GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers aren’t known for making in-season splash moves. They did so this offseason in signing running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney during free agency — both acquisitions have been resounding successes — but the Packers seem to be in the mix with big-name players at the trade deadline more so than crossing the finish line with them.
Don’t expect this season to be much different, if at all. Given their roster of talent, you might not see the Packers mentioned in the mix as much.
The Packers will either be 7-2 or 6-3 at next Tuesday’s trade deadline, a great spot or a good one to be in, respectively, depending on the result of Sunday’s heavyweight matchup against the Lions (6-1) at Lambeau Field.
This isn’t like last season when that demoralizing 24-10 loss to the Vikings at Lambeau Field sent the Packers to 2-5 and perhaps forced their hand to sell. They dealt starting cornerback Rasul Douglas and a 2024 fifth-round pick to the Bills for a third-round pick, which they used to draft Missouri linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper, who has become a core special teamer as a rookie.
The result of Sunday’s bout with the Lions likely won’t tip the scales one way or another whereas last season, a win against the Vikings might’ve convinced the Packers to keep Douglas at 3-4. Green Bay is a Super Bowl contender either way this time around, so common sense says the Packers will either be buyers or stand pat.
NFL Network has reported that defensive end Preston Smith and offensive tackle Andre Dillard, a regular inactive, were garnering trade interest, however. Dillard leaving certainly wouldn’t match the significance of Douglas being traded. Smith is closer to that level of significance, but you might understand why a team in contention would ship off a regular contributor like him.
Smith has a remarkable track record when it comes to availability, only missing one game in his 10-year career. But he turns 32 in a couple of weeks as the oldest offensive or defensive player on the team and the Packers would free up about $7.6 million by releasing Smith this coming offseason, anyway. Smith, who has played slightly more than 56 of the defensive snaps this season, ranks 127th in the NFL in pressure percentage among players with at least 100 pass-rush snaps this season, according to TruMedia. Smith has 16 tackles and 2.5 sacks with no forced fumbles and only two tackles for loss. It makes sense why the Packers would want to get something more in return for Smith than just cap space since they might cut him after this season, anyway, especially since we know how much general manager Brian Gutekunst values his draft picks.
If they traded Smith, would they look to add an edge rusher? They’d almost have to. Rashan Gary (64.38 percent of the defensive snaps), Kingsley Enagbare (43.25) and Lukas Van Ness (40.9) are all regular contributors. But the Packers, and any team for that matter, probably need a rotation of at least four off the edge. Defensive end Arron Mosby has been on the 53-man roster all season but played only two defensive snaps of a potential 511. Defensive end Brenton Cox Jr., who has been on the 53 since making it as an undrafted rookie last year, only appeared in four games in 2023 and has been inactive for every game this season. Given how inconsistent the Packers’ pass rush has already been through eight games this season, they can’t deal Smith and not acquire someone either in the same deal or a separate one. If they don’t trade Smith, they’ll likely just roll with the four they currently have. Ironically enough, who is the top edge defender who could be traded, according to NFL Network? Za’Darius Smith. Don’t hold your breath for a reunion there, folks.
Elsewhere, there aren’t any obvious positions for action at the deadline in Green Bay, which is why I think the Packers will ultimately stand pat. The Packers have their franchise quarterback and maybe the league’s best backup. They have one of the NFL’s best running backs and a seemingly solid stable of backups, especially when rookie MarShawn Lloyd returns from injury. Everyone knows about the depth at receiver. Tucker Kraft is a rising star at tight end and Luke Musgrave, when he returns from injured reserve, has the potential to be a sturdy No. 2.
Green Bay’s offensive line is below average, according to ESPN Analytics, with the Packers ranking 17th in pass-block win rate and 24th in run-block win rate. Yet they seem to have a future starter at either left tackle or right guard in rookie first-rounder Jordan Morgan and a present and future starter at left guard in Elgton Jenkins, at right tackle in Zach Tom and perhaps even at center in Josh Myers depending on if the Packers re-sign him this offseason. The futures of Rasheed Walker at left tackle and Sean Rhyan at right guard might be a bit more cloudy, but the point remains that the Packers don’t seem primed to make a splash move on the offensive line at the deadline.
On the defensive side, Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt are cornerstones on the interior defensive line for the present and future, with Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden only in their second seasons having sporadically flashed. T.J. Slaton is in the final year of his rookie contract and has yet to develop into anything more than a complementary piece. Could the Packers look for a splash trade here? Sure, but anyone who would be a clear upgrade over their current depth pieces could command draft capital Gutekunst isn’t willing to part with.
Green Bay is set at linebacker for the present and future with Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, Eric Wilson and Isaiah McDuffie and at safety with McKinney, Evan Williams and Javon Bullard. The only other interesting spot could be cornerback. The Packers have liked Bullard in the slot with Keisean Nixon outside, but if Nixon is in the slot, Green Bay could use an upgrade at the outside cornerback spot opposite Jaire Alexander. Eric Stokes, Green Bay’s 2021 first-round pick, appears headed for another team in free agency this coming offseason if he continues at his current level of play.
In short, a Packers team with no glaring needs that doesn’t make noise at the deadline under their current general manager even when they have glaring needs likely won’t make noise this time around, either. Remember the Odell Beckham Jr. sweepstakes a couple of years ago when the Packers needed an upgrade at No. 2 wide receiver behind Davante Adams? That was free agency since the Browns had released Beckham, but the point remains. I’m not sure the backlash this season will be as fierce as it was then if the Packers don’t make a move if there even is any backlash if they remain idle this year. It’s evident the Packers have a roster worthy of Super Bowl contention as it is.
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(Top photo of Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst: Mark Hoffman / Imagn Images)
