2026 NFL Draft buzz: Jets GM Darren Mougey downplays David Bailey’s cancelled pre-draft visit
Packers have flexibility to move up
With no first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft currently, the Green Bay Packers aren’t scheduled to be on the clock until Friday evening when the second round is underway. But Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst isn’t closing the door on a possible trade-up.
“I do feel like, if the right player were there, that we would be able to go get him,” Gutekunst said at his pre-draft news conference, via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
The pre-draft plan did not change, Gutekunst said, despite lacking a first-rounder, and Thursday will still be a busy night. He said the Packers plan to “stick with our process and keep our ears open” during the first round.
“What happens on Thursday will affect Friday and Saturday,” he added.
The Packers traded this year’s first-round pick, as well as their 2027 first-rounder and Kenny Clark to the Cowboys for Micah Parsons last year. Gutekunst isn’t unhappy with not having a first-rounder this year, saying: “The player we got with that pick, I’m good with.”
But how far can the Packers realistically trade up? Green Bay has eight selections this year, including additional picks in Rounds 5 and 7, and is projected to have as many as 11 picks in 2027, depending on the compensatory formula.
Gutekunst said that the Packers have studied and scouted prospects who are projected to be first-round picks and could use any of their assets this year or next to be aggressive in targeting a player they want.
The Packers have had at least one first-round pick in each of Gutekunst’s eight drafts. In two of those drafts, 2019 and 2022, the Packers owned two first-round picks. He admitted that patience is tough to come by on the clock, as quality prospects start flying off.
“It’s always hard watching good players come off the board, particularly guys we get to know,” Gutekunst said. “If we end up waiting 51 picks before we pick, that’ll be a long time. Hopefully I’ll have the patience to do that.”
The one position Gutekunst appeared to single out as a need on Tuesday was cornerback, but his emphasis was as much on getting volume at the position as it was about targeting the highest-rated player there.
“That’s probably the group where we’re gonna need to add the most numbers,” he said.
