If the board doesn’t fall the way the Green Bay Packers hope to start the second round, don’t be surprised if GM Brian Gutekunst uses a trade down from No. 44 to recoup some of the draft capital on Day 3 he used to move up and get Maryland safety Darnell Savage Thursday night.
The Packers sent both of the team’s fourth-round picks (114, 118) to Seattle for the right to select Savage. It was a price Gutekunst was willing to pay for a player he labeled as an “absolute difference maker” at safety.
Gutekunst now has two picks on Friday (No. 44, 75) and four on Saturday (No. 150, 185, 194, 226). Not having a fourth-rounder would mean waiting 75 picks between the Packers’ final pick on Friday and first pick on Saturday.
Trading down from No. 44 could solve that problem. Sliding back into the late 40s or 50s would likely net a fourth-round pick and ensure Gutekunst has a pick early on Day 3.
For instance, if the Packers wanted to get a pick early in the fourth round, trading down with the Patriots (to No. 56) would likely net the 97th overall pick (second pick in the fourth round).
Even moving back four spots to No. 48 could be enough to pry a pick in the middle of the fourth round (No. 116) from the Miami Dolphins.
Another potential scenario: Trading down to No. 49 with the Browns would likely include No. 119 as compensation. The same idea works for the Titans, No. 51 and No. 121.
Of course, the Packers’ board will ultimately drive the decision. If there’s an impact player still available at 44, it would make no sense to move back and recoup value at a later point where finding impact players is rare. Take the impact player and worry about the fourth round later.
