Packers Trade Down to #27 in 1st Round With Saints
The Packers have traded the 14th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, swapping first round picks with the New Orleans Saints this year, picking up the 147th pick in this year’s draft and the rights to the Saints’ first round pick next year.
It looked early on like things were going to fall exactly as the Packers hoped. Denzel Ward, a potential trade-up target, came off the board with the fourth pick, and Bradley Chubb went fifth to Denver. But after a couple trades for quarterbacks and a couple surprising picks, the board fell to the Packers almost as favorably as possible.
When Tampa Bay passed over James, their oft predicted target, he only had to escape Washington to fall to Green Bay. He did, but Brian Gutekunst and the Packers did the unexpected, sending their first pick away in a trade despite a projected target being on the board.
The Packers now have seven selections in the first 150 picks of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Reaction to Gutekunst's first move in draft as general manager mixed
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel beat writer Tom Silverstein wrote in his chat that he was "shocked" by the trade:
Getting a first-round pick is a pretty big deal. But I'm really surprised Gutekunst didn't stick around to take Edmunds. It's possible he knows that 2019 is a great draft. The Saints definitely paid a premium, but I'm shocked he passed up on James and Edmunds.
I wonder if Gutekunst is affected by what Ron Wolf did in '92 when he had an extra 1st. Wound up getting a pretty good player for that pick.
On paper, the trade is an absolute slam dunk win for the Packers.
Just how might the Packers war room look after the trade?