Carolina moved up from the fourth round to pick 89 and…
Carolina moved up from the fourth round to pick 89 and selected defensive tackle Atiyyah Ellison, sending Green Bay picks 115 and 126. Ellison never played a regular-season game for the Panthers. Green Bay selected Marviel Underwood with one pick and traded the other for three later selections, producing limited but still clearly greater value than Carolina received from its failed trade-up.
Carolina Panthers Received
- pick 2005 3rd round pick (89th overall, Atiyyah Ellison)
Green Bay Packers Received
- pick 2005 4th round pick (115th overall, Marviel Underwood)
- pick 2005 4th round pick (126th overall, later traded; Todd Herremans selected)
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Carolina targeted defensive tackle Atiyyah Ellison and paid two fourth-round selections to move into the late third round. Green Bay preferred volume and accepted picks 115 and 126. The trade put the teams on opposite sides of a familiar draft calculation: Carolina concentrated its capital in one prospect, while the Packers chose multiple chances and the option to move again.
What the Returns Produced
Ellison did not make a regular-season appearance for Carolina, turning the Panthers' concentrated investment into essentially no direct return. Green Bay drafted safety Marviel Underwood at 115; injuries limited his career, but he at least remained in the club's plans for a period. The Packers then sent pick 126 to Philadelphia for picks 167, 175 and 245, expanding the return further.
How the Value Developed
Green Bay's downstream selections were not especially successful, so this is not an elite trade-down. The advantage comes from Carolina receiving nothing from the player it moved up to select. Even modest roster service, extra selections and the ability to conduct another trade carried more value than a third-round pick who never contributed to the Panthers on Sundays.
Why This Trade Still Matters
The deal is a reminder that the cost of a failed trade-up includes both the player miss and the opportunities surrendered to move. Carolina lost two fourth-round assets to secure one prospect who did not stick. Green Bay did not maximize every acquired pick, but the Packers preserved more optionality and generated the only meaningful organizational value in the exchange.
Final Verdict
Green Bay Packers Win is the best fit. Carolina Panthers earns a D, while Green Bay Packers earns a B-. Those grades reflect the cost paid, the direct production received, the length and quality of each contribution, and any important downstream value created from draft capital.