The Green Bay Packers head into tomorrow’s NFL Draft with the 13th overall pick. While this is a higher pick than they had before trading Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, there are some who believe they are not done trying to move up. Indeed, if they want to draft Jaxon Smith-Njigba, they may need to get into the top ten. I
f they choose to go another route, such as offensive tackle or tight end, they may need to trade up to get a player that would be worth taking in the first round. That is why ESPN’s Dan Graziano suggests the Packers may try to leap-frog the Chicago Bears, who have the ninth overall pick. He does, note, though, that they are more likely to draft defense first.
Could the Green Bay Packers Trade Up to the Eighth Pick in the NFL Draft?
In an article by multiple ESPN contributors, Graziano wrote of the Packers:
“The Green Bay Packers moved up two spots in the first round and added a high second-round pick as part of the Rodgers deal with the Jets. This gives them some extra tools with which to engineer more deals if they so choose. Example: Let’s say there’s a player available at No. 8 whom the Packers want, and they want to get ahead of the division-rival Bears (picking at No. 9) to get him. It’s easier to get to No. 8 from No. 13 than from No. 15.
“As for whom the Packers could target, while there’s a lot of chatter about a tight end or an offensive tackle, history says it’s far more likely they take a defensive player. Since drafting Rodgers in 2005, the Packers have made 18 first-round picks, and 15 of them have played on the defensive side of the ball. The exceptions are offensive linemen Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod in 2010 and 2011, respectively, and Jordan Love in 2020.
“Could they break tradition and add a first-round player to help out Love in his first season as the starter? Sure. But the guy I’m watching for them is Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith. Remember, the Pack had two first-round picks last year and took Georgia defenders with both of them. They like that Georgia defense a lot!”
It’s hard to justify trading up for a tight end, but trading up for a offensive tackle, especially a good one, would make a lot of sense. After all, the Packers may cut David Bakhtiari next offseason to save cap space and Yosh Nijman will be an unrestricted free agent.
Of course, Green Bay may just stay put and take a defensive player at 13. We will find out soon.
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