The Green Bay Packers are hosting next year’s draft, and they have seven picks at their disposal.
However, the Packers are notorious for loading up on as many selections as possible. They haven’t had seven or fewer picks in a draft since 2016.
At the NFL Combine and talking to reporters on Tuesday, Brian Gutekunst gave the media some nuggets on his plans.
When asked about not having as many picks as Green Bay has in recent drafts with Gutekunst at the helm, Green Bay’s general manager simply responded by saying, “Yet.”
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Gutekunst plans on wheeling and dealing in some form or fashion to load up on picks. In the last three years alone, Green Bay has walked away with 11 selections in 2024, 13 in 2023, and 11 in 2022.
It wasn’t the only thing Gutekunst hinted at regarding Green Bay’s picks.
The need for an edge rusher to help solidify the group isn’t a secret. With Cleveland’s Myles Garrett requesting a trade and the uncertainty about what Maxx Crosby wants to do in Las Vegas, reports have been the Packers to both players.
Trading for either would signal a new day for the Packers, who haven’t made a big, splashy trade in quite some time. Green Bay’s blockbuster trades typically involve moving players like Aaron Rodgers or Davante Adams and adding draft capital.
A reporter asked Gutekunst if Green Bay having just seven picks means he wouldn’t entertain trading its first-rounder for a pass rusher.
“Depends who that edge rusher would be,” Gutekunst replied.
Green Bay’s general manager not shutting down the idea entirely and entertaining it to an extent is noteworthy. The Packers always “like to be in the discussions,” and typically, that’s as far as they get when a big-name player becomes available.
However, Gutekunst’s comments back in January about there needing to be a sense of urgency and the Packers needing to compete for championships now strayed away from how he typically addresses things. It could indicate a general manager is willing to be more aggressive in acquiring proven talent now.
Gutekunst also mentioned he has the full authority to trade the Packers’ first-rounder even with Green Bay hosting the draft.
Let’s see how aggressive Green Bay truly gets.
