Should the Packers Trade Back in the 2025 NFL Draft?
By GilMartin
Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst remains unpredictable in the first round of the NFL Draft. He has traded up to try to grab players he really wanted, and he has traded back to get more picks. Once he even did both in the first round of the same draft back in 2018. He has also held on to the pick and made his selection. But what should the Packers do in this draft?
Obviously, any decision made in the draft depends on how the board breaks down. That is something we won’t fully know until the draft actually starts to unfold. But there are some factors that could influence Gutekunst’s decision making this year.
One factor remains that for the first time in the history of the franchise, the Packers are hosting this year’s NFL Draft. There will be a lot of Packers fans in attendance, and they are all expecting something big from the team. If the Packers trade out of the first round, that will certainly take some of the excitement out of the crowd.
One possible exception would be if the Packers traded their first-round pick for a star player. For example, if Green Bay acquired defensive end Trey Hendrickson at the draft and made the announcement at the draft, most fans would be excited. In fact, it would likely be a bigger event than if the team just made its selection with the 23rd overall pick.
Gutekunst has said he won’t let the fact that the Packers are hosting draft change his approach to making picks and trades, but I can’t imagine it would not be a factor in the timing of an announcement if a trade is made.
Another factor will be the number of picks. Green Bay has just eight selections in this year’s draft. In recent years, they’ve had more due to compensatory picks and the trades involving Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams. If Gutekunst wants to acquire more picks, he will either have to trade back in the draft or acquire picks in a deal for a player like Jaire Alexander who very well could be dealt at the draft.
The bigger key, however, will be getting the best value for the Packers picks and the ability to fill the team’s needs. Where the depth of the draft lies will also play a factor.
Many experts feel there are roughly 15 players with solid first round grades in this draft. Of course, there are 32 picks in the opening round. The next group of relatively evenly rated players lies between 16 and roughly 50. That means getting two second round picks could be better value than one late first round pick.
This draft is not particularly deep at wide receiver. Would the Packers try to trade up and grab one of the few elite receivers? If so, they likely would need to trade up and grab one. Gutekunst won’t select one if he doesn’t feel that player would be better than the wideouts he already has on the roster.
The Packers haven’t drafted a wide receiver in the first round since 2002, although Gutekunst has said he is not averse to selecting one and has tried to move up for a wideout as recently as 2020.
If teams want an elite pass rusher, they generally need to find that player in the first round. But if there are no elite receivers, pass rushers, or cornerbacks available at 23, would it make more sense to trade back and get additional picks in day two or even a high pick in next year’s draft?
Gutekunst has done a good job of finding quality offensive linemen on day three of the draft. Both starting tackles, Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom, were added on day three. There is sufficient depth at offensive tackle in this draft that the Packers may be able to wait for the later rounds of the draft to add one.
I believe Gutekunst will trade back in this draft to add more picks. It may not happen in round one, but rest assured the Packers are likely to add more than eight players in this year’s draft before it’s over. As for round one, we’ll have to see how the picks play out and who’s available before Gutekunst makes his move.
One thing is for certain, things won’t be dull in Green Bay during the NFL Draft.
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Comments (54)
stockholder
March 29, 2025 at 09:58 am
No- he should not trade back=
Free Agency has changed the NFL.
Best player first now.
jannesbjornson
March 29, 2025 at 10:15 am
Don't hold your breath...
Oppy
March 29, 2025 at 10:20 am
You need to understand two things.
1) Most NFL teams rank draft talent into tiered groups
2) Every draft selection has a chance to succeed or fail in the NFL, and most fail
Because of the two items above, most teams are open to trading back in the following scenario:
1) When you are on the clock, there are no players left on your board that are stand outs from the remaining tier of your board
2) trading back will allow you to select another player from your board's highest remaining tier
Every team's board is different, and every draft falls differently. That's why it is ridiculous to make a statement that they shouldn't trade back. Gotta see how it plays out. Don't want them to trade back? Sure, that's your opinion. Shouldn't? Impossible for anyone to say until you see how the first 22 selections of the draft fall.
murf7777
March 29, 2025 at 10:35 am
Oppy, good thoughts….the only thing I’d add is even after the 22 fall we still won’t know because we don’t know how Gutey’s board falls. What we might think is the player to take doesn’t mean Gutey will. More than not, we are way off from his thinking.
stockholder
March 29, 2025 at 10:43 am
But the rebuilding is over-
how many of Gute's picks have become All=pro-
How many thought Myers was a bad pick.?
