Tag: trade up

Details of Packers trade up with Bills in fifth round of 2024 draft

The Packers sent a sixth-round pick to the Bills to move up 5 spots in the fifth round of the 2024 draft.

After trading up in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft to get Oregon safety Evan Williams, the Green Bay Packers traded up again in the fifth round before selecting Duke offensive lineman Jacob Monk at No. 163 overall.

General manager Brian Gutekunst sent a sixth-round pick (No. 219) to the Buffalo Bills to move up five spots from No. 168.

The target was Monk, an experienced and versatile offensive lineman who tested like an elite athlete pre-draft. He made 58 starts — with starts at guard, center and right tackle — and has a Relative Athletic Score of 9.74. The cost was one of the Packers’ two remaining sixth-round picks.

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Trade details

Packers send: No. 168 (fifth round), No. 219 (sixth round)
Bills send: No. 163 (fifth round)

According to the Rich Hill trade value chart, the Packers sent 12 points of value (168: 9; 219: 3) and received 9 points in return (163: 9)

The Packers remaining Day 3 picks (4)

Fifth round, No. 169 (Kitan Oladapo, Oregon State)
Sixth round, No. 202
Seventh round, No. 245
Seventh round, No. 255

Details of Packers trade up with Jets in fourth round of 2024 draft

The Packers sent a sixth-round pick to the Jets to move up 25 spots in the fourth round of the 2024 draft.

Armed with eight picks to start Day 3, the Green Bay Packers traded up in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft to get Oregon safety Evan Williams at No. 111 overall.

General manager Brian Gutekunst did business with the New York Jets. To move up from No. 126 overall, the Packers sent the Jets a sixth-round pick (No. 190).

The pick traded away was acquired by the Packers in a trade down with the New Orleans Saints in the second round.

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Trade details

Packers send: No. 126 (fourth round), No. 190 (sixth round)
Jets send: No. 111 (fourth round)

According to the Rich Hill trade value chart, the Packers sent 26 points of value (126: 20; 190: 6) and received 28 points in return (111: 28)

The Packers remaining Day 3 picks (6):

Fifth round, No. 168 (from NO)
Fifth round, No. 169
Sixth round, No. 202
Sixth round, No. 219
Seventh round, No. 245
Seventh round, No. 255

Packers among teams interested in trading up in first round

Situated at No. 13, the Packers are in a spot where moving up to get a blue-chip prospect is a realistic option.

The Green Bay Packers are in a position entering the 2023 NFL draft where both moving back to add draft capital and moving up to get a blue-chip player make sense. Situated at No. 13 overall, the Packers are in somewhat of a gray area mid-round where there’s a chance a top player may fall into range for a trade-up but also a chance all the top players will be off the board if they stay put.

Albert Breer of SI.com already reported the Packers could move back and target a tight end later in the first round. Now, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com says the Packers are one of a few teams interested in moving up for the “right guy.”

Who could be a move-up target? Think one of the top edge rushers (Will Anderson, Tyree Wilson) or offensive tackles (Paris Johnson, Broderick Jones), or maybe Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter if he falls, or even Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba if the Packers don’t think he gets to 13.

It’s possible a player the Packers deem to be an elite prospect will still be on the board within range of a realistic trade-up, especially with four quarterbacks and a few cornerbacks expected to go in the top 10 picks.

Brian Gutekunst has a long history of trading up. He moved back up after trading down in the first round to get Jaire Alexander in 2018, moved up to get Darnell Savage in 2019, moved up to get Jordan Love in 2020 and tried his best to move back into the first round and get Christian Watson before eventually landing him in the second round in 2022.

This draft class isn’t viewed as deep in can’t-miss prospects in the first round. While the Packers probably wouldn’t mind moving back from No. 13 to gain an extra Day 2 pick, aggressively going up to get a player they feel is a franchise-changing player is a realistic option, especially considering all the draft capital the Packers possess going into the proceedings.

