Should the Packers Be Sellers at the NFL Trade Deadline?
The Packers' hopes of competing are dwindling after a third straight loss.
By markoldacres
Entering the 2023 season, handed a soft schedule and residing in the relatively cushy NFC North, the Packers may have fancied themselves as a playoff contender, despite embarking on their first campaign post-Rodgers.
Now sitting at 2-4 on the back of two losses to unimpressive opponents, the reality is setting in that this young team is far too inconsistent to have a realistic shot at making the postseason, even factoring in the potential for improvement as the season goes on.
With that in mind, and the NFL trade deadline eight days away, the Packers are far more likely to be sellers than buyers. This team needs long term pieces, not short-term plugs. From a cold, calculated point of view, selling at the deadline makes sense for Brian Gutekunst and the Packers.
Who would they sell? The candidates would be veteran players who are not on the same timeline as the Packers, I.e., players who will be free agents before the team is ready to be relevant again.
Aaron Jones is out of contract after next season and will be 29 at that time. The same goes for Rasul Douglas. Jones has shown no signs of decline and Douglas is arguably playing the best football of his career right now. They could have genuine value on the trade market.
Preston Smith is under contract through 2026, but it is hard to see him playing out the remaining years of his deal, when he would be 34. The Packers have plenty of young talent on the edge who could use more snaps to aid their development.
Could the Packers parlay Rudy Ford’s solid start to the season at safety into some draft capital? He will be a free agent at season’s end.
What about Yosh Nijman? If the Packers are intent on letting Rasheed Walker work through his growing pains, getting something for Nijman could make sense before he walks in free agency.
If this were your Madden franchise, and real people (and real consequences) were not involved, moving any of these players makes sense, but of course, it is not that simple.
This is an evaluation year for all departments, and purposely weakening the team would only muddy that process further, especially with regard to Jordan Love.
While sections of the fanbase may have made their minds up about Love, the Packers certainly have not. There is no doubt he must play better, but Love is surrounded by the least experienced supporting cast in the league, and it is showing.
The offense is already struggling to execute with any consistency, and taking away a key weapon like Jones or offensive line depth in Nijman would be massively detrimental to Love’s chances of success.
An argument could certainly be made that trading defensive players is still on the table, as weakening that side of the ball would not have the same direct impact on Love, and there is nothing left to evaluate when it comes to embattled defensive coordinator Joe Barry.
Douglas may be the team’s most obvious trade candidate, with Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, and Carrington Valentine viable options to start at cornerback, but moving such a popular player would rip the heart out of Green Bay’s defense.
It would indicate to the rest of the locker room that the club is tanking, and while some might say that is the logical course of action, it is not what the Packers do, and that is to be commended.
There are valid arguments to sell, but just like in previous years when the fanbase clamored for the team to make a splashy addition, Packers fans should keep their expectations low and prepare for a quiet trade deadline.
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Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres
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Comments (61)
stockholder
October 23, 2023 at 06:26 pm
Every player on this club is tradable.
There is No sense of urgency now.
Dump the salary.
No player will play their heart out for a loser.
The Pack won't be back until Gutey is gone.
Change the coaches all you want.
Until a All-pro QB comes to GB.
The last thing you'll see is a dynasty.
Oppy
October 23, 2023 at 06:38 pm
I forgot Rodgers was an all pro after 6 games.
About half of Packers fans were calling for him to be cut and find a real QB at this point in his first year starting.
Hey, weren't you one of those people?
stockholder
October 23, 2023 at 06:59 pm
No - More people were after TT for Trading
#4 and closing the windows of others.
Now- The problem is the others got injured
and it all pays the same.
Coldworld
October 24, 2023 at 12:36 am
BS. You were still incessantly moaning about Rodgers early on in the Super Bowl year. Not to mention your years hating TT.
stockholder
October 24, 2023 at 07:42 am
No - you kept bitching about Rodgers making money.
And now we have a terrible team.
dobber
October 24, 2023 at 07:52 am
It was the covid-contracted cap year and the need to try to prop up a QB into his 40s and preen his desire to be paid at the top of his position that got them into this mess in the first place.
Oppy
October 24, 2023 at 05:40 am
You are an amazing revisionist.
dobber
October 24, 2023 at 07:16 am
Facts and past postings don't mean much.
MainePackFan
October 23, 2023 at 07:06 pm
Same thing with Adams. Nobody giving up on Jordan, it's too early to tell. That being said. there is a good article by Bill Huber comparing Rodgers and Love through 6 games. I'll let you decide which young QB showed the most potential through 6 games.
https://www.si.com/nfl/packers/gameday/comparing-jordan-loves-first-six-...
barutanseijin
October 23, 2023 at 08:39 pm
He’s gone. Forever. He’s not coming back. Get used to it.
