Green Bay Packers: 7 Realistic Predictions for 2021 NFL Draft

We are almost there, friends; the 2021 NFL Draft is right around the corner, less than a week away. The Green Bay Packers hold the 29th pick in Round 1, have 10 picks overall, as well as a number of positions to address.

Cornerback, offensive tackle, and interior defensive lineman are considered by most three of the biggest needs, but receiver isn’t too far behind, while linebacker and safety are possible early-round selections–we will get to that shortly.

Fortunately for Green Bay, this year’s draft class is quite deep at several of those positions. The opportunity to land an immediate impact player at a few positions is certainly in play, and that is the hope as well. But as Brian Gutekunst does, he will plan for the coming years as well.

When it comes to the draft, more times than not, it’s incredibly difficult to decipher what a team is going to do—especially for Packers fans with Gutekunst at the helm, who has thrown us a number of curveballs during his tenure.

But, you know what, we are going to try anyway. Here are seven predictions for the Green Bay Packers in this year’s NFL Draft.

Green Bay Packers Trade Up in Round 1 

Brian Gutekunst has three drafts as GM under his belt, and in all three, he has traded up in the first round to go and get his guy. However, if there is a year to trade back, this would be the one with 44 of the consensus top-100 players being either receivers, cornerbacks, or offensive tackles–all positions of need.

This could lead to Green Bay moving out of Round 1 to accumulate an additional third or fourth-round pick while still finding an immediate impact player. It’s a move that makes a lot of sense, and if it happens, I won’t be upset at all.

With all of that said, I believe Gutekunst moves up once again. Now, I don’t expect a big move into the teens, but a move into the low-20s is what I’m anticipating.

There are a few immediate impact players who just scream “Green Bay Packers,” and I’m not positive that they will make it to pick 29–the players who I am referring to are Greg Newsome and Tevin Jenkins, while Caleb Farley and Christian Barmore are two other potential candidates that I could see Gutey moving up for.

And as we all know, when Gutekunst zeros in on “his guy,” he moves up to take him–that has been quite clear. On top of that, in a year where there is limited tape on many of these prospects due to opt-outs, you have to wonder if GMs are more willing to part with mid to late-round picks for the premier talent in this class. I do imagine that it is a factor but to what degree is the question.

Either way, the Green Bay Packers move up in the first round.