Gutekunst already got the Jets to swap first-round picks, improving his position by two spots. A move up a few more spots can’t be ruled out during the first round.

Just for reference’s sake, here are the top 10 players on Dane Brugler’s top 100 big board:

1. QB Bryce Young
2. OLB Will Anderson
3. DL Jalen Carter
4. QB C.J. Stroud
5. CB Christian Gonzalez
6. RB Bijan Robinson
7. OL Peter Skoronski
8. OLB Tyree Wilson
9. CB Devon Witherspoon
10. OLB Lukas Van Ness

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5 big reasons why the Packers should draft Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Presenting the case for the Packers taking Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the 2023 draft, even if it requires a trade up.

Time for a strong draft opinion on the Green Bay Packers with three weeks to go before the 2023 NFL draft: general manager Brian Gutekusnt should do what it takes to get Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba come the first round on Thursday, April 27.

The belief here is that Smith-Njigba will not last to the 15th overall pick, which means a trade-up would be required to land the star Buckeye receiver.

Why should Gutekunst aggressively target him?

Here are the top reasons why the Packers should want Smith-Njigba:

Packers take Devon Witherspoon, trade up for Jalin Hyatt in NFL Wire network mock draft

For the Packers, we went unconventional: Taking the “best-player-available” cornerback at No. 15, and then trading back into the first round for a speedster wide receiver.

The latest NFL Wire network mock draft provided an interesting set of circumstances for us at Packers Wire: A player at a premium position dropping to No. 15, and a chance to trade up to get a playmaker on offense.

In the first-round mock draft run by team editors, the Packers used the 15th overall pick on Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon and then traded back into the first round to select Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt at No. 31.

Let’s run through the scenarios.

First off, we used our “mock trade” scenario with Jets Wire to guide the way on an Aaron Rodgers trade, meaning no additional first-round pick. Instead, the Packers got a second-rounder (No. 43), Elijah Moore (this exercise was done before the trade) and a conditional pick in 2024 that could turn into a first-rounder. It’d be easy to simply turn Moore into a second second-round pick in this new, post-Moore trade scenario.

Ok, onto the players.

While Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was still on the board at No. 15, the value of Witherspoon – who many believe to be a top-10 player in the draft class – was too much to pass up. He’s the No. 6 player on Daniel Jeremiah’s big board. The Packers look strong at cornerback, but NFL teams can never have enough high-quality players who affect the passing game. The idea here is that Rasul Douglas can move to safety, a natural transition for his ability and playstyle, and Witherspoon can team up with Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes to give the Packers three young and tremendously talented corners. I saw this as a Rashan Gary-like situation, where a very good player at a valuable position dropped into range, and the current depth at the position was mostly disregarded.

Taking a cornerback at No. 15 put some pressure on us to get a pass-catcher. The original plan was to trade up for Georgia tight end Darnell Washington, but we couldn’t find the right trade and he went No. 26 to the Cowboys.

With Hyatt still on the board at No. 31, we finally moved up. The trade sent pick No. 43 (from the Jets) and No. 78 (the Packers can’t find a capable player in the third round anyway) to the Chiefs in exchange for the final pick in the first round (31) and No. 134 in the fourth round. Essentially, we moved up 12 spots and back into the first round in exchange for falling back 56 spots on Day 2. It wasn’t a cheap price, but we felt fine with the deal because of having another second-round pick at 45.

The prize was Hyatt, a speedster receiver who compares favorably with Will Fuller or DeSean Jackson. He’s electric, and we already know the Packers like him. A lot. Combine Hyatt with Christian Watson and the Packers will have two of the fastest and most dangerous deep threats in football, giving Jordan Love ample opportunities to attack downfield and Romeo Doubs more space to operate in the intermediate areas, all while ensuring the Packers can run the football against plenty of two-high safety looks each week. Hyatt can also do some gadget stuff, and he’ll be a playmaker on manufactured touches.

