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Packers' general manager Brian Gutekunst revealed the team tried to trade into the first round

The Green Bay Packers are armed with eight picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, but none of those selections came in the first round. After trading their 2026 first-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys as part of the Micah Parsons trade, the Packers were one of several teams that sat on the sidelines to begin the draft on Thursday night.

For the most part, the 2026 draft class isn’t exactly considered top-heavy, so missing out on the first round isn’t a major issue for Green Bay, especially considering how strong its roster appears to be on paper. However, according to general manager Brian Gutekunst, it turns out that the team was looking to trade back into the first round of the draft.

Brian Gutekunst Issues Surprising Packers Draft Admission

The Packers took a big swing before Week 1 of the 2025 campaign when they traded for Parsons, sending what would end up being the No. 20 overall pick in this draft the other way. While Parsons ended up tearing his ACL late in the year, he proved his worth well before then, as he racked up 12.5 sacks in his first 14 games with Green Bay.

It’s pretty clear that there isn’t a player who is going to be as productive as Parsons right away in this draft class, so moving on from that pick as part of a deal to bring him to town was viewed as well worth it. That made the beginning of the draft pretty dull for Green Bay, though, as it kicked back and watched the action unfold.

While they didn’t have a first-rounder in this draft, the Packers still had enough draft capital that they could have made a move up the board if a prospect they really liked was falling further than expected. Gutekunst revealed that the team did consider trading back into the first round, but the high cost of doing business was enough to deter them from making such a move.

“To get up in the first round was going to be quite expensive,” Gutekunst admitted when speaking to reporters. “If it wouldn’t have been, we would have entertained it, but that never really came.”

Packers Set to Get on the Board During Day of the 2026 NFL Draft

GettyPackers general manager Brian Gutekunst.

Ultimately, the sort of move that the Packers were looking to make never materialized, and they were content to stand pat and turn their attention to Day 2 of the draft. Green Bay will be busier on Friday, as it has one selection in both the second and third rounds, and given the front office’s desire to trade into the first round, a couple of trades around the board can’t be ruled out of the equation.

The Packers’ roster is in a solid spot, but there are some obvious needs they will be looking to address. The cornerback position is an area of serious need, with the offensive line and the front seven on defense also needing some reinforcements. It may have been a quiet day of action for Green Bay on Thursday, but the action is set to heat up in the blink of an eye on Day 2 of the draft.