Are the Packers going to trade Randall Cobb?

There are conflicting reports out there, but could the Green Bay Packers actually trade Randall Cobb?

The Green Bay Packers are expecting a rebound season from Randall Cobb, especially with Aaron Rodgers back healthy. But according to Michael Lombardi of The Ringer, on his Wednesday podcast, the Packers are shopping Cobb.

Within hours of that Ian Rapoport of NFL Network refuted Cobb is being shopped, while conceding some teams have called the Packers about his availability. Cobb is entering the final year of his contract, so some level of trade speculation could be expected.

The Packers have been mentioned as a favorite to trade for Khalil Mack, as he continues his holdout with the Oakland Raiders. A trade offer to Oakland for Mack involving Cobb is not very likely, but it shouldn’t be ruled out.

In the background of any Cobb trade rumors is Rodgers, who the Packers are trying to get signed to a contract extension. Rodgers lamented the decision to cut Jordy Nelson this offseason, and more recently in training camp he openly criticized the effort level of younger receivers. The idea of trading Cobb, legitimate or not, is surely not sitting well with the league’s most talented quarterback.

Cobb’s recent drop-off in production, which coincided with his signing a big contract, makes him a less than desirable trade commodity. His $8.6 million salary for this year also doesn’t help, as a lot of teams would have to part with a player in a trade in order to stay comfortably under the salary cap.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst seems open to making significant moves, in a stark (refreshing?) contrast to his predecessor Ted Thompson. So nothing is out of bounds with Cobb as Week 1 approaches, even if trading him stands to have some negative affect on the already  inexplicably slow-moving negotiations with Rodgers.