As is apparently a staple written into the book for every general manager for the Green Bay Packers, moving all across the board is always in play with every pick that they have in a given year’s draft. But for Brian Gutekunst, his penchant does not follow suit with his predecessors, in how he is way more willing to jump up in a draft rather than always trade back.
Before him, Ted Thompson became the likeliest best to be the first GM to trade down in a draft, many times moving down in the first round or even moving outside of that round altogether. But as has been the case in the first two drafts of Gute’s GM career, he enjoys jumping up instead.
2018 ended up being when GB first moved back in a trade with the Saints, picking up an extra first in the process, and then moved back up with the Seahawks to draft corner Jaire Alexander, which looks to have been a very healthy deal. In 2019, Gute took Rashan Gary at 12, which was their original slot, but also had the Saints first, which they moved up from to select safety Darnell Savage out of Maryland, which has also solidified another back-end element of their defense.
In 2020, with the draft being fully remote do to the ongoing pandemic, Gutekunst and his front office company will need to rely on their intellect and their draft knowledge to take advantage of these adverse situations and come away with a potential stud that will help this team capitalize on its ‘closing’ window of competitiveness.
If they were to move down, here are a few of the likely teams that would easily be interested in a deal.
Green Bay receives: 34 & 122
Indianapolis receives: 30
In a draft that is filled with quarterback talent that not everyone is sold on, the Packers, even with their reported interest in Utah State QB Jordan Love, would be smart to read the room and try and recoup a bit of value by trading with a QB-needy team, which, in this case, is the Indianapolis Colts.
If someone like Love or even Jacob Eason were to be on the top of their radars, then they would want to try and move up to secure that fifth-round option for a QB, and the Packers would be smart to entertain this offer.
In return for moving back four spots, GB would get their hands on another fourth-rounder, which would give them a pick in the fourth round after losing it for signing Adrian Amos.
Picking up an early Day Three pick to move back four spots would permit GB to take another flier on potentially another offensive playmaker, like a solid mid-round pass catcher.
Green Bay receives: 37, 112, and CB/PR Desmond King
Chargers receives: 30
Very similar to the reason that the Colts would move up, the same reasons could be said for the LA Chargers as well, devoid of a long-term solution at QB.
With Phillip Rivers having left to join the Colts this offseason, they are currently going into 2020 with Tyrod Taylor as their best QB, which, in a vacuum, is not a bad idea, but they need to draft and develop a permanent arm.
If they choose to pass on a QB at sixth overall, LA would be smart to check in with the Packers and see if they would want to move back seven slots, add on a fourth and an All-Pro returner in cornerback Desmond King.
King has been rumored to be on the trade block with the Chargers having signed former Broncos CB Chris Harris to be their main slot guy, making King a bit expendable, even though he has shown promise early in his career. While a team can never have too many CBs, the Packers would be smart to look into moving back and adding King, who would not only help address their return game woes, but also solidify their slot depth that had been filled by the ageless wonder, Tramon Williams, who is still a free agent.
Green Bay receives: 39, 141 & 2021 4th
Dolphins receive: 30
The Miami Dolphins currently hold 11 selection in the upcoming draft, with six of those located within the top 70 picks. As bad of a team as the Dolphins have, their draft pick war chest is likely to be used to move around the board a bunch.
For GB to be interested, they should look to both the present and the future in a proposed deal with Miami. Outside of the team’s three first-rounders, the Dolphins’ first second-rounder comes at #39, which would be nine slots back of where GB is supposed to pick.
If Miami would want to move back up into the 1st and make their fourth selection of that opening round, GB would be smart to ask for present and future value. Besides the 39th pick, no. 141 (MIA’s first of three 5th rounders), plus a 2021 4th rounder would be a fair asking price in return.
Moving back nine spots is a huge difference between drafting a stud and drafting a solid starter, so GB should get fair value for any deal if they were interested in moving back with Miami.
As we will soon find out, GB has a superb chance to rue the day at this year’s NFL Draft and make the rest of the league wish that they had as shrewd and poised of a GM as Green Bay does.
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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
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11 responses to “Likely Trade-Down Partners for Green Bay”
“For GB to be interested, they should look to both the present and the
future in a proposed deal, as the Dolphins, just like Green Bay, does
not currently hold a fourth-round selection.”
They currently have pick 136 in 4th round.
If murray n queen are gone by 30 you would have a hard time convincing me to moce back if mims or jefferson are there at 30.How bout the phrase quality not quantity.They have no slot receiver(jefferson) zero speed(mims) probably have one if not the slowest wr group in football.
Im not trading back in fact im staying at 30 and then trying to trade up in 2nd for another stud.JMO
Here’s the thing, how many WRs meet Michael Thomas’ height/weight/speed thresholds in this draft? Answer, a ton. If you ask me, I’d love to have 3 of them on the field at a time or two plus Adams 😉
The fact is, this draft is so damn deep at WR, we should not feel pushed to draft one at 30. Top 4 OT, Murray, Derrick Brown, Okudah, or Ruggs (elite speed is worth sticking around for) are the only reasons why I’m drafting at 30, otherwise trade back and get more talent.
In my opinion i want to give rogers some burners some skill O guys in his remaining years but if murray is there at 27 or 28 im trying hard to trade up ro get him
I like the trade partners and I think your returns from the Colts and Dolphins would make sense, but you’re telling me that the Chargers are going to give up a 2nd, a 4th, and a starter? Because if those are the real offers, I’m trading with the Chargers for sure.
They all make sense and I’m definitely interested in a trade back, regardless (almost) of how the draft falls. With that said, it’s tough to give up that 5th year that comes with the 1st round.
I’d like to explore moving back further and collecting a 3rd, this draft is deep enough to warrant going back to mid 40s or later to do so
No not mid 40s thats to far back in 2nd round if no qieen or murray at 30 then im all for trading back to mid 30s if thst means i get mims or reagor
The thing is, I think Reagor, Aiyuk, Higgins, Claypool, Pittman are all pretty close in terms of draft value, with Hamler coming behind them…If all are available at 30, I don’t see all being gone by mid 40s.
Yes, Higgins is my favorite of the bunch, but I’d rather have Claypool and one of Prince Tega Wanogho / Bartch / Antonio Gibson / Jordan Elliot / KJ Hill / Cam Akers / Amik Robertson as the extra 3rd we get by going back into the 40s. I think their cummulative value for the team is greater than picking the highest of Regor or whomever at 30, personally.
Please do not trade back too far to get one of the top receivers. There is a definite fall off after the first 8 or so. If we don’t get one of them we really have not upgraded the position much at all.
I agree though if reagor or higgins in still there in the mid 30s i wouldnt hesitate to grab one if they trade back.
For the record reagor would be top 6 wr in this years draft if his QB didnt sick in college check out his stats from 18
Rue the day doesn’t mean what you think it does…