Report: The Packers are trying to trade up in round 2 of 2024 NFL Draft

General manager Brian Gutekunst might be able to land defensive back Cooper DeJean after all.

According to the NFL Network, there are a couple of teams trying to move up in the second round of the draft to snag some of the available talent before others get a chance: the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers (h/t uStadium). For perspective, the Packers are set to pick 41st, the Jaguars pick 48th and the Eagles pick 50th with their first selection on Day 2 of the 2024 draft.

With only eight selections ahead of the Packers, you would figure that their targets come down to just a handful of players. Based on the consensus draft board, the following players are the “best” five prospects still available going into Friday:

1. Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
2. Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
3. Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
4. AD Mitchell, WR, Texas
5. Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon

General manager Brian Gutekunst stated that the team has evaluated DeJean as a cornerback, safety and slot at the professional level in his pre-draft press conference. With such a massive need at safety opposite of Xavier McKinney, it’s possible he could be the player they’re trying to target.

Newton and McKinstry both have Jones fractures in their foot, an injury that tends to pop back up at the NFL level, which is one reason why they potentially dropped from Day 1 to Day 2 of the draft. Jackson Powers-Johnson of Oregon would be an interesting pick, as he has the potential to play either center or guard at the next level. With the Packers already presumably reshuffling their offensive line with the addition of tackle Jordan Morgan on Thursday, Powers-Johnson could add even more competition to the room.

Other notable players worth considering here for the Packers include linebacker Edgerrin Cooper of Texas A&M, considered the best off-ball linebacker in the 2024 class, safety Tyler Nubin of Minnesota, considered the top true safety in the 2024 class, pass-rusher Marshawn Kneeland of Western Michigan, who the team brought in on a pre-draft visit.

Only a few hours away, it appears that the Packers like how the board is shaking out going into Day 2, at least based on NFL Network’s reporting. It shouldn’t take too much for the Packers to move up from the 41st pick, considering how high they’re picking in the second round already. At the moment, Green Bay is scheduled to make 11 total selections in the 2024 draft, including four choices (two in each round) on Day 2.