Brian Gutekunst could trade 2027 Packers picks to move up in 2026 draft

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.

How the Packers could move into the first round

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:

• 2nd round (No. 52 overall) – 109 points
• 3rd round (No. 84 overall) – 51 points
• 4th round (No. 120 overall) – 24 points
• 5th round (No. 153 overall) – 11 points
• 5th round (No. 160 overall) – 10 points
• 6th round (No. 201 overall) – 5 points
• 7th round (No. 236 overall) – 2 points
• 7th round (No. 255 overall) – 1 point

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.

At the moment, the Packers are in line to have 11 picks next year, including three fourths, two fifths and two sixths. If they catch a break with Willis, they could have a second, two thirds, three fourths, two fifths, two sixths and a seventh.

The problem is that those compensatory picks can’t be traded yet. Their exact position isn't determined until next year.

For now, Gutekunst can trade only his own picks, which are a second, a third, two fourths, a fifth, a sixth and a seventh.

He might be able to trade his second (109 points) this year and his second and third next year (about 75 points) and get up to the 32nd pick. If he wanted to get up a little higher, he could throw in one or both of his fifths this year.

So, if he moved to 32nd that way, he would have a first, a third, a fourth, two fifths, a sixth and two sevenths this year.

He would potentially have a third, three fourths, two fifths, two sixths and a seventh next year.

How the could Packers move up in the second round

A more-likely scenario would be for Gutekunst to move up in the second round.

Getting to the New York Jets’ No. 33 pick (180 points) would take about the same as getting to Seattle’s No. 32, but if Gutekunst wanted to get to, say, to the New York Giants’ No. 37 (162 points), he might be able to do it trading his second this year (109 points) and a second next year (about 50 points).

If he needs to move up only a few spots, Gutekunst could use his second (109 points) and both fifth-round picks (21 points total) this year and move up to Baltimore’s No. 45 spot (131). Or he could use his fourth (24 points) and a fifth (10 points) and move up from No. 52 to No. 42.

So, while a move into the first round would require a lot, Gutekunst has all the picks he needs to move up in the second.

As far as moving back to get more picks, Gutekunst could get an extra fourth moving down six spots in a trade with San Francisco, for example. But adding a fourth versus where he’s picking in the second round just might not be worth the move.

Expect a lot of trading in the first two days of the draft.

Just don’t expect Gutekunst to do anything crazy.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brian Gutekunst could trade 2027 Packers picks to move up in 2026 draft