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
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.
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Round 2 (41): Kingsley Suamataia, T, BYU
The Packers have a proven track record of developing offensive linemen. Zach Tom (fourth round), Rasheed Walker (seventh round), and Yosh Nijman (undrafted) became important starters at tackle. BYU's Kingsley Suamataia needs time to develop but could become an excellent starter.
"Suamataia is a dream prospect to draft and develop somewhere on Day 2. I worry about him being baptized by fire if he is drafted in the first round and called upon to start right away," writes Trevor Sikkema of PFF.
Suamataia would get the time he needs in Green Bay. The Packers already have two starters in place, with Walker and Tom coming off excellent seasons. In time, Suamataia could become a starter at either tackle spot or move inside to guard. If the Packers view Tom as their long-term starting center, Suamataia could step in as his replacement at right tackle.
Along with his versatility, Suamataia is one of the best athletes at the position in this year's class, with an RAS of 9.40 out of 10.
Round 3 (88): Cole Bishop, S, Utah
Cole Bishop in Round 3 could be the home run of the draft. The Utah safety can become an immediate starter in Jeff Hafley's defense, and the Packers upgrade a position of need without needing to burn a pick in the opening two rounds.
Bishop's near-perfect RAS of 9.88 ranks first among all safeties in the class, and his versatility to play various roles in the secondary should interest the Packers. He played everywhere in Utah's defense, including deep, in the box, in the slot, and cornerback.
The Packers love versatility. Bishop and Xavier McKinney can move around and play various positions, allowing Hafley to get creative, disguise coverages, and become less predictable. Another interesting note: Hafley recruited Bishop while he was at Boston College in 2021, so it's clear the Packers' new defensive coordinator is a fan.
Round 3 (91): Kiran Amegadjie, T, Yale
The Packers add another offensive lineman for the future with Yale's Kiran Amegadjie. He needs time to adjust from a small school to the NFL level, but there's no denying his potential.
"With a rare blend of athletic traits and eye-popping length, it might be a mistake to bet against the high number of boxes Amegadjie checks," writes Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. "Amegadjie already possesses impressive explosiveness as a drive blocker and could become a quality NFL starter once his tutelage is complete."
Amegadjie mostly played left tackle at Yale but also has experience at guard. The Packers could give him snaps at both positions, although they should give him every opportunity to reach his potential at tackle. Amegadjie is an exciting prospect, and with time to develop in Green Bay, he could become an excellent starter.
Round 3 (97): MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC
The need for another running back is slipping under the radar because the Packers signed Josh Jacobs and brought back AJ Dillon. However, depth remains an issue. Green Bay struggled to consistently move the ball on the ground when Aaron Jones didn't play last season, and it needs to add another running back to prevent a similar drop-off in production when Jacobs isn't on the field.
USC's MarShawn Lloyd is an excellent athlete with an RAS of 8.62. He has the potential to become a featured back in the NFL, and he could form one of the league's best combinations with Jacobs. Lloyd averaged an impressive 7.1 yards per carry last season and put up 1,052 yards and nine touchdowns from scrimmage. He has potential as a receiver, a role he could expand in Green Bay's offense.
A backfield of Jacobs, Lloyd, and Dillon would give the Packers all the depth they need.
Round 4 (126): Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky
At some stage, the Packers must address the linebacker position. They hosted Kentucky's Trevin Wallace for a top-30 visit, and it won't be surprising if he is one of their top targets in Rounds 3-4. Wallace has an RAS of 9.34 and ran an impressive 4.51-second 40-yard dash.
Green Bay needs to add another linebacker to compete for a starting job in Jeff Hafley's 4-3 defense. Wallace can be that player while also being able to play special teams.