The Green Bay Packers may not hold first-round picks in 2026 or 2027, but they could still be well-positioned when the 2027 draft arrives — a class many evaluators already project to be loaded with high-end talent.
To their credit, Brian Gutekunst and Green Bay’s front office have done a commendable job recouping value after sending two first-round picks to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for Micah Parsons last August. Green Bay entered the 2026 legal tampering period with five selections in the 2027 draft. They no longer hold a first-round pick after trading it to the Cowboys for Parsons, and they sent their sixth-round selection to the Philadelphia Eagles last year in exchange for Darian Kinnard.
However, that total could grow significantly once the 2026 season concludes. Depending on how the league’s compensatory formula plays out, Green Bay could receive multiple Day 2 and Day 3 compensatory picks.
On Monday, the Miami Dolphins signed former Packers QB Malik Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million contract with $45 million guaranteed, averaging $22.5 million per year.
Under the NFL’s compensatory pick formula, a contract of that magnitude would likely place Malik Willis in the range of a third-round compensatory selection for Green Bay. However, playing time is a key component in the formula. The number of snaps Willis logs with the Miami Dolphins during the 2026 season could ultimately determine whether the Packers receive a third-round compensatory pick or see that return fall into the fourth round.
If that projection holds, it would represent another strong example of Green Bay’s quarterback pipeline creating value. What began as a seventh-round investment in Willis could ultimately turn into a late third- or early fourth-round compensatory selection for Green Bay.
Meanwhile, Rasheed Walker should command a lucrative deal on the open market. The former Packers tackle should draw interest as a potential starting left tackle elsewhere. If he lands the type of contract many around the league anticipate — and avoids any significant injuries during the season — his departure will likely yield a third-round compensatory pick for Green Bay once the league’s formula is applied.
As for Romeo Doubs, he has signed a four-year, $70 million contract with the New England Patriots. If he stays healthy, Doubs should see plenty of playing time in New England. His departure should also benefit Green Bay in the compensatory formula, potentially netting Brian Gutekunst at least a fifth-round pick, with a strong chance it could rise to a fourth-round selection.
In the meantime, Quay Walker signed a three-year, $40.5 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, averaging $13.5 million per season.
Based on the league’s compensatory pick formula, a deal in that range typically projects to return a fourth- or fifth-round selection. However, as with other compensatory projections, the final value will depend in part on Walker’s playing time and snap count during the season.
Finally, Kingsley Enagbare agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with the New York Jets, a contract that should return at least a sixth-round compensatory pick for the Packers. They might have been able to retain Enagbare at that price. However, the team appears willing to bet on the continued development of Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver as part of the edge rotation moving forward.
It’s also worth noting that Brian Gutekunst managed to acquire a fourth-round pick for Rashan Gary, who was on his way to being cut from the team. Altogether, that could leave Green Bay with as many as five compensatory selections, in addition to the fourth-rounder from the Gary trade. Encouragingly for the Packers, Gutekunst has a strong track record of finding value in those middle rounds of the draft.
Recent drafts offer a clear reminder of why that matters. The Packers have consistently found contributors on Days 2 and 3, drafting players such as Sean Rhyan, Romeo Doubs, Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, Kingsley Enagbare, Tucker Kraft, Dontayvion Wicks, Karl Brooks, Carrington Valentine, and Evan Williams — all of whom have either started games or played meaningful roles. With additional draft capital potentially coming their way, Green Bay could soon have even more opportunities to attack the portion of the draft where it has recently found so much value.