MainePackFan
October 24, 2023 at 05:22 am
I'm just responding to a post in which his name was brought up in comparison to Love in their first 6 games. There is nothing to get used to.
Coldworld
October 24, 2023 at 12:45 am
I remember the screams after Rodgers threw three interceptions in his 4th game. I was much more of a believer in Rodgers than Love at the time. Partly from seeing him in practices, but the fact is I remember the vitriol poured on him at first and even later as a guy who couldn’t win from behind but was carried by his offense. Not to mention the endless Favre is better faction. In fact Favre was in 2008 by some way, till he hurt his bicep, but it was still the right move … eventually.
I will say that I had a lot more faith in MM to guide Rodgers appropriately and get him established than LaFleur. He also had a very good receiving corps and a better running game and OL. That makes it harder to evaluate what’s going on right now,
MainePackFan
October 24, 2023 at 05:45 am
Good post CW. I was probably one of those fans screaming. I remember being on the Favre side of that debate. I hope I am as wrong now as I was then ; )
PeteK
October 24, 2023 at 10:02 am
I know it's natural to compare, but let's just remember that Rogers is an all time great and had Jennings catching passes.
Irish_Cheesehead
October 24, 2023 at 11:47 am
Sure, I'd put my money on the guy playing with the veteran O-line and WRs every time. No surprises there.
DocHoliday
October 23, 2023 at 08:58 pm
Fans also wanted Davante gone after his first 2 seasons.
When Rodgers took over, he had one of the best WR groups in the entire league making it easy for him. They were constantly telling him what routes they were able to beat someone during games. Rodgers also has 2 Packer Hall of Fame OTs with 8 years of experience to protect him, add in a pro bowl center.
Packers1985
October 23, 2023 at 11:58 pm
Best Wr's entire league Jennings and Donald agreed but not the Jones who was a second yr (similar like doubs and Watson) WR and Nelson(reed , wicks) a rookie . Agreed on OT's but center if i am not wrong he made it to probowl(2011) 3 yrs later not in 2008. Even packers now have 2 all pro's and a future HOF in Bakh and Jenkins who just happened to be hurt and a 3rd yr 2nd rd Center and a 4th yr guard.
Coldworld
October 24, 2023 at 12:48 am
It was still a very capable receiving corps, had an OL that played well, including Wells at C. The weakest link was College and he would probably be our best G currently on
his ratings that year. The team also had a functioning running game with Grant and a decent TE in Lee. That O could attack most teams in multiple ways and did. The Achilles heel was the D and the team and Rodgers struggled if it was behind while looking good otherwise. I don’t see that this year.
Packers1985
October 24, 2023 at 09:20 am
"that played well" Exactly my point the OL that time played good as a unit. Even Gutey could've thought he put up good OL for the team to succeed with 2 all pro's with 2-4 mid rd picks with 2-3 yrs of starting experience. It's either on the coaching staff that the talent didnt develop or the scouting couldn't get us the talented players could be the problem.
PeteK
October 24, 2023 at 10:05 am
You guys are throwing me off, even though I like him, trade Smith. LOl
13titles
October 24, 2023 at 01:58 am
A lot of people compare Rogers to Love. There are similarities ie 4 years behind a hof qb who was traded to the jets. Late 1st round picks etc. I know love has had unfortunate issues with a terrible ol and green receivers and yeah people make mistakes early in their careers but both favre and rogers and even Lynn Dickey had wow throws something that I have not seen from love.
TKWorldWide
October 23, 2023 at 06:43 pm
You had me at “a All-pro QB”.
KenEllis
October 23, 2023 at 10:18 pm
Should GB be sellers?
Is water wet?
stockholder
October 24, 2023 at 07:43 am
I'm just saying anyone is tradable.
joejetson
October 23, 2023 at 06:56 pm
As Mark Murphy said, "We're not idiots". And then they turned down Denver's bloated offer for Rodgers. They ended up getting less than half of what they should have gotten for #12 a year earlier. (Not to mention a subpar season from Rodgers.)
At this stage they need to keep as much roster depth as possible. I could see a case for moving on from Preston Smith, he's having a decent season, but if they can get out of his salary cap hit, he could be traded. They also have some young depth to fill his spot.
Other than #91, I'd leave it alone and evaluate the young guys.
stockholder
October 23, 2023 at 07:07 pm
Even if you traded Rodgers to Denver.
The results would be the same as this year.
Gutey has blown pick after pick.
And you'll see 1 thing when he goes.
A change in the trench and to a 4 front on D.
Coldworld
October 24, 2023 at 12:57 am
Yes, 4-3 defense is the secret miracle cure. Even if Gute blew all the picks utterly, we’d have 40 million more cap. That could have helped a lot too. Of course a few months ago you were slamming Gute for risking missing Watson in the mid first round and losing that 5th year option. Any BS as long as it ends up being Gute’s fault.
