The Green Bay Packers traded cornerback Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills just before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, recouping a 2024 third-round draft pick in return (the Packers also sent a fifth-rounder the Bills’ way).
For those on the outside, it wasn’t a very shocking move for the Packers considering the club is just 2-5 and is mired in a four-game losing streak. Green Bay’s playoff hopes are all but gone, so trading a fairly replaceable veteran like Douglas made sense.
However, the trade certainly caught fellow Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander by surprise.
“I was pretty surprised to say the least,” Alexander said on Wednesday when asked about the deal (via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic). “I was surprised. I actually found out this morning coming into work. I made sure I texted him right away. I didn’t expect Rasul to be gone. He’s vet who has made a bunch of plays in his time here, but that’s just the NFL.”
Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst defended the move while addressing the media, stating that his club now has five picks within the first two days of the 2024 NFL Draft. While Gutekunst acknowledged that Douglas meant a lot to the team and that the front office didn’t actually have any plans of moving anyone, he received an offer he felt he couldn’t refuse and pulled the trigger.
It’s certainly hard to blame Gutekunst, as a third-round pick for Douglas is definitely a good haul.
Rasul Douglas initially joined the Packers in 2021 and has been a productive member of the squad’s secondary, with his best year coming in that debut season when he racked up 57 tackles, five interceptions, a forced fumble, 13 passes defended and a couple of defensive touchdowns in just 12 games.
Through seven games this season, the 28-year-old has logged 32 tackles, a pick and six passes defended.
Green Bay will aim to snap its losing skid when it takes on the Los Angeles Rams this Sunday.
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