BOLD PREDICTIONS FOR GREEN BAY PACKERS IN 2024 NFL DRAFT

What does Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst have up his sleeve for the 2024 NFL Draft?

With 11 total picks, including a whopping five selections on the first two days of the draft, Gutekunst has the ultimate flexibility to maneuver wherever he wants, whenever he wants.

So, what kinds of fireworks could we expect over the weekend of festivities? Let's look at a handful of bold predictions for the Packers during the 2024 NFL Draft, not necessarily that all of them will happen but maybe one or a couple.

1. Packers trade into top 12 to get their CB1

The Packers currently hold the 25th overall pick in the first round, and they've got to ask themselves a couple of important questions.

The first question is this: Are the Packers going to be able to get a starting-caliber cornerback at pick #25 overall?

The second question is this: Are 11 rookie draft picks going to make this roster?

The second question might heavily influence the first. The Packers don't need to just trade draft picks for the sake of trading them, but having 11 picks in this draft and not likely having 11 slots for rookies on the eventual 53-man roster could give Brian Gutekunst the confidence to move up for targeted players as opposed to just sitting, waiting, and wishing.

Moving up into the top 12-16 picks, the Packers would ensure themselves one of Quinyon Mitchell, Terrion Arnold, or Cooper DeJean. If Nate Wiggins's weight is really a hangup for their threshold of 190 pounds, then Green Bay would be wise to consider sending one of their second-round picks and maybe a little sweetener on top of that to get the player they want for their secondary.

2. Packers will be one of the first three teams to take a running back

It was odd that the Green Bay Packers brought back AJ Dillon in the first place. I'm not sure how long that reunion is going to last, either.

Dillon got a chance to seize the RB1 role last year while Aaron Jones was down with an injury, and although he improved as the season went along, he wasn't impressive filling Jones's shoes, averaging a career-low 3.1 yards per carry. The Packers could look to the value at the running back position on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft and be one of the first two or three teams to take a runner off the board.

There won't be any running backs drafted in round one, in all likelihood, and it's possible we won't see the first back off the board until the mid-to-late portion of the second round. If that's the case, the Packers shouldn't be counted out of the running back race at the 58th overall pick, and certainly not the 88th or 91st overall picks either.

A player like Tennessee's Jaylen Wright or Michigan's Blake Corum could make a ton of sense for the Packers to pair up with free agent signing Josh Jacobs. Both are potential Day 2 targets. It was sad when Green Bay decided not to roll with the duo of Jacobs and Aaron Jones, but perhaps they could revive the excitement by grabbing one of those guys at the end of round two, possibly even deep into round three.

It could put Dillon's future in doubt.

3. Packers get greedy, take a WR on Day 2

One of the biggest strengths of the 2024 NFL Draft is the wide receiver position. The Packers would have to ignore outstanding talent on the board at just about every selection they have within the top 100 picks in order to pass on receivers.

Is Brian Gutekunst going to be able to resist?

I'm not sure he will be able to, especially given the hit rate he's had on receivers in the last couple of years. The one major question mark on Green Bay's depth chart at receiver right now is former second-round pick Christian Watson, who has more TD catches (12) than any of his peers in the 2022 NFL Draft class (or anyone that's come into the league the last two years).

Perhaps the Packers will target someone they feel has more of a viable long-term future than Watson. Perhaps they will simply see a value and feel like there's a player they can't pass on. It wouldn't be a terrible idea at pick 88 or 91 to take a receiver, especially if that guy has some return capabilities. With the NFL's new kickoff return rules, the Packers could snag someone like Malik Washington of Virginia and get not only another playmaker for the offense, but a true difference maker for special teams.

4. Packers make at least one player trade

When you have a roster that's ready to compete and 11 picks in the draft, you might consider making a player trade. At least, that would be a wise course of action for a team that has already done some uncharacteristic spending in free agency.

It's doubtful the Packers could get the San Francisco 49ers to send Brandon Aiyuk to Green Bay, but what if they were willing to do it for that high second-round pick?

What about sending a pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for Tee Higgins and adding him to this roster?

Maybe the Packers would consider throwing something at the Cleveland Browns in exchange for former first-round pick Greg Newsome II, who still has his fifth-year option next year and could end up being an impact starter in Green Bay on the outside.

There could be some fascinating trades available to the Packers in the 2024 NFL Draft, and with their plethora of draft picks, it might be the right timing to take a calculated risk. Furthermore, it might be worth looking into the idea of trading Christian Watson if the Packers want to move up at some point, or even add future picks.

I'll get a little bold and say the Packers will use one or two picks to trade for a veteran player, maybe even someone not on this list.

More Packers news and analysis

This article was originally published on lombardiave.com as Bold predictions for Green Bay Packers in 2024 NFL Draft.

2024-04-24T10:14:56Z dg43tfdfdgfd