The Green Bay Packers are on the outside looking in to a lot of the draft hype right now. Because of the Micah Parsons trade last August — that sent the All-Pro edge rusher from the Cowboys to the Packers in exchange for a pair of first-round picks — Green Bay doesn’t have a first-round pick in this draft (or next year’s draft, either, for that matter).
In fact, the Packers don’t have a selection until No. 52 in the second round. Green Bay has eight total picks, including extra fifth- and seventh-rounders, but only two of those selections are in the top 100. Without a first-round pick, drafting an immediate contributor will be more difficult.
The Packers have one of the league’s youngest and deepest rosters, so it’s not like they’re hurting for talent on rookie contracts. Still, first-round picks are viewed as premium assets for a reason, and not having one limits what Green Bay can do in the draft.
Could the Green Bay Packers Trade Up into the First Round of the Draft?
GettyGREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 23: Micah Parsons #1 of the Green Bay Packers reacts during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on November 23, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Some Packers fans want the team to use some of their extra middle-round picks to move back up in the draft, potentially all the way up into the first round. In fact, one Green Bay fan asked Packers insider Wes Hodklewlcz in a mailbag this exact question.
“Plausible,” Hodklewlcz wrote on the chances of the Packers trading up in the draft. “I just don’t think the Packers have the firepower to get back into the first this year – not without touching that 2028 first-rounder or sacrificing Day 2 picks next year. The problem with moving up this year is the value of picks plummets on Day 3. Per DraftTek’s chart, Green Bay might be able to move up five or six picks in the second round by trading their fourth-rounder and maybe two or three spots by dealing their fifth. Gutekunst likes to wheel and deal, but this could be a great year for the Packers to let the board come to them.”
Since the Packers already traded away their 2027 first-round pick in the Parsons trade, it’s extremely unlikely that they’d be even willing to entertain the idea of shopping their 2028 first-round pick. That would hamstring Green Bay’s ability to operate for years in the future. On top of that, the value just isn’t there in this draft — while Day 2 is deep and has lots of instant-impact players available, the top-end talent is lacking in this class. There simply isn’t much motivation for the Packers to trade a bunch of picks to move up in a weaker draft.
Who Could the Packers Target with Their First Pick in the Second Round?
If the Packers stay put and make their pick at No. 52, who could they target? Cornerback is widely considered their top need, and Arizona State’s Keith Abney II and Texas’ Malik Muhammad would be great choices in that spot.
Guard is another potential option, with Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis and Iowa’s Gennings Dunker projected to go in that range. Any of those four players could start right away for Packers HC Matt LaFleur.
Insider Sends Clear Message on Packers’ Chances of Moving Up in Draft