The Green Bay Packers Should Buy — And Sell — At The NFL Trading Deadline

The Green Bay Packers will never tell you this publicly.

It would be a P.R. disaster.

But the Packers two major objectives in 2023:

1. Find out of Jordan Love is the answer at quarterback

2. Get their financial house in order.

3. Begin the discovery process of who will be around in 2025, when this young roster will have matured and could be in the mix for big things again.

Sure, the Packers’ front office would love to win as many games as possible in 2023. But they all realize this is largely a rebuilding year, one in which they’ve moved on from Aaron Rodgers and have $60.3 million of dead salary cap money.

So if the Packers win five games, seven or even 10, it truthfully doesn’t matter. Green Bay’s brass knows it isn’t winning a Super Bowl — which is all that matters in Titletown.

That’s what makes Tuesday’s NFL’s trading deadline so tricky for general manager Brian Gutekunst.

On one hand, the 2023 Packers are headed nowhere fast. Green Bay has lost three straight games, is off to its worst start (2-4) since 2006 and currently holds the No. 7 pick in the 2024 draft. Those facts alone could make Green Bay sellers at the deadline.

On the other hand, it’s been tough for the Packers to get a true reading on Love. Green Bay has the youngest roster in football, the offensive skill players are remarkably inexperienced, and Gutekunst could get a clearer picture on Love if he gave him another weapon or two.

“It’s not just about him,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Love this week. “I’ve said that so many times. We need everybody. We need all 10 men around him to do their job, as well, otherwise you don’t have a chance.”

While Love has struggled the last month, the deck has been stacked against him. And if Gutekunst wants the truest picture possible on his 2020 first round draft pick, it would make sense for him to be a buyer.

So with the trade deadline just three days away, the suggestion here is for Gutekunst to do a little bit of both.

Here’s a look at some players the Packers could trade away — and some they could acquire — before the deadline arrives Tuesday at 3 p.m.

SELL

1. Preston Smith, OLB

While Smith is 31, he’s also in the middle of another solid season with 22 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 5.0 quarterback hits. Pass rushers are coveted assets, and Smith would undoubtedly help a contending team.

The Packers also have rare depth at outside linebacker, where they’re likely to sign Rashan Gary to a long-term extension before he becomes a free agent in March. Trading Smith would also free up snaps for rookie first round draft pick Lucas Van Ness and Kingsley Enagbare — two players who seemingly have bright futures in Green Bay.

Trading Smith would net a current salary cap savings of $1.0 million and could bring back a third- or fourth-round pick. While Smith has been an above average starter since signing as a free agent in 2019, this seems like the perfect time to move him for a future draft pick.

2. Keisean Nixon, CB/PR/KR

Nixon has been below average as the Packers’ slot corner this season. His real value to a contender could be in the return game, though, after he was named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press last season.

While most teams have kicked away from Nixon this year, the weather is about to turn, making it trickier to avoid him. That’s good news for Nixon, who ranked No. 2 in the NFL with an average of 28.83 yards per kickoff return last year and had five returns of at least 50 yards.

The Packers would save $1.294 million by moving Nixon. And teams that needed to give their return game a jolt would likely surrender a mid-to-late round pick for Green Bay’s return ace.

3. John Runyan, OG

Runyan has started 39 of Green Bay’s last 40 games and been a solid player. Runyan is in the final year of his rookie contract, though, and seems unlikely to return in 2024.

Runyan is as tough as a three-day old steak. He’s smart as a whip and could become acclimated to a new offense in a short time.

The Packers would have a cap savings of $1.524 million if they traded Runyan and would likely net a late round pick.

BUY

1. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver

Buy low. That would certainly be the case here.

Jeudy was the 15^th overall pick in the 2020 draft after a stellar career at Alabama. He’s been a mediocre player, at best, though, during his 3 ½ years in Denver, with 157 career catches and nine total touchdowns.

Right now, the Packers have no idea what they have with their current group of wideouts.

Christian Watson can’t stay healthy. Romeo Doubs has been so-so. Jayden Reed appears promising. The rest have more questions than answers.

By no means is Jeudy a home run, but it would give Love a more proven, reliable target than some of the youngsters he’s currently playing with. And with Denver (2-5) in the middle of a fire sale, acquiring Jeudy certainly wouldn’t cost the Packers much.

2. Zack Moss, RB, Indianapolis

Green Bay ranks 24^th in the league in both rushing yards per game (90.8) and yards per carry (3.8).

Aaron Jones is still dynamic, but has played just 19.3% of the snaps this season. And while A.J. Dillon has been better the last two games, his year has been a disappointment.

Love needs a better running game and the 25-year-old Moss could help. Moss is averaging 4.3 yards per carry this season playing for an Indianapolis team that struggles passing the ball. And with the Colts having just inked Jonathan Taylor to a three-year, $42 million contract extension, there eventually won’t be a lot of touches for Moss.

This could be a win-win for both teams.

3. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee

While Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers didn’t need elite running games to succeed, Love almost certainly will.

Henry has nearly 9,000 rushing yards and 81 rushing touchdowns since 2016. He’s in the final year of his contract, though and likely to be moved at the deadline.

Many expect Henry to be traded to a Super Bowl contender, but his presence would allow Gutekunst to see what Green Bay’s offense might look like with an elite running back paired with Love.

Henry wouldn’t be a long-term answer, but in the short term, he’d help answer the Jordan Love question.