The Green Bay Packers sat and watched the opening night of the NFL Draft, but they now have an opportunity to land a first-round talent at a discounted price.

Based on talent alone, Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy would be a first-round pick. A top-15 pick, even. That’s how special a player he is. The Packers should have no business being able to draft him after sending their first-rounder to the Dallas Cowboys, but here we are.

It may take a trade-up to get into range, but Brian Gutekunst can make it work by giving his ol’ friend Jon-Eric Sullivan a call. The Miami Dolphins couldn’t stop making trades in Round 1, so why not one more? Here’s a win-win scenario that could get it done for both sides.

Green Bay Packers Receive:

• 2nd-round pick (No. 43)

Miami Dolphins Receive:

• 2nd-round pick (No. 52)
• 4th-round pick (No. 120)
• 5th-round pick (No. 153)

Packers should seriously consider trading up for ‘highly regarded’ Jermod McCoy

Had it not been due to injury, McCoy might’ve been a top-10 selection. Even with the red flags, he still landed at No. 23 on FanSided’s big board.

“The fact he is this highly regarded speaks to his talent. With peerless ball skills, tremendous technique, and a willingness to tackle in the open field, McCoy would be a lock for the Top 10 if he didn’t have the injury concerns surrounding him,” writes FanSided’s Mike Luciano.

So, let’s address the injury concerns. That’s the reason for his draft-day plummet, because it sure isn’t based on talent. McCoy tore his ACL in January 2025 and missed all of last season. He later skipped the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine, which raised more red flags.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (h/t Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk), McCoy could require another surgery to “repair a bone plug” in his knee.

However, McCoy went a long way toward easing the injury concerns by crushing the athletic drills at his pro day. ESPN’s Matt Miller went as far as to say it put him “back in the running for CB1.” That is no longer the case with McCoy falling to Round 2, but that can work in the Packers’ favor.

Gutekunst needs to pick up the phone.

So, why a trade to No. 43 with the Dolphins? For starters, moving all the way up to the top of the second round may still be a little too rich for the Packers, as they would likely need to hand over their third-round choice in the deal. But a jump up nine spots is far more palatable.

It would also perfectly position the Packers ahead of several cornerback-needy teams, including the New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and perhaps even the division-rival Detroit Lions.

Miami has already addressed its cornerback concerns by landing San Diego State’s Chris Johnson, breaking Packers fans’ hearts in the process.

Is there risk in trading up for McCoy? Sure. But the Packers have a desperate need at cornerback and they are well and truly all-in after the Micah Parsons trade.

Gutekunst has a chance to make the NFL regret letting a prospect this talented fall into the Packers’ range.