So, to recap: the Packers get a cornerback who could be a top-10 player in the class, solidifying the secondary long-term, and arguably the draft’s top deep threat at wide receiver. Plus, there would still be an opportunity to find a tight end or an edge rusher or a safety with one (or maybe two) second-round picks.

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Jaguars not planning on being ‘big movers’ up from 24th pick

Could the Jaguars make a big trade up the draft order in April? Don’t count on it.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are currently set to pick outside the top 10 in the NFL Draft for only the second time in the last 16 years.

Included in that lengthy stretch of top 10 selections were Derrick Harvey, the eighth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, and Blaine Gabbert, the 10th overall pick in 2011. While the Jaguars were scheduled to pick lower those two years, they made big trades to move up the draft order.

Don’t expect the team to make a similar move this April.

With Jacksonville set to pick 24th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, general manager Trent Baalke is only eying a short jump, if any, in the first round.

“I don’t know that we’re going to be big movers and try to trade way up in the draft,” Baalke said Tuesday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. “Will we move a little bit? We could, but it really depends on how the board gets stacked.”

For now, it’s tough to gauge what the Jaguars plan to address with their first round selection. Many mock drafts expect the team to take a tight end early, but that could change when the Jaguars retain Evan Engram, which is a move that appears inevitable.

Cornerbacks, pass rushers, and more help along the offensive and defensive lines would all make sense for the team, as well.

There’s still plenty of time for Baalke and the Jaguars coaches and scouts to fall in love with a player. But it looks like Jacksonville won’t be flying up the board with a blockbuster deal to make it 15 of the last 16 years with a top 10 pick.

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Packers GM Brian Gutekunst explains decision to trade up for Christian Watson

The Packers packaged both second-round picks in a trade up for WR Christian Watson on Friday.

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst packaged both of his picks in the second round to move up to No. 34 overall and select North Dakota State wide receiver Christian Watson with the second pick in the second round on Friday.

Gutekunst said the Packers entertained moving back into the first round on Thursday night to get Watson but didn’t find the right deal. With extra time after the first round and throughout the day on Friday, the Packers had multiple conversations with teams before deciding to send picks No. 53 and No. 59 to the Minnesota Vikings for the chance to take Watson at No. 34.

Why did Gutekunst move up so aggressively for Watson?

“He’s a big, fast, physical receiver. We think his best football is ahead of him,” Gutekunst said. “We brought him in for one of our 30 visits, got a chance to spend a lot of time with him. Really smart kid who we feel will fit our culture. He’s got really good tape, his athletic traits are off the charts, and the more we got to know him as a person, we felt really good about him.”

Watson gives the Packers a young, developmental receiver that the roster desperately needed.

Gutekunst thought he had to get high in the second round to have a chance to select Watson, and he was comfortable spending two “premium” picks to get it done. After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made their pick at No. 33 to open the second round, Gutekunst made the move.

Watson is one of the best athletes in the draft class. His Relative Athletic Score (RAS), which factors in athleticism relative to size, finished at 9.96 out of 10.0.

“Size and speed is important to us,” Gutekunst said.

In terms of role, Gutekunst said there could be “some carryover” in terms of Watson taking over some of Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s snaps as the offense’s top deep threat. Watson and Valdes-Scantling have different body types, but the speed is comparable. In fact, Watson might even be a little faster.

Gutekunst called Watson a “late bloomer” as a football player who is coming from a “high-level” program at NDSU.

Any worries about drops?

“I feel good about his hands. There will be a transition time here,” Gutekunst said, noting other young receivers in Green Bay, such as Davante Adams, James Jones and Randall Cobb, all had some drop issues early in their NFL career. “I’m not worried about that.”

Any worries about his production or play time?

“If you watched the tape, he was the guy,” Gutekunst said. “Different teams do different rotations with their receivers, but there’s no doubt he was the guy.”

Gutekunst said Watson, an All-American returner as a junior, has the ability to return kicks and handle other roles on special teams if need be.

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Breaking down Packers’ aggressive trade up to get WR Christian Watson

The Packers paid a big price to trade up to No. 34 and get WR Christian Watson in the 2022 NFl draft. We break down the move through trade value charts.

