3 trade deadline moves separating Packers from Super Bowl glory

1. Trade for outside linebacker with Za’Darius Smith out for extended period of time

The Packers have a need at outside linebacker with Za’Darius Smith sidelined due to a back injury.

There was talk of this being the final year that Smith would don a Packers uniform, with him likely being released after this season. But, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported this past week that Smith underwent back surgery, which will sideline him for an extended amount of time.

Smith played a pivotal role in the Packers’ pass rush being dominant in the 2019 season and beyond. While the team still has Preston Smith and Rashan Gary, it would not hurt to bring in an outside linebacker to help fill the void.

Chandler Jones of the Arizona Cardinals is the top outside linebacker option not named Von Miller. This past summer, reports indicated that Jones requested a trade off the Cardinals due to his unhappiness with his contract. Jones later confirmed that report.

It will certainly take a lot to get Jones off the Cardinals, who are currently undefeated this season. But it would never hurt to give Arizona’s front office a call to see what it would hypothetically take to acquire him at the trade deadline. Adding Jones to Green Bay’s defense would be huge.