Heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers needed help at cornerback but failed to address the position until the third-to-last pick on Day 3, selecting Penn State's Kalen King at No. 255 overall.
King never took a single regular-season snap, by the way, not even on special teams.
There were many who thought the Packers could have and should have traded up from the No. 25 slot in the first round to nab Quinyon Mitchell. But that didn't happen, and they ultimately watched the Philadelphia Eagles draft the Toledo product at No. 22.
The rival Detroit Lions then grabbed Terrion Arnold at No. 24, leaving Green Bay to select offensive tackle Jordan Morgan a pick later.
To make matters worse, the Packers seemed to believe they could get Cooper DeJean at No. 41 overall, only to watch the Eagles jump up 10 spots after making a trade with the Washington Commanders to steal him at No. 40.
It's now a year later, and Green Bay still needs help at cornerback, especially with the likelihood of Jaire Alexander being shown the door growing by the minute. And even if the two-time Pro Bowler is retained, he's become far too unreliable, missing 34 of 68 possible games over the last four seasons.
New addition Nate Hobbs could possibly play the perimeter opposite Keisean Nixon, but he's far more productive in the slot. So, it stands to reason that general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur go looking for a new cornerback in the draft.
However, there's a chance most of the top prospects at the position could be off the board by the time the Packers make their first-round selection at No. 23. As such, NFL.com has offered up a scenario in which Green Bay moves up a few slots by making a trade with a former division rival.
NFL.com analyst thinks the Packers could benefit from a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFL.com analyst Chad Reuter recently suggested that there are six "win-win" trades that could be made during the 2025 NFL Draft, one of which involved the Packers making a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to move up four spots to No. 19 overall.
In addition the first-round pick swap, Green Bay would also send its third-round selection to the Bucs (No. 87 overall), while receiving Tampa's fifth-round pick (No. 157 overall).
Here's a bit of Reuter's thought process:
"Although the Packers made the playoffs with an 11-6 record last season, they finished third in the NFC North and were one-and-done in postseason play. Shoring up a couple of roster spots through the draft could help them return to the top of the division and clinch them their first home playoff game since 2021.
"To secure one of this year's top CBs, WRs, or edge defenders -- whomever from their wish list is still available at No. 19 overall -- the Pack put in a call to their former NFC Central rival to climb up a few rungs on the first-round ladder."
The other two positions Reuter mentions—wide receiver and edge rusher—are certainly necessities for Green Bay as well. But staying on the cornerback track, the Packers certainly won't be in position to select Travis Hunter, who will likely go somewhere in the top five.
However, options such as Jahdae Barron and Will Johnson could be on the table. Again, though, perhaps not at No. 23. If the Packers believe one of these guys could genuinely make a difference, a trade could be the best play here. And they might need to jump up more than four spots.