Brian Gutekunst loves a draft-day trade. He doesn’t care about being popular, as proven when he traded up for Jordan Love despite Aaron Rodgers still playing at a high level.
It makes sense, then, that he wouldn’t shy away from trading away the Green Bay Packers’ first-round choice in their own draft. Team president Mark Murphy shut down the conspiracy theory that the Packers don’t want to trade their top pick and ruin the fun of announcing it in the shadows of Lambeau Field. He emphatically gave Gutekunst the green light to make a trade if it makes sense.
Trading down might be challenging, given the draft’s lack of first-round star power but quality depth across the board.
That could change if a quarterback-needy team wants to jump back into the first round and secure the crucial fifth-year option. Enter the Cleveland Browns.
NFL Mock Draft: Packers add future stars after making two big-time trades
Packers trade with Browns
Green Bay Packers
Cleveland BrownsIt’s looking increasingly unlikely that Cleveland will burn the No. 2 overall selection on a quarterback. The team signed Joe Flacco and acquired Kenny Pickett to provide short-term help, but trading back into the first round remains in play.
The Packers take advantage. With good depth at various positions of need, they drop 10 positions in the draft order but benefit from turning their fourth-rounder into a high third.
Round 2 (33): Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Several ideal Packers targets remained available at No. 23 in the mock draft simulator, so trading down became an easy decision. Talk about a dream scenario. Green Bay trading down and landing Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka? It wouldn’t get much better for Jordan Love (or Josh Jacobs, for that matter).
Egbuka has everything the Packers look for.
The Ohio State star didn’t participate in all the athletic testing this offseason, but he aced the ones he attempted, including running a 4.45-second 40-yard dash. Egbuka comfortably meets the Packers’ size and athletic preferences while boasting the receiving numbers they covet, coming off a 1,011-yard, 11-touchdown season.
Many have compared Egbuka to former Ohio State teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba due to his Pro Bowl potential as a slot receiver. However, he isn’t limited to one role and offers true inside/outside versatility. Egbuka is among the best route-runners in the class and could become Love’s top target from Day 1.
Packers trade with Jaguars
Green Bay Packers
Jacksonville JaguarsThe benefit of the initial trade is that it allows Gutekunst to make an aggressive move back up the order. Green Bay uses a second and third to move up to No. 36 overall, only three selections after landing Egbuka. With the wide receiver need addressed, it was important not to miss another golden opportunity.
Round 2 (36): Trey Amos, CB, Mississippi
Green Bay could consider Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos in the first round because it’s unlikely he will fall to No. 54. No matter how Gutekunst makes it happen, it won’t be surprising if Amos is wearing green and gold next season. The Packers haven’t even attempted to hide their interest, first by sending several scouts to his pro day and then by scheduling a Top 30 visit with the talented cornerback.
Like how Egbuka checks every box at wide receiver, Amos does the same at cornerback. The Packers will love his size and athleticism, and Amos has ideal length at 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds.
We know how much Jeff Hafley loves forcing interceptions, and Amos would provide a significant upgrade over Eric Stokes in that department. He broke up 13 passes and intercepted three for Ole Miss last season.
Round 3 (67): Jordan Burch, Edge, Oregon
The Packers are often connected to pass-rushers earlier than this, but Gutekunst (kind of) threw cold water on that possibility by expressing confidence in the current group. There’s strong depth at the position in this year’s class, and Oregon’s Jordan Burch at No. 67 could become a draft-day steal.
Green Bay wouldn’t need Burch to start immediately, with Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness leading the way. Like those two, Burch could ease into a backup role initially, allowing him additional time to develop.
Gutekunst took his heavy hitters with him to the Oregon pro day, and it won’t be surprising if the Packers land at least one of their top defensive prospects. Burch has the versatility to play across the defensive line, but he could eventually become a quality starter on the edge. Burch made 8.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in only 10 games for the Ducks last season.
