Running back has quietly become one of the more underrated needs on the Green Bay Packers’ roster, especially when looking beyond this season. If Green Bay decides to explore low-cost options with upside, Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson could make sense as a potential target.
The 2024 third-round pick appeared in 13 games during his rookie season but made just one start. He then entered his second year as the backup to James Conner before suffering a meniscus injury against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 4. While the initial timeline was four to six weeks, the team later announced he was out for the remainder of the season.
“He’s so gifted. He’s special,” Conner said of Benson in 2024. “That size, his acceleration, the way he gets his knees up, and his ability to break tackles. He’s a special player. It’s been awesome to watch.”
Things have only gotten tougher for Benson since then. Arizona retained James Connor, 31, on a restructured contract this offseason, but also added even more competition to the backfield by signing Tyler Allgeier in free agency and drafting Jeremiyah Love with the third-overall pick.
Benson looks like the fourth option in Arizona’s backfield. Therefore, it would make sense for Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort to be open to taking calls on him. Benson also will not turn 24 until July and still has plenty of time to grow into a larger role elsewhere. For teams in need of a running back, that combination of youth and upside could make him an intriguing buy-low candidate.
Even if Josh Jacobs is ultimately cleared of all charges related to his arrest and remains Green Bay’s top running back, the Packers could still have reason to look for more depth at the position. MarShawn Lloyd has struggled to stay healthy early in his career, which makes it difficult to fully count on him as the clear-cut backup. Chris Brooks sits behind him on the depth chart, but his biggest value probably comes in pass protection and as a dependable rotational player.
There is a realistic path in which a trade for Trey Benson could benefit both Green Bay and the player. If the accusations against Josh Jacobs are ultimately proven true, there is a good chance his time in Green Bay would come to an end, leaving the Packers searching for a long-term answer at running back. But even if Jacobs remains with the team, he’s already 28 years old and entering the stage of a running back’s career where decline can begin to become a concern.
That could still give Benson a realistic path to eventually developing into his successor. From Benson’s perspective, the move would also make plenty of sense. Going from what currently looks like a fourth-string role in Arizona to a backfield where he could realistically compete for a much larger workload would be a significant opportunity.
Maybe Matt LaFleur can convince his little brother, who the Cardinals hired as their head coach, to help make something happen. Considering the questions the Packers still have at running back beyond Josh Jacobs, it would not be surprising if the front office spends part of the summer evaluating possible options at the position. Benson feels like the type of low-risk, high-upside player who could end up on their radar.
