GREEN BAY – When it comes to acquiring additional or better picks in the first round of the NFL draft, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst hasn’t taken a swing for the fences.
He did some maneuvering early in his tenure, but nothing like trading a future first-round pick or a slew of second-day picks to improve his draft position.
In his first draft in 2018, he traded back from No. 14 to No. 27 and then traded up to No. 18 to select cornerback Jaire Alexander.
In 2019, he used the first of his two opening-round picks to select defensive end Rashan Gary at No. 12 and then traded a pair of fourth-round picks to move from No. 30 to No. 21 to select safety Darnell Savage.
In 2020, he traded a fourth-round pick to move from No. 30 to No. 26 to select quarterback Jordan Love.
Those were creative moves, but hardly blockbuster trades.
Green Bay Packer defensive end Jamal Reynolds watches from the sidelines as he prepares for the 2002 season on July 23, 2002. First-round draftee Reynolds was the 10th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2001-’03.Green Bay Packers Javon Walker reels in a touchdown pass during the fourth quarter of their game against Chicago Bears Monday, September 29, 2003 at Soldier Field in Chicago. First-round draftee Walker was the 20th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2002-’05.Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett reacts after recovering a fumble by Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler on the 1-yard line during the second quarter of their game Monday, October 29, 2007 at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo. First-round draftee Barnett was the 29th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2003-’10.Green Bay Packers cornerback Ahmad Carroll runs past Chicago Bears Gabe Reid while returning a kickoff during the fourth quarter of their game Sunday, December 4, 2005 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. First-round draftee Carroll was the 25th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2004-’06.Green Bay Packers inside linebacker A.J. Hawk (50) stops Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) for no gain during the first quarter of their game at Mall of America Field at the H.H.H. Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn. First-round draftee Hawk was the 5th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2006-’14.The Titans' Chris Johnson runs away from Justin Harrel as Kerry Collins cheers from behind in the overtime period of their NFL football game at LP Field in Nashville, TN., on Nov, 2, 2008. First-round draftee Harrel was the 16th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2007-’10 (Harrel spent the 2009 season on IR).Green Bay Packers' Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji puts pressure on Chicago Bears' Jay Cutler at Soldier Field on September 27, 2010. First-round draftee Raji was the 9th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2009-’15.Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga (75) provides pass protection during their preseason game Thursday, August 10, 2017 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Green Bay Packers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-9. First-round draftee Bulaga was the 23rd pick. He played for Green Bay from 2010-’19.Green Bay Packers tackle Derek Sherrod (78) is shown during their preseason game Friday, August 22, 2014 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packer beat the Oakland Raiders 31-21. First-round draftee Sherrod was the 32nd pick. He played for Green Bay from 2011-’14.Green Bay Packers defensive end Datone Jones (95) tackles Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) after a nine yard reception during the fourth quarter of their game Monday, December 8, 2014 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Green Bay Packers beat the Atlanta Falcons 43-37. First-round draftee Jones was the 26th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2013-’16.Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark (97) teams up to sack Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the first quarter of their game Sunday, December 17, 2023 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. First-round draftee Clark was the 27th pick. His years with Green Bay are 2016-present.Jaire Alexander (23) of the Green Bay Packers breaks-up a pass against Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) of the Detroit Lions during the first half at Lambeau Field on September 20, 2021 in Green Bay, Wis. First-round draftee Alexander was the 18th pick. His years with Green Bay are 2018-present.Jan 14, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) throws a pass during the second quarter in a 2024 NFC wild card game at AT&T Stadium. First-round draftee Love was the 26th pick. His years with Green Bay are 2020-present.Green Bay Packers cornerback Eric Stokes (21) nearly intercepts a pass intended for Cleveland Browns tight end Austin Hooper (81) during the fourth quarter of their game on December 25, 2021 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. First-round draftee Stokes was the 29th pick. His years with Green Bay are 2020-present.Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker (7) tackles Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert (24) during the second quarter of their game on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. First-round draftee Walker was the 22nd pick. His years with Green Bay are 2022-present.Green Bay Packers linebacker Lukas Van Ness (90) tackles Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30) during the first quarter of their game Sunday, November 19, 2023 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. First-round draftee Van Ness was the 13th pick. His years with Green Bay are 2023-present.Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Jordan Morgan runs a drill during practice on Tuesday at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon. Arizona offensive lineman Morgan was the first Packers pick in the 2024 NFL draft, selected in Round 1, pick 25.Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden (0) makes a 35-yard reception while being covered by Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (29) during the second quarter of their game Sunday, October 12, 2025 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Golden was the Packers' first-round pick in the 2025 draft.
