As the countdown to the draft continues, teams around the league are finalizing their strategies for Day 1 in particular. Those which are flush with draft capital are generally among the ones to watch with respect to a trade up the board, but in the case of the Packers such a move may be unlikely. 
[RELATED: Packers Planning Late QB Draft Addition]
Green Bay has 11 total selections in 2024, tied for the most picks in the league this year. Coming off a surprise run to the divisional round of the postseason, the Packers’ first-rounder currently sits at No. 25. A trade-up maneuver is of course something which will be considered, but general manager Brian Gutekunst recently expressed hesitancy on that front.
“I think it’s very expensive to do that,” Gutekunst said of an aggressive move up the order (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky). “From what you have to give up to go that far up, you’re giving up a lot. So unless it’s a quarterback or a rare, rare player, I think you have to be careful there. You guys know the numbers, what it takes to get from back in the 20s up into the top 10, you’re giving up quite a bit, and you may think at the time that it’s the right thing to do.
“But to give up the kind of picks you’re going to have to do, which are probably going to be future picks and you don’t know what’s going to transpire down the road and what you might need, it’s never really made a ton of sense for me.”
The Packers own two selections in each of the second and third rounds owing to the Aaron Rodgers and Rasul Douglas trades. That capital could help the team jump ahead of others slated to pick in the middle of the first round, or at least pull off a small move higher in the 20s. The latter type of deal is one being considered by the Buccaneers – who own the 26th selection – but Gutekunst’s comments suggest Green Bay (a team which is positioned to continue its youth movement this April) is less likely to surrender Day 2 or 3 capital.
In other Green Bay draft news, a linebacker addition appears to be in play after Round 1. ESPN’s Jordan Reid reports that finding a new starter to pair with Quay Walker (with De’Vondre Campbell having been released) “seems to be high on the priority list.” No LB prospects in this year’s class are expected to hear their names called on Day 1, but a number of options after that point will be available for Green Bay, especially if no first round trade-up takes place. Reid names Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper and Kentucky’s Trevin Wallace as players who could be on the Packers’ radar.
Unless they are moving up for Harrison or Nabers it isn’t worth it. As long as they don’t take DeJean most any pick where they are and with their two 2nds will be the right move.
WR is pretty low on the needs list for GB, compared to other areas on the team so it wouldn’t make a lot of sense to move up to take them.
….which is why Gute would do it.
I don’t disagree they technically don’t NEED a WR…but there isn’t a guy in that room I think is a true number 1.
Watson has shown that he COULD be that guy but can’t stay on the field enough. Doubs isn’t a number either and if 600 yards is the ceiling he’s not a number 2 either. He creates a ton of separation so I hope he can build off his 2023 and show more this year.
Reed is set in the slot and that won’t change and that is great because he showed a lot in his first year.
Packers used to have a true number one then refused to draft and get a legit second option behind Adams. Now it’s the opposite. We have depth but not a true stud.
Here is hoping Watson plays at least 15 and makes me eat my words though. That’s the best case scenario and I’d be happy to be wrong about him.
My opinion is based on depth more than exceptional talent. Wicks, Melton and Heath also showed some things last year. If anything, I’d move on from Watson if I’m looking to add to the wr room.
If we rolled into the season without adding a WR with our first round pick or via trade I wouldn’t be upset. I think we would be well suited to draft O-Line first round and then see what is left in round two. The back half of the draft has a lot of good DBs and if you told me we grabbed a Guard-Center combo, safety, and then either a LB or even another interior O-line I would be very happy.
But if this year doesn’t have a real #1 emerge in that WR room, then I think they need to look at that for 2025.
They should go after Tee w/ a 2nd round pick. Finalize the WR room and still be loaded w/ picks to fill out the rest of the roster.
I almost can’t believe I’m saying this…but GB’s wr room doesn’t need finalizing. Unless we’re talking about an Aaron Rodgers type draft day fall I don’t see the logic in grabbing a wr, at all really. Of course, this is Gute making the decisions so I could also see him taking wr’s with his first 3 selections.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see them move up 5 or 6 spots. I’d actually be more surprised if they didn’t move up, or at least make an effort to.
IMO, when you have a lot of picks, you should use a few to trade up. I’d like to see my Raiders trade back and gather a couple more 2nd/3rd picks.
Yup, especially when there’s a good chance 3 or 4 would have no chance to make the roster, based solely on the numbers crunch.
The Packers have the league’s youngest roster so they just need to stay on course with their post Rodgers rebuild which is farther along than most people were expecting. Let the Vikings try to make a splashy move.
Problem is there really isn’t enough roster space for 11 draft picks. Trade up where it makes sense to grab an impact guy who maybe fell a bit, or even move a couple picks for a veteran. No point using all 11 picks when it’s unlikely 3 or 4 have no chance to make the roster.
I don’t think any GM with 11 draft picks would expect more than 4 or 5 to make the roster even if a rebuild was in progress. It’s beneficial to have good positional competitions in training camp though which is why teams also like to bring in several UDFAs.
That seems like some poor drafting or scouting if the GM expects less than half of his picks to make the roster.
Let’s say that’s the general expectation though..even more reason to trade quantity for quality. Then sign those UDFA’s for camp competition.
I think that’s when you take a gamble, package 3 picks, and move up to get a high ceiling superior athlete. Someone with lightning speed and great hands who can break a game open.
Edgerrin Cooper is a weak tackler and needs significant strength gains. Pass.
I just hope the Packers don’t over-react to last years minor success and instead continue building for the next run. They have the start of a good young core and another year or two of adding young talent and development could lead to a long period of contention, as it has with the two previous generations of Packers.
I’m sure Gute is committed to the youth movement, and will stay on track until the team needs chaperones for away games.