Tuesday at four p.m. marked the NFL’s trade deadline. The Green Bay Packers were the most active team on Tuesday, as they took part in two trades. In their first deal, Green Bay sent running back Ty Montgomery to Baltimore Ravens for a seventh-round pick.
A few hours later Green Bay and the Washington Redskins made a deal that sent former pro bowl free safety Haha Clinton-Dix to the Redskins. In return, the Packers received a fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft.
Here’s an official look at the trade from the Packers twitter:
#Packers trade S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to Redskins & RB Ty Montgomery to Ravens for future draft choices
Roster moves 📰: https://t.co/TwRBkBgr6n pic.twitter.com/zaIsuyAdkG
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 30, 2018
These trades weren’t made because the Packers received an offer they couldn’t refuse. There were clear reasons why Green Bay decided to move on from both Montgomery and Clinton-Dix.
Let’s break down why the Packers decided to make these two trades at the trade deadline.
Ty Montgomery to Baltimore
The trading of Montgomery came about for a multitude of reasons. For starters, Montgomery’s fumble on a kick return late in the fourth quarter against the Rams.
Many reports came out that players in the locker room were very frustrated with Montgomery for the decision he made. Which they should be, as Montgomery decision cost Aaron Rodgers a chance to put together a game-winning scoring drive.
But what made things worst is when Montgomery finally spoke to the media, he did not take ownership of his mistake.
“At that point in time, I stood where I always stood, I had a returnable ball, so I made a split-second decision,” said Montgomery
However, during the same interview, Montgomery said the kick return unit had their same orders, “if it’s in the end zone, keep it in the end zone.”
With potential tension among players due to Montgomery’s decision, the Packers quickly fixed the issue by trading him. Montgomery playing had decreased in Sunday’s game anyway, make him that more expendable.
“I don’t fully understand what my role is right now, what I’m supposed to be doing, how I’m supposed to help this team,” said Montgomery
Besides the seventh-round pick they acquired, this trade will benefit the Packers in another way. Now their backfield is down to Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams. Jones, who has been the Packers best running back thus far, should see his role in the offense expand. On Sunday, Jones had 86 yards and a touchdown on just 12 carries. With Montgomery gone see Jones become the Packers every down running back.
Haha Clinton-Dix to Washington
Green Bay trading Haha Clinton-Dix to Washington for a fourth-round pick was a surprise. What made it shocking was Clinton-Dix was returning to his pro bowl level of play this season. Also, Clinton-Dix was the best member of the Packers secondary.
One reason Clinton-Dix was traded is that he was on the last year of his rookie contract. In previous years the Packers have shown they don’t pay premier members of their secondary. Micah Hyde, Casey Hayward, and Morgan Burnett all left Green Bay via free agency after the team decided not to resign them before their contract ended.
Furthermore, earlier this season Clinton-Dix mentioned that he expected this to be his last season in Green Bay. So, instead of relying on a compensatory pick when Clinton-Dix left in free agency, the Packers went out and secured a guaranteed fourth-round pick in this trade.
In a press conference after the trades were made, general manager Brian Gutekunst was asked how could the team get better after trading a starting safety.
” We have a lot of bodies that have been itching to get out there, a lot of guys who haven’t had their opportunity yet, and I think their excited and so am I to see what they can do,” said Gutekunst
With what looks like to be a must win game coming up Sunday night versus the Patriots, Green Bay made trades that got rid of two players. Moving forward it will be attractive to how these trades affect the team on the field and in the locker room.
