett would be the prized bull. But, are the Cleveland Browns going to come around to the idea of trading the former Defensive Player of the Year?
Another trade option, if not Garrett, could be someone like the Rams' Cooper Kupp. Of course, there has been the hot discussion on whether the Packers should add a top wide receiver to their room. Also, Kupp wouldn't necessarily cost a first rounder. Maybe, if the Cincinnati Bengals can't work something out with Tee Higgins, then a tag-and-trade makes sense there.
Hypothesizing over possible trade targets could go on all day. But, could Gutekunst also be hinting at a trade for more draft capital? That may also be the case.
Brian Gutekunst says he wants more draft picks this year
Also per Schneidman, Gutekunst said that he'd like to have more than the seven picks the Packers have this year. So, while it would be fun to imagine a blockbuster type of trade happening in Green Bay for someone like a Myles Garrett, his comments very well could have been hinting at something totally different.
Some fans might rather the Packers go all-in on a big offseason trade. Depending on the addition, one player could swing the trajectory even higher for Green Bay. Garrett would be a perfect example, potentially.
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Even someone like Higgins could end up completely changing things for the Packers, giving Jordan Love a legitimate alpha at the position and allowing the second-tier receivers a better chance to showcase what they do best without so much pressure.
Whatever the Packers choose to do with that first-round pick this year, Gutekunst sure made it sound like the team will be shopping the selection aggressively. You don't just come out and say something like that without the intent to move the pick.
Will Green Bay get any major trade negotiations done this week at the Combine?