Packers make OL trade with Eagles

After much debate, it looks like the Green Bay Packers have finally found their ninth offensive lineman. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Packers have sent over their 2027 sixth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Darian Kinnard, who was expected to make the Eagles’ roster based on 53-man projections.

Kinnard was a fifth-round pick back in 2022 who was picked by the Kansas City Chiefs out of Kentucky, about as pro-based a system as you’re going to see in college football. Kinnard didn’t make the Chiefs’ 53-man roster in 2023, but was re-signed by the team to their practice squad. Last season, Kinnard joined the Eagles, where he started in the regular season finale when Philadelphia rested its starters.

According to CBS Sports, Kinnard and Ken Norton Jr. are the only two players who have won three Super Bowls in a row. Kinnard was a pre-draft visitor to Green Bay leading up to the 2022 draft. Since 2022, the Packers have added 29 pre-draft visitors to their roster. Who they’re interested in is not exactly a secret.

Kinnard got work at both guard and tackle this summer with the Eagles, so he should be able to provide depth at both positions. This is bad news if you’re Kadeem Telfort or Donovan Jennings, who were next in line for the ninth offensive line job with the Packers. Green Bay already preserved Travis Glover’s contract by placing him on the injured reserve for the full season. Rookie seventh-round pick John Williams is also on the physically unable to perform list.

Even though he’s been in the league for four years, Kinnard is only going to be a restricted free agent next offseason because of his time spent on the Chiefs’ practice squad in 2023. He’s on a $1.03 million salary for the 2025 season. For reference, the first right of refusal tender in 2026 is expected to be $3.45 million, if the Packers don’t want Kinnard to hit unrestricted free agency next year.

Green Bay now only owns six draft choices, its first-, second-, third-, fourth-, fifth- and seventh-rounders, going into 2026. The Packers aren’t expected to receive a compensatory draft pick. The losses of defensive tackle T.J. Slaton (sixth-rounder) and cornerback Eric Stokes (seventh-rounder) are offset by the additions of guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs in the league’s formula.