This offseason is full of possibilities for the Green Bay Packers. Here are three creative trades that the team could make.
What will the Green Bay Packers look like in Week 1 of the 2023 season? It remains to be seen. The Packers have a lot of questions to answer this offseason. Will Aaron Rodgers return? Will the front office retain Jordan Love? Do they acquire a veteran wide receiver?
Let’s break down three trades that would benefit the Packers.
Packers galaxy brain trade No. 1: Trade down
The Packers’ biggest needs are wide receiver and tight end. They can address both of those needs while stockpiling additional future assets. There is a chance that one of the top four quarterbacks (Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Will Levis, Anthony Richardson) could slide to the 15th pick. In that event, the Packers should capitalize on the situation and move down.
The New Orleans Saints should be in the market for a quarterback. Spotrac estimates the Saints to have -$29.98 million in estimated cap space, so acquiring a veteran quarterback could be difficult. Conversely, they are far out of range for Levis or Richardson with the 29th overall pick. Trading up would make a lot of sense for the franchise.
Wide receivers Nathaniel Dell and Kayshon Boutte should still be on the board at No. 29. In addition, the Packers could add another difference-maker with the 40th pick. Depending on how the draft shakes out, they could have some great options, including tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Sam LaPorta, offensive tackle Dawand Jones, and safety Antonio Johnson.
This deal could be a big win for both teams.
Packers galaxy brain trade No. 2: Bring back Davante Adams
Last season, wide receiver was a problem for the Packers. As the season progressed, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs did improve; both players flashed a lot of potential. Nevertheless, if Aaron Rodgers decides to return for another season, the front office needs to surround him with the best team possible. Davante Adams, alongside year-two versions of Watson and Doubs, would give Green Bay’s offense a very high ceiling. Last season, Adams had 100 receptions for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Las Vegas Raiders.
In this scenario, the Raiders acquire a first-round pick and quarterback Jordan Love for Adams. If Rodgers returns, Love could request a trade, according to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman. The 24-year-old could have the opportunity to compete for the starting job in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, acquiring Adams will be easy for the Packers, as Adams carries a 2023 base salary of only $6.03 million, per Spotrac. This trade would cost the Packers only $4.6 million in 2023 cap space.
Packers galaxy brain trade No. 3: Add a tight end
In the midst of Denver’s chaotic 2022 season, the Albert Okwuegbunam saga was an underrated story.
Okwuegbunam was selected by the Broncos in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He performed well in his limited role behind Noah Fant. In 2021, he hauled in 33 out of his 40 targets for 330 yards and two touchdowns.
Following Fant’s departure in the Russell Wilson trade, Okwuegbunam entered last season as a popular breakout candidate.
In Week 1, he had five receptions for 33 yards on six targets. In Week 2, he saw a dramatic decrease in usage, as he received only two targets. Then, he just disappeared. From Week 6 to Week 15, Okwuegbunam was inactive for nine out of 10 games, and he played a total of only two offensive snaps. Finally, he saw the field again in Week 16, as he had three receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown.
The situation remains puzzling, though. Okwuegbunam was not playing badly. He was not hurt. Notably, the Broncos’ offense was struggling. Why was he not utilized?
The Packers could use another tight end. Robert Tonyan is hitting free agency, and they lack another productive pass-catching option behind him. Okwuegbunam is a perfect buy-low target.