3 fatal mistakes Packers made this season, and how they can fix them moving forward

1. Mistakes the Packers made in 2022: Not trading for Brandin Cooks

Wide receiver has been a glaring need for the Packers this season. After trading away Davante Adams, they drafted Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Samori Toure. In addition, they signed Sammy Watkins, who joined returning wide receivers Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Amari Rodgers. Watson and Doubs have shown promise, but they have already missed a combined seven games. Furthermore, Watkins and Rodgers were released and are no longer on the roster. Lazard has been a steady presence, but he has not been a great separator. He has the eighth-lowest average cushion among wide receivers this season, per NFL Next Gen Stats.

Adding a true number-one receiver could have opened up the offense. A deep threat like Cooks could have put more pressure on the defense and given Watson and Doubs more room to operate.

In 2021, Cooks was phenomenal. He recorded 90 receptions for 1,037 yards and six touchdowns, despite erratic quarterback play. 2022 has been an odd season for Cooks. With the Texans in the midst of a rebuild, they made him available on the trade market, and they are focused on developing their younger players.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Texans wanted a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick, in exchange for Cooks. They also wanted the acquiring team to take on his full $18 million salary for 2023. Schefter reported that no team was willing to match that price, but in hindsight, the Packers should have. Cooks is exactly the type of receiver that they are missing.

The solution to this mistake is simple. The Packers can trade for Cooks in the offseason. According to Spotrac, the Packers are projected to have only $3 million in available cap space, but they can open up another $17 million in cap space by restructuring the contracts of Kenny Clark, David Bakhtiari, Aaron Jones, and Rasul Douglas.