One of the positions that people were keeping a close eye on when it came to the Green Bay Packers was the defensive line. More specifically, defensive tackle, where the team was going to be relying on young players stepping into larger roles.
Veterans Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed both departed this offseason, signing deals with the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. That left the Packers very short-handed in the trenches, as the duo combined to play over 1,000 snaps last season.
The Packers will now be turning to some combination of Devonte Wyatt, Colby Wooden, TJ Slaton and Karl Brooks to fill the void alongside Kenny Clark. If the coaches don’t like what they see, what alternatives does the team have?
McQuade Arnold of Wisconsin Sports Heroics suggested that the Packers make a splash for disgruntled star defensive tackle, Chris Jones. Jones is currently holding out of training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs as he is seeking a new long-term deal.
McQuade believes the time is right for the Packers to pounce on a deal should an extension not get agreed upon between Jones and the Chiefs. What could a trade look like? McQuade’s hypothetical deal is Kansas City receiving the conditional pick via the New York Jets in the 2024 NFL Draft, a 2024 third-round pick, a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and a 2025 third-round pick.
That is certainly a nice draft capital haul for the Chiefs, as the 2024 pick via the Jets would be a first-rounder if Aaron Rodgers plays at least 65 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. One first-round pick could be enough to entice Kansas City, as the other selections are all premium as well from a team that isn’t likely contending in the near future.
However, this isn’t like a deal the Packers would want to do. In the midst of a reset, they want to keep as much draft capital as possible. Given how well they develop prospects and their franchise philosophy, who could blame them?
On top of that, paying Jones the kind of money he is seeking isn’t something the Packers are going to do. He is amongst the best defensive players in the NFL and would upgrade the team’s defensive line. But paying him a historic contract on top of the draft capital isn’t something that likely appeals to a Packers team in the midst of a youth movement.
