ESPN proposes two blockbuster trades for Packers in 2024 NFL Draft
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst is more than happy to make draft-day trades if opportunities arise. He has traded up three times in the first round, making moves for Jaire Alexander, Darnell Savage, and Jordan Love. Gutekunst made a big trade-up for Christian Watson at the beginning of Day 2 in 2022.
He also finds value by trading down. In 2018, the Packers moved from No. 14 to No. 27, netting a future first-round pick in the process. Last year, Gutekunst made two small trade-downs in Round 2 to acquire more draft capital, which he used to select Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Karl Brooks.
The opportunity is there for the Packers to make another big splash in the early rounds of the draft. They hold 11 total selections and five in the top 100.
It gives Green Bay the flexibility necessary to make a blockbuster trade.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell has created a unique mock draft featuring trade proposals for every pick in the first round, including two interesting ideas for the Packers.
ESPN trade proposals highlight Packers' draft-day flexibility
Packers trade up with Colts in first round
Packers-Colts trade
Green Bay is in position to trade up. Moving to No. 15 would make a lot of sense if one of Gutekunst's top targets is available. Here's where we see the benefit of picking twice in the second round. The Packers could move up 10 spots in the first round and keep their second-rounder at No. 41 overall, which comes from the Aaron Rodgers trade.
Barnwell discussed the possibility of trading for a cornerback or offensive tackle. The Packers prefer to prioritize premium positions early, and they also need help in both spots.
Who could they target?
It's unlikely they would move up for a linebacker or safety, so it would have to be a top cornerback like Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell or Alabama's Terrion Arnold. There are several candidates at tackle, including Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Washington's Troy Fautanu, and Notre Dame's Joe Alt. Any of those players could be gone before No. 15 overall, but with a run on quarterbacks expected, one of them is bound to fall.
Packers trade up with Bengals in first round
Packers-Bengals trade
A move to No. 18 would cost slightly less, and this is another favorable move for the Packers. They lose one of their second-rounders but gain a third.
Trading from No. 25 to No. 18 opens things up for the Packers. Even without knowing who will fall, we can play the numbers game. These prospects will almost certainly be gone before No. 18:
- QB Caleb Williams
- QB Jayden Daniels
- QB Drake Maye
- QB J.J. McCarthy
- WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
- WR Malik Nabers
- WR Rome Odunze
- EDGE Dallas Turner
- TE Brock Bowers
If we assume those nine prospects are gone, then at least one of these prospects would have to be available at No. 18:
- CB Quinyon Mitchell
- CB Terrion Arnold
- T Joe Alt
- T Olumuyiwa Fashanu
- T Troy Fautanu
- T Taliese Fuaga
- CB Cooper DeJean
- CB Nate Wiggins
- EDGE Jared Verse
Take your pick. And if none of these prospects remain on the board, it means one of the previous names has fallen to No. 18.
Of course, the Packers would trade up with a specific prospect in mind, depending on who was still available. But in this hypothetical world before the draft has begun, we can see the potential value of this deal. Green Bay would still have a ton of draft capital, picking at No. 18 (first round), No. 41 (second round), and Nos. 88, 91, and 97 (third round).
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