How many wanted TJ Watt? Ouch- Right?
Racingdad
March 29, 2025 at 10:50 am
Stock the “rebuild” is never over
stockholder
March 29, 2025 at 04:52 pm
It's Re-load.
Oppy
March 29, 2025 at 10:56 am
All GM's miss.
There's a reason why the average NFL career is about 3 years long. Most NFL draft picks will fail to prove they belong in the NFL. Even first round draft picks are subject to roughly 50/50 odds of seeing a second contract.
The only real difference with the high picks and lower round picks is that first rounders who DO work out tend to have a higher ceiling than the lower round selections, but they still wash out at nearly the same rate as low-round players. Boom or bust, if you will.
Gutekunst has had some poor selections, but he's also had some pretty good ones.. just like all GM's.. because you can only project a player's development, and that's always a gamble on the unknown.
BTW, it's real easy to cherry pick big misses- and it's real easy to pretend that all the other GM's didn't pass up those misses either, isn't it?
murf7777
March 29, 2025 at 12:33 pm
There’s a sayin’ for that…….hindsight is 20/20! How many GM’s have said, if only I knew then what I know now? It would be a very, very long list and include every GM whoever drafted players in any Pro league.
Oppy
March 29, 2025 at 11:05 am
Agreed, murf.
The business that is draft analysis is often off from what the NFL front offices around the league think about talent in general, as well.
That doesn't mean fans / draftniks / sports media are always wrong, or that NFL front offices / GMs are always right, and there's usually overlap.. but there's definitely a gap between.
stockholder
March 29, 2025 at 01:36 pm
Oppy #2 It's called reaching.
And after the first 2 rounds.
You use your board.
And you place red flags on who you don't
Oppy
March 30, 2025 at 09:26 pm
"It's called reaching"
Wait, you were just saying the Packers shouldn't trade back.
If the Packers were to trade back.. that's the antithesis of reaching.
the double talk saga continues
Packerpasty
March 30, 2025 at 07:47 pm
yah lets trade back and get a bunch of projects and practice squad guys....
Oppy
March 30, 2025 at 09:36 pm
yah guys like Davante Adams, Mark Taucher, Scott Wells, Jordy Nelson, Jayden Reed, Randall Cobb, Tucker Kraft, LeRoy Butler, David Bakhtiari, Corey Linsley, Ray Nitschke, Jerry Kramer, Jim Ringo, Antonio Freeman, William Henderson,Bryce Paup, Tim Harris, BART freaking STARR, Edgerrin Cooper, Jamaal Williams, Aaron Jones, Casey Hayward...
Not one of them picked at 32 or earlier.. what a bunch of bums.
Coldworld
March 29, 2025 at 10:32 am
Maybe. We need to be open to the possibility but not wedded to it. It depends how this draft falls. There is opportunity in this draft for a later pick to help or to allow us to grab help in a role we need by moving up that could make a big difference. There is also a chance we get a real shot at a real difference maker on the DL at 23. We need to be willing to let it come to us and to pick or trade depending on what remains.
The objective has to be to improve our DT, DE and WR positions early then CB competition before adding additional depth and a blocking TE. The draft is strong on the DL very early and into day two, with potential difference makers and there is plenty of scope for WR enhancement on day 2 and CB as well. There are role player deep threat Xs who could contribute and blocking TEs later. Some decent OL depth options too. This draft shouldn’t be one we have to fight.
murf7777
March 29, 2025 at 10:43 am
Gil, I agree with you that I think Gutey will be hesitant to trade out of the1st round because it is in Green Bay and he doesn’t want to disappoint the crowd. That said, I could see him trading down later in the first round.
I know I’m in a minority on this thinking but there are going to be thousands of Packer fans who are only going to be there for the first day so any decision he makes will probably have some sentimental value attached to it.
Racingdad
March 29, 2025 at 10:49 am
I sure hope the fact that the draft is in gb does NOT change the way gute goes about this draft
Oppy
March 29, 2025 at 11:00 am
murf, do you really think the GM who told Rodgers to pack up his shit and leave town is going to change how he conducts his business in the draft over concerns about how the local crowd might feel about it? I certainly don't. I think it is pretty clear that Gutekunst is cut from the same cloth as Ted Thompson was before him, in that he is always going to do what he thinks is in the best interests of the Green Bay Packers.. even if it isn't popular.
murf7777
March 29, 2025 at 11:22 am
It’s within the realm of possibility…... My thinking is that it is such a unique franchise in the NFL or of any pro sports league and that how much the people of the City of Green Bay means to the org as a whole. Most are even stockholders. When you think about it, the City is the Packers as much as the Packers are the City. I do think it will be part of his thought process and might affect his decision making in the first round. That said, I don’t think any other franchise would even consider it.
