– There may be some attractive veteran players available through trades this year, and Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst insists he’s not afraid to offer his first-round pick if he finds one he likes.

Gutekunst loves his draft choices and has never traded a first-round pick for a player. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t tried.

“I have, a couple of times,” Gutekunst said Tuesday during a chat with Packers beat reporters at the NFL scouting combine. “It didn’t happen, obviously.”

Why didn’t it happen?

“Someone offered more (than us),” he said.

Were you just fishing or was there serious interest?

“Yeah, there’s been times in the past where we would have done that,” he said. “It just didn’t work out.”

Gutekunst didn’t say when or for whom those discussions took place.

He joked that he’s not facing any pressure to use the pick because the Packers are hosting the NFL draft and fans might be mad at him for trading away the only pick the Packers have on Day 1.

“Mark actually made a joke the other day,” Gutekunst said of Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy. “He said, ‘I want to make sure you know you can trade that pick.'”

This offseason, there could be several quality players who are shopped for draft picks. Some of those teams are rebuilding, and obtaining a first-round draft choice while shedding salary cap obligations fits into the plan.

The most prominent player who has asked his team for a trade is Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, arguably the best defensive player in the NFL. It would probably take two first-round picks or a first-round pick and a prominent player to even get the Browns to consider.

They have said they have no intention of trading Garrett.

Las Vegas end Maxx Crosby has been another name thrown around league circles as a possible trade option, but the Raiders haven’t shown an interest to deal him yet. Highly regarded defensive tackle Jonathan Allen has received permission from the Washington Commanders to speak with other teams about a trade.

San Francisco wide receiver Deebo Samuel has sought a trade, but the 49ers likely would not trade him to the Packers, who are an NFC competitor. Seattle receiver DK Metcalf is another possibility given some of his frustrations with playing in the Seahawks offense. He would most likely garner at least a first-round pick in trade compensation.

Another receiver who might be available is the New York Jets’ Garrett Wilson, a rising star who is entering the final year of his contract. He would seem to be an offensive building block for new coach Aaron Glenn, but if he’s determined to get a new start, he could be on the trade market.