The Green Bay Packers and general manager Brian Gutekunst appear ready to stay flexible entering the 2026 NFL Draft. He said he is not ruling out the possibility of trading up in any round, though such a move would depend on one important factor: the right player being available.
Green Bay has long approached the draft with patience and discipline, but the front office has also shown a willingness to be aggressive when value aligns with need. That balance gives the Packers multiple options as they prepare to navigate another important weekend.
A move up in the second round or later rounds could become realistic if a prospect begins to slide. Teams often identify clusters of players they value similarly, then become more assertive when one target remains available deeper into the board than expected.
What makes Green Bay especially interesting this year is its future draft flexibility. The Packers are positioned to receive compensatory selections next year and have added extra assets through previous trades, creating a larger pool of picks that could be used to maneuver.
Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst Reacts to Possibility of Trading Up in 2026 NFL Draft
Gutekunst has shared his thoughts about Green Bay potentially trading up in the NFL Draft this year. This can be seen in an article by Mike Spofford for the team’s official website.
He’s not ruling out a trade up in the second round, or any round.
While a trade back to acquire more picks is probably more likely, Gutekunst’s motto is always “if the right player is there …” The Packers may not have a ton of draft capital this year to move up, but he did mention all the compensatory picks – up to four – the team is expecting next year from its lost free agents, plus the three additional picks (one this year, two next) he added by trading Rashan Gary and Dontayvion Wicks.
So it’s within the realm of possibility to trade a pick next year in order to move up this year. But again, if the right player is there.
“The compensatory formula, we won’t know exactly what we have for next year, but we feel pretty good about the amount of picks we’re going to have,” Gutekunst said, referencing 11 or more.
“Whether it’s in this year’s draft, next year’s, the ability to move around to acquire the type of players we want to acquire, you have to have those picks to do that.”
That means the organization may be willing to sacrifice future capital for an immediate opportunity if Gutekunst believes a difference-maker is within reach. At the same time, trading back remains a logical option if the board offers better value through added selections.
The Packers do not appear locked into any single strategy, which can be a strength on draft weekend. If the right player falls into range, Green Bay has the resources to move up, but if not, patience and additional picks may prove to be the smarter path.
