Five Bold Predictions for the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft is days away and the Green Bay Packers have 11 picks overall including five in the top 100. GM Brian Gutekunst feels this team can contend for a Super Bowl this season after surprising everyone by reaching the NFC Divisional Playoffs last season. The Packers have positions they need to address in this draft and other positions where they will want to add depth. Here are five bold predictions for the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Five Bold Predictions for the Packers in the 2024 NFL Draft, Number Five: The Packers Take a QB on Day 3

Gutekunst indicated he wanted to go back to taking a quarterback in the later rounds of the draft nearly every year much like Ron Wolf did for the Packers in the 90s. The results yielded developmental quarterbacks that backed up Brett Favre and were often traded for future draft picks.

Among the players the Packers picked included Matt Hasselbeck, Aaron Brooks, Ty Detmer, and Mark Brunell.

The quarterback the Packers draft may spend the year on the practice squad, but this will be the start of a return to the practice of drafting quarterbacks late and developing them.

Number Four: The Packers Draft for Defense in the First Round

The Packers almost always draft for defense in the first round under Gutekunst. The last two first round picks the Packers used on offense were Aaron Rodgers in 2005 and Jordan Love in 2020.

You have to go all the way back to 2002 for the last time the Packers chose an offensive player who was not a quarterback in the first round. That was wide receiver Javon Walker.

Gutekunst will continue this trend and draft a defensive player in the first round again.

Five Bold Predictions for the Packers in the 2024 NFL Draft, Number Three: The Packers Draft Three Offensive Linemen

We know there is a lot of talk about the state of the Packers offensive line. Will the Packers move Zach Tom from tackle to center as was rumored? The Packers will need more depth at tackle whether they move Tom inside or not, but the need becomes greater if they do.

Green Bay also needs a right guard to compete with Sean Rhyan and depth at guard and center. That will depend on whether Tom moves there or if they just seek an upgrade over Josh Myers.

The Packers will take at least one tackle and two interior offensive linemen. At least one of those players will be selected in the first three rounds.

Number Two: The Packers Select Multiple Defensive Backs

Safety remains a big need for the Packers with Xavier McKinney and Anthony Johnson, Jr. being the only experienced players at the position.

Cornerback is also a need because of the health questions surrounding Eric Stokes and the need to upgrade at slot with Keisean Nixon.

The Packers will add two or three defensive backs with at least one coming in the first three rounds.

Five Bold Predictions for the Packers in the 2024 NFL Draft, Number One: The Packers Trade Up in the First Round

With the team ready to contend and lots of picks at his disposal, Gutekunst will look for ways to land that one player he feels will be a difference maker in the first round.

Gute has traded up before and is more likely than not to make a trade in the first round rather than staying put at 25. He may even make multiple trades in the first two days of the draft to make sure he can grab a specific player he wants or to make sure he can address a position of need like offensive line, defensive back, or linebacker.

Packers fans will have to be on their toes as the team may make deals at any time during this draft.