Imagine seeing a news bulletin pop up on your phone that says, “Green Bay moves up.” The potential for the Green Bay Packers to move up in the first round of the 2018 draft is real, especially with the change in leadership with the installation of new General Manager Brian Gutekunst.

The last time the Packers moved up in the first round was 2009 when the team drafted both B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews. Both players had integral parts in the team’s most recent Super Bowl victory in the 2010-2011 season, so the track record for moving up has a positive history to it.

Defense is the big area of improvement most people think the Packers will look to upgrade this draft, and by moving up the team could improve it with a unique talent. Players like Minkah Fitzpatrick, Roquan Smith, Bradley Chubb and Derwin James are all projected to go either in the top-five or 10, depending on the projection.

The direction the team will take in the draft will also show their thoughts on free agency. Safety Morgan Burnett is the biggest defensive free agent that could leave the Packers, and if the team was to move up and draft one of the top safeties (Fitzpatrick or James), that would most likely pave the way for Burnett not to come back.

If GB were to move up, moving up into the top-10 could be a bit costly.

For instance, the Packers could move up and make a deal with former Green Bay front office guy Reggie McKenzie and the Oakland Raiders, who hold the 10th pick. To move up four spots, Gutekunst would have to give up some sort of combination that would involve the 14th selection, plus at least a third and a five round selection, if not more. Depending on how the board develops, the Packers could look to move up a few spots.

If Green Bay wanted to move farther up, the seventh overall selection belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This move would obviously cost more than moving up to 10, but those three spots could prove to be the difference.

Besides giving up their first-round selection, Gutekunst would probably have to give up either a second, fourth and fifth, or use some of their league-high four compensatory selections to not have to give up a second. The team was awarded a fourth, two fifth and a sixth-round pick, giving the team 12 picks to work with.

The options for Green Bay to move up are there, but fans will just need to see if Gutekunst will stray away from what fans know and make some moves in his first year at the helm.

If you think you have a good reason and way for the Packers to move up in the 2018 draft, please include a comment below!   

뿓뿓뿓

Mike Johrendt has been an avid fan of the Packers ever since he can remember. He is now a writer at PackersTalk and you can follow him on Twitter at @MJohrendt23

뿓뿓뿓