NEWSLETTER
The new-look Packers seem intent on pushing the envelope and doing something they haven’t done since 2009:
The new #Packers may be on display Thursday night. They are among the teams plotting a potential trade up — from No. 14 — for a top-tier talent, sources say. It would be their first opening round move up since Clay Matthews in 2009.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2018
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport tweets the Packers are one of the teams believed to be positioning itself to make a move up in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Who the Packers might target in a move up the draft board is unknown, but the team could have eyes on upgrading the secondary by selecting a top defensive prospect at his respective position. A player like Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick, Florida State’s Derwin James, or Ohio State’s Denzel Ward could be on Green Bay’s radar. I suppose the team could shoot for the moon and leap-frog the Bears with eyes on North Carolina State’s Bradley Chubb the draft’s top pass-rusher.
Green Bay has the 14th overall pick and appears to be in a spot to benefit from an early run on quarterbacks. If a scenario unfolds where four quarterbacks are taken within the first seven picks, the Packers could find themselves in a place where they could land a fringe top-10 non-quarterback talent by standing pat. But it appears the front office might have bigger plans in mind.
New GM Brian Gutekunst showed a willingness to do things differently than his predecessor Ted Thompson, highlighted by a particularly aggressive free agency period. And because Green Bay is armed with 12 draft picks, Gutekunst could be creative in striking again by maneuvering into the top-10 … or even higher.
After watching its lengthy playoff streak come to an end in 2017, a seemingly revitalized Packers front office is on some “Empire Strikes Back” stuff and seems intent on showing it means business moving forward.
