3 WRs the Packers need to trade for before the deadline

Jacksonville Jaguars WR Keelan Cole

A more outside-of-the-box pick than either Kenny Stills or Michael Thomas, Keelan Cole is a quality wide receiver who flies under the radar in Jacksonville because of the overall situation of the offense. Cole’s trade value may be impacted by Dede Westbrook’s season-ending injury, but considering Westbrook only caught one pass pre-injury and the Jags are going nowhere in the AFC South, he should be available.

Cole is a nice secondary piece who, like Stills and Thomas, has great efficiency numbers throughout his career. The 27-year-old averaged 10.3 yards per target last season, suggesting he should have been thrown at more than 35 times. Cole averaged an even 15 yards per catch with a catch rate a few percentage points below 70.

This season, he is the Jaguars’ leader in receiving yards and is averaging 0.8 yards per target more than any other wideout. Even so, he has one fewer target than the far less efficient DJ Chark and only two more targets than promising rookie Laviska Shenault Jr., whom he is also outproducing.

With one year left on his contract, Cole could be a cheap acquisition for the Packers. The Jaguars can role with the trio of Shenault Jr., Chark, and Chris Conley. Shenault Jr. and Chark are both under the age of 25, so the rebuilding Jaguars can keep the 28-year-old Conley as the veteran of the group.

Cole is more consistent than Valdes-Scantling and could replace the struggling young receiver’s 34 targets as the secondary option to Adams at wide receiver. He would be an inexpensive upgrade, and the Packers would still be able to give reps to the intriguing Allen Lazard as the No. 3 guy.