2024 NFL Mock Draft: Packers land dream haul after blockbuster trade
Draft week is finally here. The Green Bay Packers have 11 selections at their disposal to upgrade a roster that reached the NFC's final four last season. Their strategy over the week ahead will be fascinating.
The Packers could stick in their current spots and draft 11 players, as they need depth at various positions. However, it's not every year you enter with five top-100 picks. With that comes additional flexibility to move up the board.
General manager Brian Gutekunst is no stranger to a Round 1 trade-up, and the Packers are in the perfect position to make another move on the opening night. ESPN's Bill Barnwell proposed a fascinating trade with the Cincinnati Bengals that would see Green Bay move up to No. 18 while swapping a second-rounder for Cincinnati's third. It's a relatively small price to pay to jump seven spots.
We decided to build a mock draft around this exact trade. Moving to No. 18 brings several top prospects at positions of need into play, including Alabama's Terrion Arnold.
Round 1 (18): Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Packers-Bengals trade
Green Bay could move up for one of the top offensive tackle or cornerback prospects, adding a player at a premium position and an area of need. Alabama's Terrion Arnold was still on the board at No. 18, making this an easy choice with home-run potential.
If Arnold falls this far, the Packers should pick up the phone and make a deal. The Alabama star is the ninth-best prospect in the class, according to Daniel Jeremiah's rankings for NFL.com.
"I struggled to find much to criticize in Arnold's play, despite his lack of experience at the position, having arrived at Alabama as a highly regarded safety prospect. He has all the tools and traits to be a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback," writes Jeremiah.
Arnold is coming off an outstanding season for Alabama, breaking up 12 passes and intercepting five. He plays mostly on the outside but also spent some time in the slot.
A first-team All-American and All-SEC, Arnold has superstar potential in the NFL and could form an outstanding combination with Jaire Alexander in Jeff Hafley's defense.
It's an exciting time to be a Packers fan, and you can make it even better by betting on the NFL Draft, next season or any sports going on right now with a guaranteed bonus from FanDuel! You'll get $150 in bonus bets, win or lose. Just sign up, deposit $10 or more and then bet $5 or more on any wager this week. Click this link to claim your guaranteed bonus from FanDuel today!