The trade involving the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars will net Matt LaFleur’s team an extra late-round pick.
According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, who originally reported the trade, the Packers are getting a seventh-round pick from the Jaguars in exchange for second-year offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen.
The trade has no conditions attached, so the pick will be Green Bay’s. And although not specifically stated, the pick is presumably in the 2023 draft.
Van Lanen was a sixth-round pick in the 2021 draft. He played in one game as a rookie but otherwise spent the entire season on the practice squad.
The Wisconsin native played well over two preseason games in 2022 and has been cross-trained at guard and tackle.
The deal looks like a win-win.
The Packers, clearly happy with the team’s depth along the offensive line, found a suitor for Van Lanen and got draft pick compensation back without having to release him and get nothing. Van Lanen, who was unlikely to make the team, now has a legitimate chance to make the 53-man roster and contribute in Jacksonville.
No team likes to trade away recent draft picks, and every team is looking for offensive linemen who can play, but the Packers have developed enough depth up front, especially if David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins return early in the 2022 season. Yosh Nijman and rookie Zach Tom can play tackle on both sides of the line, Royce Newman can play guard and tackle, Jake Hanson looks like the Lucas Patrick replacement on the interior, third-round pick Sean Rhyan is developing at guard and undrafted rookie Caleb Jones has surprised at left tackle.