1 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Green Bay Packer defensive end Jamal Reynolds watches from the sidelines as he prepares for the 2002 season on July 23, 2002. First-round draftee Reynolds was the 10th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2001-’03.1 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Green Bay Packer defensive end Jamal Reynolds watches from the sidelines as he prepares for the 2002 season on July 23, 2002. First-round draftee Reynolds was the 10th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2001-’03.2 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Green Bay Packers Javon Walker reels in a touchdown pass during the fourth quarter of their game against Chicago Bears Monday, September 29, 2003 at Soldier Field in Chicago. First-round draftee Walker was the 20th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2002-’05.3 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett reacts after recovering a fumble by Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler on the 1-yard line during the second quarter of their game Monday, October 29, 2007 at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo. First-round draftee Barnett was the 29th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2003-’10.4 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Green Bay Packers cornerback Ahmad Carroll runs past Chicago Bears Gabe Reid while returning a kickoff during the fourth quarter of their game Sunday, December 4, 2005 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. First-round draftee Carroll was the 25th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2004-’06.5 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Green Bay Packers inside linebacker A.J. Hawk (50) stops Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) for no gain during the first quarter of their game at Mall of America Field at the H.H.H. Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn. First-round draftee Hawk was the 5th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2006-’14.6 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001The Titans' Chris Johnson runs away from Justin Harrel as Kerry Collins cheers from behind in the overtime period of their NFL football game at LP Field in Nashville, TN., on Nov, 2, 2008. First-round draftee Harrel was the 16th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2007-’10 (Harrel spent the 2009 season on IR).7 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Green Bay Packers' Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji puts pressure on Chicago Bears' Jay Cutler at Soldier Field on September 27, 2010. First-round draftee Raji was the 9th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2009-’15.8 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga (75) provides pass protection during their preseason game Thursday, August 10, 2017 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Green Bay Packers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-9. First-round draftee Bulaga was the 23rd pick. He played for Green Bay from 2010-’19.9 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Green Bay Packers tackle Derek Sherrod (78) is shown during their preseason game Friday, August 22, 2014 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packer beat the Oakland Raiders 31-21. First-round draftee Sherrod was the 32nd pick. He played for Green Bay from 2011-’14.10 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Green Bay Packers defensive end Datone Jones (95) tackles Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) after a nine yard reception during the fourth quarter of their game Monday, December 8, 2014 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Green Bay Packers beat the Atlanta Falcons 43-37. First-round draftee Jones was the 26th pick. He played for Green Bay from 2013-’16.11 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark (97) teams up to sack Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the first quarter of their game Sunday, December 17, 2023 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. First-round draftee Clark was the 27th pick. His years with Green Bay are 2016-present.12 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Jaire Alexander (23) of the Green Bay Packers breaks-up a pass against Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) of the Detroit Lions during the first half at Lambeau Field on September 20, 2021 in Green Bay, Wis. First-round draftee Alexander was the 18th pick. His years with Green Bay are 2018-present.13 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Jan 14, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) throws a pass during the second quarter in a 2024 NFC wild card game at AT&T Stadium. First-round draftee Love was the 26th pick. His years with Green Bay are 2020-present.14 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Green Bay Packers cornerback Eric Stokes (21) nearly intercepts a pass intended for Cleveland Browns tight end Austin Hooper (81) during the fourth quarter of their game on December 25, 2021 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. First-round draftee Stokes was the 29th pick. His years with Green Bay are 2020-present.15 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker (7) tackles Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert (24) during the second quarter of their game on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. First-round draftee Walker was the 22nd pick. His years with Green Bay are 2022-present.16 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Green Bay Packers linebacker Lukas Van Ness (90) tackles Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30) during the first quarter of their game Sunday, November 19, 2023 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. First-round draftee Van Ness was the 13th pick. His years with Green Bay are 2023-present.17 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Jordan Morgan runs a drill during practice on Tuesday at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon. Arizona offensive lineman Morgan was the first Packers pick in the 2024 NFL draft, selected in Round 1, pick 25.18 / 18Here are the Green Bay Packers' first-round NFL draft picks since 2001Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden (0) makes a 35-yard reception while being covered by Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (29) during the second quarter of their game Sunday, October 12, 2025 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Golden was the Packers' first-round pick in the 2025 draft.
Since then, he’s been quiet as a mouse when it comes to bettering his position in the first round.
Will it stay that way as the 2026 draft gets underway? Probably, but a nice collection of picks in 2027 will allow him some room to at least move up in the second round, if he sees someone he really wants.
Gutekunst traded his ’26 and ’27 first-round picks to Dallas for edge rusher Micah Parsons before the start of last season, and so he enters the April 23 start of the draft with eight selections, one each in Rounds 2-4 and 6, two in Round 5 and two in Round 7.
With a high pick of No. 52 overall (second round), getting into the first round with what Gutekunst has at his disposal would require multiple picks this year, possibly a future pick, possibly a player, or maybe a combination of all three.
To see what it might take to get the Packers into the first round just based on picks, let’s take a look at the value of his slots based on the Rich Hill Draft Value Chart, which is one of the tools teams have used when figuring out proper trade compensation:
Overall, Gutekunst has 213 points to work with. A year ago, when he had a single pick in Rounds 1-6 and two picks in Round 7, he had 437 points.
At a minimum, Gutekunst needs 75 points to reach the No. 32 spot (184 points) owned by the Seattle Seahawks. In other words, he would have to give up his third- and fourth-round picks this year, along with No. 52.
He would be left with the last pick in the first round, two fifths, a sixth and two sevenths. It’s not inconceivable he could take that chance if there were a cornerback, pass rusher or defensive lineman he could plug into the starting lineup right away.
But given his past three first-round picks − including No. 13 Lukas Van Ness in 2023 − weren’t season-long starters as rookies, it’s questionable whether he’d get a starting-caliber player there. What’s more, he’s plucked instant starters out of the second round in four of his past five drafts, so the risk doesn’t seem logical.
If Gutekunst wanted to use a future pick to move up in the draft, he could offer his second-rounder next year, for example. But, in general, a future pick is worth one round less than it would be if it were traded this year, so his second-rounder would be considered a mid-third-rounder in trade value.
So, maybe he could milk 50 points out of a future second.
Trading future picks isn’t a bad idea given Gutekunst is expecting four compensatory picks next year due to the free agents he lost this offseason. Two of the picks (for Malik Willis and Romeo Doubs) are hovering around fourth-round value based on the contracts they received, but the Willis pick could wind up a third if he puts up big numbers as Miami’s starting quarterback.