BTW, I didn’t down vote you:). Your opinion is valid.
Oppy
March 29, 2025 at 11:55 am
I know murf, I just got dem haterz lolz
Alberta_Packer
March 29, 2025 at 11:23 am
My scouting report on Gutekunst - "Affable fellow but not sentimental."
dobber
March 29, 2025 at 12:14 pm
"Don't get attached to the livestock"
Alberta_Packer
March 29, 2025 at 12:33 pm
Because of laws prohibiting that?
Alberta_Packer
March 29, 2025 at 10:50 am
Gutekunst has publicly stated that he wants more draft picks. The Packers have had at least 11 picks in the last 3 Drafts. So I'm fully expecting that – one way or another – a similar no. in this year's Draft.
A trade down in the first round would give Gutekunst the greatest additional draft capital. Of course subject to how far down – i.e., lower in the first to early second.
At 23 the Packers are in an interesting spot – with options:
A. select their prime target player (if available)
B. select one of the 6-7 elite D-lineman that may be available.
C. select an upper 15 player who may fall – perhaps a Tet McMillan or Will Johnson.
D. trade up in the first.
E. trade down in the lower first.
F. trade down to the early second
I think that A,B,C, D, E and F are all possible - but subject to the draft time moment. However - all things considered - my best guess is E.
Racingdad
March 29, 2025 at 10:53 am
AP you are Exactly correct
Alberta_Packer
March 29, 2025 at 11:13 am
Just as an example - a trade with KC - on a Draft Simulator - would return picks no. 31 and 95 (3rd round) to the Packers. I really like the 3rd round for the Packers in this year's Draft.
stockholder
March 29, 2025 at 01:55 pm
Just a rumor -
But Alexander gets dumped for a 3rd.
And he takes a CB at #23.
*
Note added. =
Douglass and a 5th for Buffalos 3rd.
This time it will be without a 5th.
Alberta_Packer
March 29, 2025 at 05:04 pm
I can imagine Gutekunst taking a CB at 23 - if Will Johnson falls or they really like Barron. Otherwise it's slim pickings for CBs after the 2nd round.
TKWorldWide
March 29, 2025 at 01:16 pm
Might even get two linemen out of that elite group.
HarryHodag
March 29, 2025 at 11:49 am
As I look at the talent make up of this year's draft I concluded that trading back makes a lot of sense. The Packers need help along the defensive line, cornerback and future needs along the offensive line. If they had 9 or 10 picks the chances of more players sticking increases.
Lets assume Gute can get a second and/or a third round pick by trading back.
1)The best wide receiver in the draft is likely long gone before pick 23.
2) The need areas: d-line and cornerback have plenty of good options in rounds 2 and 3.
3) While the best receiver will be gone, rounds 2 and 3 will provide plenty of options.
4) Lots of good offensive line talent in rounds 2-4.
Of course you need a trading partner and one might not be available when the pick is called.
The idea that a game-changing player is on the board at pick 23 is a long shot. The Aaron Rodgers situation is a once in a generation freakish happening. The better option is more players not far from top talent.
murf7777
March 29, 2025 at 12:27 pm
So, you wrote off Jordan Love already? Might he end up being a freakish pick as well?
HarryHodag
March 29, 2025 at 05:09 pm
Love has yet to prove he's Aaron Rodgers.
LambeauPlain
March 29, 2025 at 05:41 pm
In the first two years of starting, Rodgers was not yet Rodgers either. Taken as a whole, both Love and Rodgers had fairly similar first 2 years of starting.
Rodgers had a losing season then make the playoffs, losing to AZ by a horrible ref call.
Love had two winning seasons and two playoffs.
PhantomII
March 29, 2025 at 06:42 pm
Not with this prolific WR group.
murf7777
March 30, 2025 at 06:44 am
While that’s true the Packers did give him 55M per for a reason. They believe he will be a high end franchise QB.
Since'61
March 29, 2025 at 12:00 pm
First things first. Are any of the Packers top tier players on their board still remaining when they pick at 23. If yes, select him, if not trade down.
Second is having a trading partner. It’s possible that the Packers won’t be able to find a trading partner. In this case the Packers would need to take the BPA at #23.
