The Green Bay Packers have had a relatively quiet offseason outside of the Aaron Rodgers chatter. The trade negotiations with the New York Jets centered around the future Hall of Famer have been going on for weeks, yet a resolution doesn’t seem to be near. While the framework of a deal has reportedly been in place, there is a wide gap when it comes to the protections on picks.
Getting that deal done is the No. 1 task for the Packers heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. They will be receiving some sort of draft compensation that they can use to bolster their roster. Depending on how many selections they get, they could also pivot to make deals for other veterans.
After missing out on the first waves of free agency, trades are the only avenue that the Packers have to bring in veteran players. Which players could the team target? Here are three players the Packers should consider making a trade for.
3. WR Denzel Mims
There could be a lot of moving parts in the deal between the Packers and the Jets. If Green Bay wants to maximize the return, they should look to bring some players back in the deal as New York will have to shed some salary to make things work. One player that would be an intriguing target for Green Bay is wide receiver, Denzel Mims.
Once again the Packers are in desperate need of playmakers offensively. They struggled mightily in 2022 without Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling and this offseason they lost Allen Lazard and Robert Tonyan.
Mims hasn’t had many opportunities to showcase his talents with the Jets and will be buried on the depth chart once again in 2023. Entering the final year of his contract, Mims would be a top-three option in the Packers’ passing game. Still only 25 and with downfield skill, he would be a good fit alongside Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs long-term.
2. DE Jerry Hughes
One of the biggest needs for the Packers this offseason is upgrading their pass rush. The loss of Rashan Gary to injury was felt last season as Preston Smith was the only player consistently getting after the quarterback. Despite playing in only nine games, Gary was second on the team with 6.0 sacks behind the 8.5 Smith had.
Adding another player opposite of Smith that can get after the quarterback is imperative. Jerry Hughes would fit that bill and not break the bank when it comes to compensation to acquire him. Entering the final year of his contract, Hughes is a prime trade candidate for the rebuilding Houston Texans.
Turning 35 in August, Hughes doesn’t fit the timeline that the Texans are currently on. Coming off of a 9.0 sack season, he should have some real value on the trade market. An early Day 3 pick should be enough to get the deal done.
1. WR DeAndre Hopkins
If the Packers want Jordan Love to find success right away, the weapons around him need to be upgraded. Watson and Doubs do possess some upside, but they still have plenty of development to do heading into Year 2.
Bringing in a bonafide No. 1 receiver to take pressure off of them would make a lot of sense. DeAndre Hopkins would certainly fit that bill. Hopkins has struggled to stay on the field the last two seasons, missing a total of 15 games. But, when on the field, he remains productive.
There would be some hurdles to get over in acquiring Hopkins, such as the size of his contract and the asking price of the Arizona Cardinals. But, finding a middle ground on the compensation and re-working his contract would be worth it. Hopkins has shown no signs of slowing down and would bring a similar presence to the field that Adams did for years in Green Bay.