The Green Bay Packers sent both second-round picks to the Minnesota Vikings to move up 19 spots and select receiver Christian Watson with the second pick of the second round of the 2022 NFL draft.

The move up the board was a costly one for the Packers.

The trade details: The Packers sent the No. 53 overall pick and No. 59 overall pick to the Vikings for the No. 34 overall pick.

According to the Rich Hill model, the Packers gave up 197 points of value (No. 53: 106 points, No. 59: 91 points) to get the 34th pick, which is worth 175 points. The difference is 22 points, which is worth roughly a mid-fourth-round pick.

According to the Jimmy Johnson model, the Packers gave up 680 points of value (No. 53: 370 points, No. 59: 310 points) to get the 34th pick, which is worth 560 points. The difference is 120 points, which is worth roughly a late third-round pick.

According to the Fitzgerald-Spielberger model, the Packers gave up 1,922 points of value (No. 53: 988 points, No. 59: 934 points) to get the 34th pick, the Packers gave up which is worth 1,213 points. The difference is 709 points, which is worth roughly a late third-round pick.

The Packers attempted to move up to No. 32 overall in the first round to get Watson on Thursday night but were unable to get a deal done. The move up was completed to start Friday, but the Packers had a pay a big price to get it done.

The Packers aren’t worried about what was given up value-wise because they like the player so much.

“A pick is just a pick until it becomes a player,” Packers director of football operations Milt Hendrickson said. “From that standpoint, if you love the player, you find the way to get him.”

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Packers trying to move up in second round of 2022 draft

The Packers are attempting to move up, possibly to get a wide receiver, to start Day 2 of the 2022 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers are one of the teams exploring a trade-up in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft, which begins Friday night.

“Keep an eye on the Green Bay Packers,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said when discussing teams that could move up to start Day 2.

The Packers are “working the boards” and “trying to see if they can move up.”

Rapoport suggested the Packers could move up 10 spots or more, possibly in a trade with the New York Giants, who hold the No. 36 overall pick. Getting to No. 36 would require the Packers to move up 17 spots, an aggressive trade scenario for a team with three picks (No. 53, No. 59, No. 92) on Day 2. Giving up the third-round pick could be enough to get up into position.

The target? Possibly a pass-catcher. The Packers weren’t able to get a preferred receiver in the first round, but the second round looks like a hot spot at the position. Christian Watson, George Pickens, Jalen Tolbert and Alec Pierce could all be targets in a trade-up scenario.

After solidifying the defense on Day 1, the Packers could be one of the teams willing to move up to get a receiver to start Day 2.

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Packers exploring trade-up scenarios in first round of 2022 draft

The Packers look like one of the most likely teams to move up during Thursday night’s first round. Maybe for a receiver?

The Green Bay Packers, with two first-round picks and five picks in the top 100, look like one of the favorites to move up during Thursday night’s first round of the 2022 NFL draft.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Packers are one team exploring trade-up scenarios, possibly as a way to secure “their receiver of choice.”

It should come as no surprise. General manager Brian Gutekunst has traded up in the first round to secure a player in 2018 (Jaire Alexander, after first trading back), 2019 (Darnell Savage) and 2020 (Jordan Love).

The Packers hold picks No. 22 and No. 28 overall in the first round. Moving up several spots could help Gutekunst get a wide receiver such as Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Drake London or Jameson Williams.

We outlined some possible trade-up possibilities for the Packers in the first round. If he wanted, Gutekunst could probably package picks and get into the top 10. The more likely scenario is moving up into the early teens, possibly as a way to jump receiver-needy teams like the Eagles and Saints.

As always, teams only have a certain number of players with first-round grades. The Packers might not want to wait around and see every player with a blue-chip grade come off the board before No. 22. And with a second first-round pick, the Packers could feasibly trade up from No. 22 and then trade back from No. 28 to recoup any lost draft capital.

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