Tundraboy
October 23, 2023 at 10:01 pm
Rodgers must have known Denver would have been a huge disaster for him. But maybe not.
PackerBO
October 23, 2023 at 07:23 pm
Let Love finish the year before comparing him to Rodgers. BTW, Rodgers finished the year with 4038 yards, 28 td, 13 not and 63.6%
PhantomII
October 23, 2023 at 07:48 pm
AR had a better team around him with 4 prolific GB WR's...Not even close to the same story to start with. The Rooks will be closer to what AR had in another 2 years. Hopefully all the top picks go to the OL...But Gute is pretty stubborn and is: A BIG FAN OF HIS PICKS. Let's see what this kid can do with a ground game and SOME protection and a whole lot less penalties.
dobber
October 24, 2023 at 07:32 am
The wagon is hitched to Love for 2023-24. Anything they do to build around him will be good support for the next QB if Love turns out not to be the guy.
Assess. Keep the pieces that you can build around. Churn the rest.
bleedgreen
October 23, 2023 at 07:24 pm
Absolutely be sellers stock pile draft picks if possible. They are going no where this year. The problem is I have no faith this FO will make the correct draft decisions. Team needs a rebuild from top down.
dobber
October 24, 2023 at 07:35 am
Players mean more than picks. This is why the culture in the NFL has changed in recent years and the trade deadline has become more active.
If there's anything we've learned over the years from the perennial bottom-feeders in the NFL, it's that draft picks and draft position don't mean success.
canadapacker
October 23, 2023 at 07:43 pm
I dont think that there will be many buyers for the aforementionned players. But what the heck - sell for draft picks. What we have seen that it was AR and not Lafleur. When you have a guy like Shanahan taking a bunch of cripples and Mr Irrelevant and keep on ticking then obviously Lafleur should be on the chopping block. Add to that the hiring of his buddy Barry as DC ( a guy with absolutely NO - I mean NONE - previous NFL success . So get as much as we can because when the new regime takes over - we dont want any - I didnt pick this guy or that guy and the new guy can have his imput on the new picks.
PackerBO
October 23, 2023 at 07:48 pm
I would be a seller, but hard to sell products that are injured. P. Smith would be one I would sell just to rid his salary
PhantomII
October 23, 2023 at 07:55 pm
I could see P.Smith dealt, A.Jones dealt to a contender....Because he deserves better. Jaire has been telling the truth in interviews...But so far he's probably safe. Savage in last year...maybe. Nixon as a returner for a contender...Clark, Maybe. Our window with Love really starts in 2 years. That's where they should be looking who will be young enough for 4 years of SB window then. If it's not JL...Anyone is a candidate.
jlc1
October 24, 2023 at 12:17 am
Clark definitely.
Ima Payne
October 23, 2023 at 08:45 pm
First your assuming we have anyone who other teams want. Let alone will give up good picks.
Second you sillys forget, we have g cunt and murphy, what we worry, murphy who know jack shit about buying or selling. Thus the packers org will do nothing.
Or put it this way, if they had a clue, we would not have Love, Gutt or Barry.
Clint fisher
October 23, 2023 at 08:46 pm
Ok I have been reading all these comments how jordan love and mlf should go. This packer team could easily be 4-2 or even 5-1 other than the Detroit game they have been in all games a missed fg in Denver, a horse collar tackle on Watson against the raiders, and a defensive breakdown against Atlanta. I agree love needs to start games better.
barutanseijin
October 23, 2023 at 08:48 pm
The Packers lack assets. Any mediocrity they are willing to deal will only fetch them another mediocrity in return.
jannesbjornson
October 24, 2023 at 08:19 am
Who acquired and drafted said assets?
DocHoliday
October 23, 2023 at 09:24 pm
With all the injuries on this team, hard to trade anyone.
Minniman
October 23, 2023 at 09:46 pm
It's a known fact that the 2023 Packers are in cap purgatory and taking their proverbial lumps - with almost all of the big cap players on the sidelines (Between Bakh and Rodgers there's circa 80 million in cap space tied up this year)
No, this year we need to endure them riding it out, seeing which rookies develop and who flops.
Next March will be the most interesting trade deadline - the Packers shouldn't be proverbially " throwing babies out with the bathwater" this year.
Cheezehead72
October 24, 2023 at 05:46 am
Trade if the deal is good. If not then stay pat.
porupack
October 24, 2023 at 05:55 am
Minniman, very level headed post. Hope all the above posters read how not to be reactionary when adversity hits.
dobber
October 24, 2023 at 07:30 am
Thank you for talking about cap!