I doubt that Gute trades up with only 8 picks in this year’s draft.
The bottom line is that we don’t have enough information to predict what Gute will do when his first round slot comes up. We won’t know the Packers board and there are numerous variables that will impact whether or not Gute can get good value in a trade. We just need to wait it out.
Thanks, Since ‘61
dobber
March 29, 2025 at 12:17 pm
This is starting to sound like one of those flow-chart memes in which all paths end up with a box labeled "F#@k it!!"
pantz_bURp
March 29, 2025 at 12:33 pm
The question posed by the author is best answered when we have more information to go off of.
Ol' #12, you be wrong. Regarding this coming Draft next month, "Green Bay isn't a huge vacation destination". Oh yes, yes it is. :)
GPG,
PB
Leatherhead
March 29, 2025 at 01:03 pm
How many times has Gutekunst traded down in the first round?
His first year. That's it. Once. And if you want to go back further, I think you have to go all the way back to Jordy Nelson to find another example of us trading down. It's not something that we do very often.
murf7777
March 29, 2025 at 01:34 pm
But yet, every year some fans keep wanting and writing about it!
Coldworld
March 30, 2025 at 09:10 am
We have fewer draft picks this year and there seem to be a number of draft scenarios where trading back gets us a player that can help us. I hope Gute is open to it, I see more chance this year than in many drafts. It’s a possible option, more probable than in most years Gute had been picking, but not necessarily the most likely one.
PhantomII
March 29, 2025 at 06:44 pm
TT traded out of it and got a CB and OLB....LOL
LLCHESTY
March 29, 2025 at 08:30 pm
Forgetting trading down for Kevin King and Gutey has already said he wants more picks.
Leatherhead
March 30, 2025 at 03:43 pm
Oh yes, thanks for looking that up. I was going off memory and forgot about when we traded down to get Kevin King and Vince Beigel. Probably because neither one of them helped us as much as a guy like TJ Watt would have.
Gute can say what he wants to say. He could trade away future picks for more picks this year. He could trade a player, like Alexander, for an extra pick.
He'll either do what he's generally done, or he'll do something different. The percentage play is that he'll do what he usually does.
Oppy
March 30, 2025 at 09:45 pm
"The percentage play is that he'll do what he usually does."
Rarely do I see a sentence more useless than this one right here.
I mean.. think about it. :) ;) :P
WD
March 29, 2025 at 04:10 pm
We should not assume there will be no elite WRs, pass rushers or CB's at 23. It is a better assumption to assume there will be none in the second round. Assess the draft at 23 and take the best one at WR, Edge or CB. We need to get at least one starter in the draft. In free agency we picked up a CB a WR and an D-lineman. Take the best pure pass rusher at 23 . I like Pearce (edge) as he might be there because of questionable character issues. Half the Eagle's front four had character issues. They won the Superbowl. If WR Golden drops I would take him and just give him the damn ball.. Our WR's were asleep against the Eagles. We need to score points to win.
LambeauPlain
March 29, 2025 at 06:01 pm
Gutey doesn't yet know if he will trade down, but he knows what will make him move up, down, or hold.
That's today...more can happen between now and then. Offers will come his way and he will seek to make them. Takes two.
Trading down loses that valuable 5th year K option. But it also would add another likely high 2nd and 3rd also has value for a team needing to re-sign or replace 11 starters or key depth players after the 2025 season.
Regardless, I rather like how this draft fits what the Packers need for 2025...and add key depth for 2026 at DL, OL, CB, WR.
If he trades down, he won't be very popular on draft night, will he?
Coldworld
March 30, 2025 at 09:23 am
5th year options are over valued by many. If the player is stellar then he’s likely extended for a longer term before he collects it. It just gives an extra year for those where there’s uncertainty. Until the last CBA, the 5th year was pretty cheap. Since then much less so and particularly in cap terms.
The rate they are exercised had therefore dropped: more are declined and new contracts that spread the cap hit have increased for players teams know they want to keep. Last year, 18 of the 32 eligible players had their options exercised: 56%.
LLCHESTY
March 29, 2025 at 09:19 pm
I'd like to see them pick up another pick around the beginning of the 3rd round. A couple scenarios:
28.
Donovan Ezeiruaku
EDGE Boston College
54.
Jalen Royals
WR Utah State
89.
Joshua Farmer
DT Florida State
102.
Jordan Hancock
CB Ohio State
124.
Charles Grant
OT William & Mary
159.
Nohl Williams
CB California
166.
