History tells us that the Green Bay Packers will not pick at #29 in the 2021 NFL Draft. Since Brian Gutekunst took over as General Manager in 2018, the Packers have traded either up or down in the first round of every draft.
In 2018, the Packers traded the 14th pick to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for the 27th overall pick, a fifth-round pick, and a 2019 first-round pick. Green Bay then turned around and traded the 27th overall pick, a third-round pick, and a sixth-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for the 18th overall pick and a seventh-round pick.
The following year, the Packers traded the 30th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft to the Seahawks in exchange for the 21st overall pick and two fourth-round picks.
In 2020, Green Bay traded up four spots from the the 30th overall selection to the 26th overall selection by giving the Miami Dolphins a fourth-round pick.
Gutekunst is not afraid to move around the board to get a prospect who is high on their wish list. Here, we discuss players who would be great fits for the Packers to target in the first round.
5. LB Jeramiah Owusu-Koramoah- Notre Dame
Koramoah is more of a linebacker/safety-type in the style of former top 10 pick Isaiah Simmons. The Packers linebacker core is young and showed promise last year, but adding Koramoah can fill two different voids. This is a talent who can be trusted in coverage, but also can help defend the perimeter in the run game. Green Bay has been looking for a versatile linebacker over the last few years and this could be the perfect fit. Koramoah has been mocked as early as the ninth overall pick, but also as late as the end of the first. It is difficult to predict what kind of move the Packers would have to make to get him.
4. WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
Personally, I have Bateman as the third-best wide receiver entering the 2021 Draft. I’m not a believer in the outlier size of Davonte Smith and believe that Bateman will be a better pro. He is also a willing blocker, which is important to Matt LaFleur’s offense. Bateman won’t overpower opposing defensive backs with his speed, but he can work outside of the slot position as well. Bateman has the potential to be the Justin Jefferson of this draft. The Packers would probably have to get up to the 18th overall pick to get him. Bateman also could slide because of the positional depth and could come at a cheaper price. This is the only skill position player I would be excited for Green Bay to take in the draft.
3. S Trevon Moehrig- TCU
This may be a tougher sell to Packers fans. Those who don’t understand the scheme they run will see Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage on the roster and claim the safety position is not a need. When you look closer, however, Green Bay wants to run a three-safety look. A prospect such as Moehrig would provide an upgrade over Chandon Sullivan or Raven Greene. Moehrig can play in man or zone sets, and while he does need to work on his man-to-man coverage skills, he would be utilized more as a third safety on tight ends and slot receivers. Moehrig could fall to the Packers at the 29th overall pick. This could even be a talent they trade down to get, depending on how the draft board falls.
2. CB Caleb Farley- Virginia Tech
Coming into the offseason, Caleb Farley was my top defensive player in this draft class. Farley opted out of the 2019 season because of health concerns in his family. Farley was considered a top 10 pick in the draft until a reoccurring back injury moved him down the board. If Farley falls past the Bears at the 20th overall pick, the Packers could move up past cornerback-needy teams like the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and New Orleans Saints. His fall could be similar to what we witnessed during the 2016 Draft with linebacker Myles Jack.
1. CB Greg Newsome- Northwestern
Newsome is another prospect the Packers would probably have to trade up to get. Newsome may have moved up to the second-ranked cornerback in this draft due to the Farley injury. Newsome has similar concerns, as he couldn’t complete a healthy season at Northwestern. Newsome is a true perimeter corner and is the best fit for Green Bay. He is likely valued as a top 20 pick, so the Packers may need to make a big move up to get him.
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