Packers0808
October 23, 2023 at 10:15 pm
Goodness so many knowledgeable people here how hell does the Packers listen to them all and deal these people? Asking for a friend who is asking his friend.
fair_weather
October 23, 2023 at 11:50 pm
Is Joe Barry eligible for trade?
Cheezehead72
October 24, 2023 at 05:47 am
We can package MM, Gute, MLF, and all the Def and Off coaching staff in one package. Turn key operation.
jlc1
October 24, 2023 at 12:16 am
First to go should be Clark. He will get more than he produces.
Coldworld
October 24, 2023 at 01:12 am
Clark is still young. I agree he’s probably the most marketable now Bakh is done, but he’s also a player that could be part of the future. I wonder what a good D coordinator would get out if him.
Other than that, Smith is older, but he could maybe help a contender with injury issues. That’s about it for players that might have value. Savage is heading to IR it seems.
The other possibility is Nijman, but I want him Playing and an end to the OL tomfoolery!
Lphill
October 24, 2023 at 05:24 am
Eagles picked up an all pro safety Byard from Tennessee, why can’t the Packers make deals like this?
dobber
October 24, 2023 at 07:39 am
Byard is 30 years old, brings a $14M cap hit in 2024, and would need a new contract or be allowed to walk. What kind of investment is that?He's tradable because his guarantees have been paid out and he has very little dead money on his deal.
Those are mostly the guys available at the deadline. Very few teams are selling the young, affordable rising players that the Packers really need. Guys like Byard might make 2023 more tolerable, but they're costing assets for a team that won't be able to really capitalize on the player.
Cheezehead72
October 24, 2023 at 05:44 am
The Packers are in a great position to trade. They can trade anyone on the team but they do not have to trade any of them. Some players should be dealt like Preston Smith, Aaron Jones, and David Bakhtiari. Now as for Bakh they will not get very much if anything so they should take the best offer but I am sure the most they will get for him is a 6 pack. With Smith and Jones take only good offers. Of the two keeping Jones until next year is ok because we could deal him next year to a needy team.
I disagree with trading Ford. He is needed and plays a position that we have little depth. Only trade him if the compensation is more than you expected.
Bill Belichick is credited with saying that you only trade when you are not needing to trade. The Packers are in this situation. In Gute I have faith he will mess it up.
porupack
October 24, 2023 at 06:06 am
If you're trying to build a successful franchise with winning and team oriented attitude, the best way is to sell off productive assets, lose for a while and roll the dice on RAS and pundits in the draft and you get a whole bunch of Parsons, Bosas and a Hurts or Purdy....and Titletown becomes sure winners in 2 years. Corporations do that all the time. File bankruptcy and then make it big with investors in a couple years later. Love it.
dobber
October 24, 2023 at 07:27 am
Nobody is talking about the cap.
Trading most of these vets that people seem so keen to deal (Clark, Jones, P. Smith) would accelerate prorated bonus onto this year's cap. It's mostly a non-starter with those guys. At some point they're going to need to resign Gary, and having some room on 2023 to eat some of that hit might be preferable.
The only guys the Packers can sell are guys on their way out the door with no void years like Savage (hurt), Ford (a keeper? Maybe...), Nijman, JRJ, or guys on rookie contracts--most of which they're still evaluating--and just about any other UDFAs in house. There's no mint in picks coming. Agree with Mark that Douglas has the smaller hit and could be dealt on this year's cap without too mjuch trouble, but there's likely only a fringe trade or two gonna happen.
coolhand
October 24, 2023 at 09:27 am
Who do the Packers have on their roster that anyone would want? LOL Can we trade all of the coaches?
HarryHodag
October 24, 2023 at 10:44 am
Precisely my thinking. When you look at the roster there aren't many players that are a 'must have' for some other team.
TarynsEyes
October 24, 2023 at 09:31 am
The FO and HC have out-smarted themselves into a half-arsed all-in, and the youth movement. They've placed their backs against the wall so tight that they can't even find wiggle room to get the value needed with any trade.
Coldworld
October 24, 2023 at 09:54 am
I think the endless extension of the last dance made this foreseeable, and eventually inevitable. That’s why the Rodgers extension last year made absolutely no sense to me. What I didn’t expect was the regression at S and OL. I was baffled by what LaFleur tried to do last year on offense too. This year even more so. He’s really just been completely exposed as both s manager and designer of offenses in practice.
HarryHodag
October 24, 2023 at 10:48 am
This won't sit well with the Packers faithful but I would put Rashan Gary on the block. Gary is one player that could get some real interest. I think Van Ness was drafted to replace Preston Smith, but if Smith is around long term, Gary could get a high draft pick or two. The last thing the Packers need right now is another long-term high paid veteran and his contract is up this year.
It's rebuilding time and you can't keep everybody.