NFL Draft 2020 Rumors: Packers may be among teams looking to trade up in round 1

Trading up might be Brian Gutekunst’s M.O. The Green Bay Packers’ general manager has moved up in the first round in each of his two drafts at the helm of the legendary franchise, and he also traded up in 2018 to move back into the third round. Compare that against the fact that he has moved down only once, in a deal that was too good to pass up as it brought the team another first-round pick in the following draft.

Now, rumors on Thursday afternoon ahead of the start of the 2020 NFL Draft suggest that he is looking to climb the ladder once again. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network brings this news, naming the Packers as one of four teams — joining the Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, and New Orleans Saints — as those who “have made some noise” about a move up the board.

In 2018, Gutekunst moved up to select cornerback Jaire Alexander at 18 after first moving back from pick 14. In 2019, he went after safety Darnell Savage at pick number 21, grabbing a second defensive player following his selection of Rashan Gary at 12.

If the Packers are indeed targeting a player or a couple of players for a move up, logic would suggest that wide receiver and offensive tackle are the likely targets. A player like Justin Jefferson or Denzel Mims could be that player, or it could also be an athletic tackle like Josh Jones or Ezra Cleveland. There is also a possibility that the Packers love one of the athletic linebackers, Kenneth Murray or Patrick Queen, though the team seems not to prioritize the off-ball linebacker position highly.

Fans should know much more in about five hours whether this report bears fruit.