In 2018, his first year as Green Bay Packers general manager, Brian Gutekunst traded back from pick 14 to 27 and then back up to pick 18 to select Louisville cornerback Jaire Alexander.

Moving around in the first round has been the norm for Gutekunst, and this year could be the same. If the board falls in one direction, Green Bay’s best option at No. 23 might be to move back.

On the surface, this year’s quarterback group isn’t the strongest compared to years past. In 2024, the first three selections were all quarterbacks. The year before that, the top two picks were quarterbacks. Experts widely expect Miami quarterback Cam Ward to go with the No. 1 pick to the Tennessee Titans. After that, things get murky.

Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders is the next quarterback in line for many, with some seeing him going as high as No. 3 to the New York Giants or as low as No. 21 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

How does this impact the Packers?

Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is the mystery box at the position this draft. If he goes in the top 10, nobody will be stunned. It also wouldn’t be surprising if he falls out of the first round.

However, if Sanders starts to slip as many expect and ends up going No. 21 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, it could set off a mini frenzy for other quarterback-needy teams to shift their focus towards Dart.

It just so happens the Packers pick two spots after the Steelers.

In this scenario, Sanders goes No. 21, and the Cleveland Browns call Green Bay to move up to No. 23. The Packers would be foolish not to entertain the call.

The draft is in Green Bay this year, and the idea of the Packers moving back or out of the first round completely would ruffle some feathers within the fanbase.

However, the April draft being in Titletown will not affect the Packers do business. Packers President Mark Murphy confirmed that this week via ESPN Milwaukee.

I have told Brian Gutekunst, if it’s the best thing for the Packers to trade out of the first round, go ahead and do it.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise. Gutekunst was asked the same question at the end of February and put it to rest then.

Having the draft in Green Bay really doesn’t change anything for how we go about that. We’re going to do what’s best for the Green Bay Packers. If that’s trading out of the pick, we’re going to do it.

Everyone wants to see the Packers submit a card in Round 1 and hear a name called that will represent the Green and Gold. Three or four years from now, nobody will care if the Packers trade out of Round 1 this year only to select gems later in the draft.

Back to the topic at hand.

Let’s say Cleveland wants to trade up with the Packers. Many expect them to select Colorado unicorn Travis Hunter at No. 2 or Penn State pass-rushed Abdul Carter.

The Browns still need a quarterback, even after Friday’s signing of Joe Flacco. That’s a temporary fix for a problem that needs a long-term solution. Using Drafttex’s NFL trade value chart, the Browns could send picks 33, 67, and 179 to the Packers for 23 and 159.

In this scenario, the Packers move back 10 spots, scoop up an early third-round pick, and swap a fifth for a sixth. According to the trade value chart, the last part evens out the trade a little more. Still, it favors the Packers slightly when adding the value of all the picks involved.

Gutekunst has made it no secret throughout the years he prefers to stock up on picks as much as possible. In this three-for-two trade, the Packers get the three picks and then sit in a real sweet spot of the draft, having picks 33, 54, 67, and 87.

Four picks from the beginning of Round 3 to the middle of Round 3 might be too sweet for Gutekunst to pass up. Gutekunst’s history of selections in that frame shows he’s found value with selections like Elgton Jenkins (44) in 2019, Tucker Kraft (78) in 2023, and Edgerrin Cooper (45) in 2024, amongst others.

Moving out of the first round might not be ideal for some, and moving back 10 spots is more drastic than it appears. Getting the value of picks in return that Green Bay would be getting in this trade makes it worthwhile to at least consider. The trade value chart reflects that.

The kicker in all of this is where Sanders ends up getting drafted. Green Bay doesn’t have control in that it isn’t in the market for a quarterback. Things get interesting if Ward and Sanders go before the Packers are on the clock and Dart is still available.

Trading back might end up being in Green Bay’s best interest.