Green Bay Packers

Could the Packers Be the Next Team To Make A Big Trade?

Photo credit: Adam Wesley (PackersNews via USA TODAY Sports)

Whenever a team wins a championship, other teams will inevitably try to emulate their strategy. The Los Angeles Rams won because they added veteran talent by trading away draft picks. They haven’t had a first-round pick since selecting Jared Goff in 2016 and won’t have one again until 2024. The Green Bay Packers may try to copy that philosophy.

The Rams have made 21 trades since Sean McVay has become their head coach. Among those were deals for Brandin Cooks, Sammy Watkins, Marcus Peters, and Aqib Talib. These players were key pieces a few years ago, but the Rams traded them for yet more picks and players. Those trades catapulted the Rams from Jeff Fisher‘s mediocrity into serious playoff contenders.

In October 2019, we saw one of the most important trades on the defensive side for any team in recent memory. The Rams traded their 2020 and 2021 first-round picks and a fourth-rounder in 2021 to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Jalen Ramsey. Since joining the Rams, Ramsey has gone to the Pro Bowl three times and has been named first-team All-Pro twice. Ramsey is now widely regarded as the best corner in football.

The Rams also traded 2021 second- and third-round picks to the Denver Broncos for Von Miller, a future Hall of Famer and a unanimous all-decade player. Both players contributed meaningfully on their Super Bowl run.

But trading for Matthew Stafford was easily the most important move in Rams franchise history. LA swapped Goff, a first-round pick in 2022 and 2023, and a 2022 third-rounder for Stafford. According to Pro Football Focus, that trade completely changed their offense, causing it to go from being ranked 11th up to second.

These trades vaulted the Rams from a playoff bubble team into Super Bowl favorites. The Packers haven’t made it to the big game in years despite three-straight 13-win seasons. It’s becoming increasingly likely that Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams will remain in Green Bay. Going all-in on a Super Bowl appearance should be the top priority if this happens. The Packers have all of their draft picks and an additional fourth and seventh. Giving up a portion of these picks for a big-name player is an option, and the Packers could still pick up some rookies to help fill some voids on the roster.

The Packers could target Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley, who stepped away last season due to mental health issues and may not want to return to a rebuilding team. Many league experts believe the Falcons would take a second and a later-round pick, possibly Green Bay’s extra fourth-round pick. Ridley would be a fantastic red zone threat for the Packers when opponents double-team Adams.

Tight end is an overlooked, pressing need for the Packers. Robert Tonyan‘s contract is expiring, and he’s not expected to re-sign in Green Bay due to his large contract. To replace him, Green Bay could turn to Austin Hooper, who joined the Cleveland Browns in 2020. That signing was seen as one of the best in free agency at the time. But in that time he had 435 yards in 2020, and 335 yards in 2021, with just seven total touchdowns.

Why would the Packers trade for a Browns signee who didn’t pan out? Consider the change Odell Beckham Jr. underwent after he left Cleveland for LA. He looked like the player he was on the New York Giants. Rodgers could turn Hooper back into the player he was in Atlanta.

However, he wouldn’t come cheap. Hooper comes with a $13 million cap hit in 2022. If the Packers could make a deal with Hooper to create less of a financial burden, then I could see Green Bay only having to give up a middle-round and possibly a late-round pick.

It’s not something I thought the Packers would do at first, but after Rodgers pushed to trade for Randall Cobb and had success with him last year, things may change. Rodgers appears to have grown closer to GM Brian Gutekunst, so I could see them finding another weapon for Rodgers to throw to. Especially since Hooper has opened up to the idea, saying he would like to play with the Packers.

The Rams are making many people think that trading for great players is the way to win the Super Bowl finally. I believe Austin Hooper could be the final piece to push the Packers over the edge.

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