Packers' Top Hypothetical Trades to Make Splash in 2024 NFL Draft
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has been known to do some wheeling and dealing and nothing sets the scene for a trade like the NFL draft.
The Packers have already made some splashy moves this offseason. They swapped out Aaron Jones for Josh Jacobs and signed Xavier McKinney to address a major need at safety.
After watching what Jordan Love can do as the team's quarterback last year, there is a lot of reason for optimism in Green Bay.
That could lead to a little more aggressiveness come draft time. The Packers have a fairly strong roster as it is. A few more pieces added through the draft could end up being the thing that pushes them into the next level in the NFC.
If the Packers want to make a splash at the league's hallmark offseason event, here are three trades that would do the trick.
Trade Up for a Cornerback
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Seahawks Receive: No. 24 overall, No. 58 overall
Packers Receive: No. 16 overall, No. 102 overall
One of the Packers biggest needs heading into the draft is a cornerback.
It isn't a short-term need. The trio of Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes and Keisean Nixon in the slot is a solid starting group and the group has been good when all three are healthy.
The problem is that hasn't always been the case. Both Alexander and Stokes have missed significant times with injury over the last three seasons and Stokes struggled in the handful of games he played last season.
The Packers have a fifth-year option on Stokes rookie contract coming up. If they choose not to exercise it, he could become a free agent after this season.
That makes it a little more likely that the Packers could be looking to find their starter across from Alexander. If Stokes doesn't deliver this season it will be fairly easy for them to walk away in 2025.
If the Packers want one of the top corners on our big board, it might require them to jump up the board. In our most recent mock draft, Quinyon Mitchell and Terrion Arnold are off the board by the 17th pick.
This move would allow them to get one of the top two cover corners in the class while still maintaining the same amount of picks.
Turn a Day 3 Pick into Trey Lance
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Cowboys Receive: No. 126 overall
Packers Receive: QB Trey Lance
Jordan Love is the unquestioned quarterback of the future in Green Bay. That's not what this suggestion is about.
Last year, we saw the importance of backup quarterbacks around the league. Multiple starters suffered major injuries. Those with good backup quarterbacks stayed afloat. Those who didn't, well, didn't.
Right now, the Packers have Sean Clifford. The fifth-round pick only had three pass attempts in reserve duty as a rookie, but it's safe to say that he doesn't have the same ceiling as Lance, who is a former No. 3 pick with tantalizing physical traits.
The Packers have showcased their ability to develop a backup quarterback with Love. Coming out of Utah State, he had a bounty of physical gifts and his time on the bench in Green Bay has clearly helped him become a viable franchise quarterback.
Lance is in the final year of his rookie contract. The Cowboys are also going to have to negotiate a new contract with Dak Prescott and might not be able to afford to pay the going rate for a top-tier backup quarterback in the league.
It's at least worth it for the Packers to give the Cowboys a call. At worst, Lance plays out the final year of his contract and leaves in 2025. At best, he shows improvement and either becomes the long-term backup or brings back an even higher pick in a trade down the road.
Trade Up for a Tackle
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Giants Receive: No. 25 overall, No. 88 overall, 2025 second-round pick
Packers Receive: No. 10 overall
Trading up for a cornerback is certainly feasible, but the opportunity to add one of the top tackle prospects could be even more tempting. After releasing David Bakhtiari, the Packers are officially opening a new era at a premium position.
Bakhtiari struggled with a serious knee injury over the last few years of his time in Green Bay. Rasheed Walker was the left tackle in his absence last season and he was serviceable in the role.
But adding his former Penn State teammate Olumuyiwa Fashanu would give the Packers an answer at the position for the foreseeable future.
Fashanu is the No. 6 overall prospect on our big board and was named the class's best pass-blocker. In our most recent mock draft, he slides all the way to No. 13.
Rich Cimini of ESPN noted that the Jets might be open to shopping the No. 10 pick if they can net a top-100 pick.
This deal would not only do that, but also improve their 2025 draft capital when they may be looking to find Aaron Rodgers' successor.
It's a steep cost to move all the way up to the top 10, but the Packers have picks to spare with 11 total picks in the draft.
Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.
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