As the NFL trade deadline approaches Tuesday, the Packers have some flexibility - but not every 2027 draft pick is on the table.
Green Bay can move seven picks from its original 2027 stash: its second-rounder, third-rounder, fourth-rounder, fifth-rounder, sixth-rounder and seventh-rounder, plus the fourth-round pick acquired from the Dallas Cowboys. The Packers’ first-round pick is already gone as part of the Micah Parsons trade. Depending on which pick ends up higher, either the Dallas Cowboys or New York Jets will own it, with the highest pick going to the Jets.
The bigger wrinkle is the comp-pick picture. Over the Cap’s current projections have the Packers lined up for four expected compensatory selections in 2027: a third-rounder for Malik Willis, fifth-rounders for Quay Walker and Romeo Doubs, and a sixth-rounder for Kingsley Enagbare. Those picks can’t be traded now because they won’t be awarded until the start of the new league year.
That leaves Green Bay expected to have 11 total picks in 2027, but only seven are currently movable.
There’s also a familiar pattern here with Brian Gutekunst. Since taking over as general manager, he has turned in draft classes with 11 picks in 2018, 8 in 2019, 9 in 2020, 9 in 2021, 11 in 2022, 13 in 2023, 11 in 2024, 8 in 2025 and 6 in 2026. That works out to an average of 9.6 picks per draft, even after removing the highest and lowest totals from that run.
On paper, Green Bay is sitting on about an extra pick and a half compared with a typical Gutekunst draft. But the decision-making isn’t just about volume.
The Packers’ future cap situation is a factor, and it’s not looking good, folks - they need cheap deals. There’s also the fact that the team is already down to six picks in the 2028 class after sending away two late-round choices for running back Kaleb Johnson and tight end Mark Redman, while adding a late-round pick for quarterback Kyle McCord.
The 2027 class itself brings another twist. In the past, Gutekunst has pointed to the extra year of eligibility tied to the 2020 COVID season as one reason classes have been deeper. That dynamic isn’t in play this time, because a 2021 high school recruit is now a redshirt senior at the college level, if he’s still even playing.
But the end of the COVID year didn’t exactly make things simple. The NCAA also moved to five-for-five, which means players can use what would have been a redshirt year even if they played all five seasons of eligibility. Because of that, and because of NIL, 39 of the top 40 players in the 2027 class - and 83 of the top 100 - would have to declare early to be eligible for the draft.
That’s a major shift from the old setup, where a true senior was done with college football. Now, that player can still go back for another season.
Based on conversations with NFL scouts, more players are expected to return than in the past. Last season alone, 29 underclassmen who were projected to be top-150 picks chose to stay in school, and now that group is being joined by true seniors who still have eligibility left.
With colleges spending double on high-end rosters over the last two years, it’s going to be harder to get players to declare if they’re not projected to go in the first or second round. That’s why 2027 is shaping up as a buffer class, with the pool of fifth-year seniors beginning to build before the draft talent starts to normalize in 2028.
In Other News...
Packers Statement Win Comes With One Immediate Concern
The Packers got the kind of win that can reshape a conversation, rolling past the Patriots 45-27 to move to 6-3 after nine weeks. Green Bay had contributions all over the field, with Matthew Golden and Christian Watson making plays at receiver, Evan Williams helping set the tone on defense and Kaleb Johnson adding to the attack behind Jordan Love.
Jordan Love also kept the offense humming, but the bigger immediate storyline came from the backfield. Josh Jacobs left the game early with a hand injury, and for a team that just delivered a statement performance, the next question is how long it can keep that momentum if one of its most important pieces is suddenly in doubt. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fans Had Every Reason To Hate How This Call Was Covered
A frustrating sequence in the Packers-Patriots game had Green Bay fans bristling long after the flag was thrown. Packers edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton drew a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on what looked like light contact with backup quarterback Tommy DeVito, and the call helped keep a New England drive alive at a time when the Packers were trying to stay in control.
The bigger complaint, though, was not just the penalty itself but how it was shown. Broadcasts around the NFL have increasingly left viewers without the replay context they need on controversial calls, and this one fit the pattern too neatly for comfort. When a borderline flag changes field position and the television coverage does not really slow it down for scrutiny, it leaves fans with the same sour feeling and very few answers. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Suddenly Have A Trade Deadline Need Fans Can Actually See
Injuries have left the Packers looking for help on defense, and the trade deadline is suddenly a place where the front office might have to do more than just monitor the market. One name that fits the need is Philadelphia linebacker Zack Baun, a Milwaukee native and former Wisconsin player who has carved out a solid NFL career and would make sense as a plug-in option if Green Bay decides to add experience and versatility to a thin unit.
The appeal is obvious because Baun checks both the football and hometown boxes, but the logistics are still the real question. Green Bay would have to decide whether the price is worth it and whether the timing lines up before the deadline, with no deal confirmed and the Packers still weighing how aggressively to address the hole on defense. [Read more 🡒]