Green Bay Packers Should Be Looking to Trade Up in Middle-Rounds

Given their needs and their lack of early-round draft capital, if the opportunity presents itself, the Green Bay Packers should be looking to trade up in the middle rounds.

Although the Green Bay Packers were 13-3 and just one game shy of reaching the Super Bowl last season, it does feel like they have a number of needs to address on this roster.

Unfortunately for Green Bay, with limited caps space available, they weren’t able to make that flashy free agent signing to help plug a hole. Instead, they had to be more frugal and even with the additions of Christian Kirksey, Devin Funchess, and Rick Wagner, all three of those positions (linebacker, receiver, and tackle) remain needs in the upcoming draft.

On top of that, the cornerback position has some question marks, the interior defensive line could use some help as well, and added depth at tight end isn’t a bad idea either. Not to mention that when planning ahead – which all teams should be doing in the draft – the interior offensive line and running back positions are potentially major needs in 2021.

As we look ahead to the NFL Draft, which is now just a few days away, despite the Green Bay Packers having 10 draft picks this year, there is certainly more quantity than quality. Of those 10 picks, seven of them come on Day 3, with five of those seven taking place in Rounds 6 and 7.

In terms of finding immediate impact players, the top-100 is the sweet spot, however, Round 4 can provide some gems as well. But after that, each pick is really just a lottery ticket that NFL teams are hoping pays off.

While in Round 1, if they were to make a trade, I would expect the Packers to move out in order to gain an additional top-100 pick rather than trading up and losing one of the few top-100 picks that they have. But given the needs that they have coupled with their lack of high-end draft capital, making a move up draft boards in the middle rounds should absolutely be in play for GM Brian Gutekunst if there is a player available that he really likes.

It’s also worth pointing out that in addition to the hefty number of late-round draft picks that Green Bay has this year, after losing some key players to free agency, Over The Cap is projecting that the Packers will receive three compensatory picks in next year’s draft that they can leverage in a trade if needed.

Now having said all of that, if you would also like to see the Packers make a move or two up the draft board this weekend, the good news is that in Gutey’s short tenure as general manager, he has shown us that he isn’t afraid to make trades on draft day.

During the 2018 draft, he would move to the backend of Round 1, before trading back up to select Jaire Alexander. Then in the third round that same year, he would trade up to take Oren Burks. And just last offseason, he made another trade in the first round, this time taking Darnell Savage.

With Matt LaFleur at the helm and new energetic vibe oozing from the locker room, along with Aaron Rodgers as the quarterback, Davante Adams and Aaron Jones as offensive weapons, and a much-improved defense led by the Smiths, this Green Bay Packers team certainly appears ready to bring the Lombardi Trophy home.

So if that means Gutey needs to make a trade or two in the middle rounds to go after a more immediate impact player, then by all means, make it happen.