Table of Content
Acquiring a running back, offensive lineman, or defensive lineman before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday likely involves trading a draft pick from the 2027 class. The Green Bay Packers hold several tradable selections for that year, though general manager Brian Gutekunst must weigh future cap space, current draft capital, and shifting college eligibility rules.
Tradable 2027 Picks and Compensatory Projections
The Packers’ original draft choices available to trade include their second- through seventh-round picks for 2027. Their first-round selection is gone as part of the Micah Parsons trade, with either the Dallas Cowboys or New York Jets owning it depending on whichever pick ends up higher. Additionally, Over the Cap projects four compensatory picks for Green Bay: a third-round pick for Malik Willis, fifth-round picks for Quay Walker and Romeo Doubs, and a sixth-round pick for Kingsley Enagbare. Romeo Doubs’ potential to rise to a fourth-round pick is off the table because he was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.
In total, the Packers expect to have 11 draft picks in 2027, but only seven can be traded right now because the four compensatory picks will not be awarded until the start of the new league year.
Draft History and Roster Management
General manager Brian Gutekunst has turned in an average of 9.6 picks per draft across his tenure, ranging from six picks in 2026 to 13 picks in 2023. On paper, Green Bay currently holds an extra pick and a half compared to a normal Gutekunst season. However, future decisions may be influenced by a difficult upcoming salary cap situation that demands cheap deals, along with the fact that the team is already down to six picks for the 2028 class after trading late-round selections for running back Kaleb Johnson and tight end Mark Redman while adding a late-round pick for quarterback Kyle McCord.
The Impact of College Eligibility Rules
An interesting X factor for the upcoming draft class involves early declarations. While sixth-year players from the 2020 COVID year are no longer a factor, the NCAA’s five-for-five rule allows all players to benefit from a redshirt year even if they play all five seasons of eligibility. Combined with NIL, 39 of the top 40 players in the 2027 class and 83 of the top 100 must declare early for the NFL to be eligible for selection.
Because true seniors now have another year of college football available if they want it, discussions with NFL scouts indicate that more players are expected to return than in the past. Last season alone, 29 underclassmen projected as top-150 selections returned to school, and colleges spending double on high-end rosters over the last two years makes it harder to convince players to declare if they are not projected as first- or second-round picks. As a result, 2027 will serve as a buffer class before draft talent normalizes in 2028.
