NFL Trade Deadline: 5 trades Green Bay Packers should make
By Adam Jacobs
Here are five trades the Green Bay Packers should make at the NFL trade deadline.
The Green Bay Packers are failing to stay healthy at key positions this season and should look for a trade to bolster their depth. Aaron Rodgers has noticeably struggled this year with his offense ranking in the middle of the league. The usually powerful Green Bay offense has been average this season and injuries seem to be the cause.
Injuries have torn through Green Bay’s locker room like a class 5 tornado specifically attacking the team’s backfield depth, both offensive and defensive. Starting running back Eddie Lacy was sent to the Injured reserve list along with starting cornerback Sam Shields. Lacy’s ankle injury couldn’t have come at a worse time as backup RB James Starks has knee surgery that will sideline him for at least a month.
Third-string running back Don Jackson was brought up from the practice squad last week only to be injured after six plays. With no starting caliber running backs left on their roster the team needed to make a move. On Oct 18, Green Bay traded with the Kansas City Chiefs for Knile Davis but it has taken time for Davis to learn the playbook. Don’t expect huge numbers from Davis but just adding a healthy body helps.
The team is also having issues with starting tight end Jared Cook, whose lingering ankle issues is keeping the playmaker off the field. Aaron Rodgers has no running game, no playmaking tight end, a receiver in Ty Montgomery starting as running back and we wonder why his numbers are down this year.
At 4-2 the Packers are still in the hunt despite only having three healthy cornerbacks, none of which are starter quality players. If they hope to have success later in the season, they need some healthy cornerbacks with NFL pedigrees.
The trade deadline is November 1 at 4 p.m. ET, so the Packers should get a move on filling their injury riddled team. Let’s examine five possible trades that could help the Packers win the NFC North away from the surprising Minnesota Vikings.
5. Trade with Cleveland for CB Joe Haden
Poor Cleveland, their basketball team just won the championship, their baseball team is in the World Series and their football team is winless. All jokes aside, this is a trade that needs to happen for both teams. I would offer a medium to high draft pick for Joe Haden since he is a top-tier talent and could help out the Packers for years to come.
Joe Haden is a legit cornerback playing for a team that has no business selling tickets to their games. Cleveland should be paying people to watch the train wreck they put on the field every week. He is a star player just wasting his talents away playing for the winless Browns.
Green Bay needs a shutdown corner or any NFL quality defensive back right now, so this trade should actually be discussed. The Browns are in constant rebuilding mode so just offer them a draft pick or two and lets both sides move on amicably.
The Browns are far from a winning team so adding draft picks or a few young players are beneficial. The former first round pick is currently playing at a near Pro Bowl level and his talent is wasting away in Cleveland. Haden would walk right into the number one CB spot on the Packers and would elevate the struggling defense.