Elijah Roberts
DT SMU
196.
Joshua Gray
OG Oregon State
250.
Elijhah Badger
WR Florida
Or
27.
Walter Nolen
DT Ole Miss
59.
Deone Walker
DT Kentucky
67.
Jalen Royals
WR Utah State
88.
Charles Grant
OT William & Mary
97.
Jackson Slater
OG Sacramento State
124.
Fadil Diggs
EDGE Syracuse
187.
Ja'Corey Brooks
WR Louisville
198.
Zah Frazier
CB UTSA
237.
Jason Marshall Jr.
CB Florida
243.
Benjamin Yurosek
TE Georgia
250.
Elijah Ponder
EDGE Cal Poly
2026 JAX 4th
2026 MIN 7th
stockholder
March 29, 2025 at 09:54 pm
This may help you. Pff top 300==== Rated -- Previous
23. Emeka EGBUKA. Wr. OSU. -- Pff 19. = J Campbell Lb
54. Landon Jackson Edge. Arkansas -- pff 41 *. = Walker. Dt
87. Ben Morrison. CB. ND. -- ------ Pff 66 * = Milum. OL
123. Cam Jackson DT. (Slaton) FL. -- Pff. 210 =Slater. OL
159. Dillian Gabriel. QB. Oregon. -- Pff 131 =Gadsden Te
200. Jackson Slater. OL. Sac. St. -- pff 217. ^ =Medrano LB
239. Fadl Diggs. Edge Syracuse. -- Pff 235. =Batty. ER
251. Oronde Gadsden. TE/WR. Syracuse. -- Pff 228. ^ =Brassard Smith Rb/Wr
* medical issue drops him. ^ going up
Green is dropping due to past confrontation. Pff 12
Jihaad is going to drop due to shoulder rumor Pff 10
Packers have talked to Diggs.
Coldworld
March 30, 2025 at 09:29 am
Chesty, you obviously don’t see the field stretching X as an issue. Ja'Corey Brooks is flat out slow. He is also an awful blocker in terms of effort and technique. Might as well use Heath. Royals may one day be a good Z, but he’s going to need a fair amount of work. He’s not a real option to fill the hole left by Watson either.
That aside, I’d be happy with those drafts, but that’s a big reservation in my opinion. As a lesser quibble, I’d pick a true blocking TE late. If we want Kraft used as a weapon, LaFleur’s O means we need a guy who will be there primarily to run and pass block to free Kraft to run routes without blocking or chipping the majority of the time.
33. Tyleik Williams. DT Ohio State
54. Maxwell Hairston. CB Kentucky
67. Kyle Kennard. EDGE S. Carolina
109. Dont'e Thornton. WR Tennessee
124. Logan Brown. OT Kansas
132. Sai'vion Jones. EDGE LSU
159. Rylie Mills. DT Notre Dame
198. Elijhah Badger. WR Florida
237. Jackson Hawes. TE Georgia Tech
PhantomII
March 30, 2025 at 10:28 am
We should trade Willis to one of the QB needy teams as insurance for their #1 draft pick and swap #2 picks or something of the sort. If Gute must...trade Jaire for another #3 pick or just keep him another year....I wish he was healthy more...With the way Gute picks Corner and DE/ OLB just pay Vets for the position....that will save on picks in other spots. Why the hell don't we pay Ed Reed or other prolific players to do some scouting for us or watch film and give Gute better insight for what we need at every level of defense. I watch some scouting tape of Steve Smith on-line and it is pretty spot on on how these players perform out of the gate and their flaws. How can GB WR Coach have a job after last season???? Why did ML abandon throwing to Kraft and Jacobs...our 2 reliable pass catchers...why does ML go to a full run heavy Offense knowing ALL his young WR's need more reps...not less, to get better to win a Championship??? If the Wr's drop the balls....why not run ALL the RB's and TE's out there to catch passes or run the opponent into the ground. With a little better OL maybe now it's a possibility. I was critical of AR for keeping young WR's on the bench or not throwing to them.....how about just moving up once in a while and ensure we get some top end talent that does not take 4 years to achieve what takes an NFL ready WR no time to play at a high level.....unbelievable.
Packerpasty
March 30, 2025 at 07:50 pm
All that booooooing at Lambeau would be pretty cool when they announced a trade back!!!!
Oppy
March 30, 2025 at 09:48 pm
Remember all that boooooooing when the Packers selected Aaron Rodgers?
Good times.
Packers fans, like all football fans, are morons during the draft.