Packers could package picks to move up in draft

GREEN BAY – As a result of their recent trade with the Cleveland Browns, the Green Bay Packers have some attractive draft picks that could get them into the top 10 if they so desire.

The Packers need an impact player on defense, but if they stay at No. 14, they could miss out on one of the draft’s top defenders.

In trading cornerback Damarious Randall to the Browns for quarterback DeShone Kizer last week, the Packers also swapped fourth- and fifth-round picks with the Browns in the upcoming draft.

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According to an NFL source familiar with the trade, the Browns gave the Packers the first pick in the fourth round (101 overall) and the first pick in the fifth round (138) in exchange for the Packers’ own picks in the fourth round (114) and fifth round (150).

So, the Packers moved up 13 selections in the fourth and 12 in the fifth and now have six picks in the top 138.

The fourth-round pick (101) has added value because it is the first pick of Day 3 of the draft. Teams with that pick have overnight to reshuffle their board and figure out how they want to attack the final four rounds of the draft as well as shop the pick to other teams who are targeting a player they may not get with their own fourth-round selection.

For Gutekunst, the advantage of getting those two picks might be in the flexibility to move up in the first round and get a player he really covets.

Based on the draft value chart, if Gutekunst offered the picks he received from the Browns plus the No. 14 pick in the first, he would have a total of 1,233 points. The No. 11 pick is worth 1,250 points, so there’s a chance he could move up three spots by offering those selections.

Because Gutekunst has compensatory picks in the fourth (133) and fifth (172, 174) rounds, he would not be shut out of those rounds.

A bolder attempt would be to trade his third- (76) and fifth-round (138) picks to move up. Including No. 14, he would have 1,347 points to offer. That would put him right at the No. 9 spot (1,350).

If Gutekunst can get inside or right at the 10 spot, it would give him a better shot at one of the top defensive players such as Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edwards, Florida State safety Derwin James, Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward or Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith.

Trading away the third-round pick wouldn’t be as big of a deal because Gutekunst would still have the first pick in the fourth round, a drop of only 25 spots. However, it would mean that instead of having six picks in the top 138, he would only have five.

Packers’ 2018 draft picks

First (14th overall)

Second (45th)

Third (76th)

Fourth (101st) from Cleveland

Fourth (133rd) Compensatory

Fifth (138) from Cleveland

Fifth (172nd) Compensatory

Fifth (174th) Compensatory

Sixth (186th)

Sixth (207th) Compensatory

Seventh (232nd)

Seventh (239) From Buffalo