The Green Bay Packers are preparing for the start of the 2020 NFL season and there are quite a few reasons to keep an eye on them in training camp. With the strange offseason that the league has gone through due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are quite a few variables to keep an eye on.
One of those variables could be potential trades that Green Bay could look to make. A widely viewed trade candidate for the Packers is running back Jamaal Williams.
After the Packers made the decision to draft Boston College running back A.J. Dillon with their second round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the backfield situation got murky. Aaron Jones is the obvious starter and Matt LaFleur will have two backups who need carries.
Williams put together a solid 2019 campaign with the Packers. He carried the football 107 times for 460 yards and a touchdown. In addition to those rushing numbers, he also caught 39 passes for 253 yards and five touchdowns.
Those numbers show how capable Williams is of making an impact. If the Packers were interested in moving Williams, there would likely be quite a few teams interested in acquiring him.
Green Bay could also go into the 2020 season with Jones as the starter and both Dillon and Williams as backups. Dillon could play in short-yardage situations, while Williams could be utilized more as a third-down back.
LaFleur has made it clear that he wants to keep Jones fresh. That will open up carries for the other two backs on the roster. Green Bay is not going to go away from the run.
Carrying at least two quality backups is never a bad idea. Injuries always pop up and the Packers cannot afford to be without a quality run game. Aaron Rodgers needs as much pressure taken off of his arm as possible.
It will be interesting to see what the rest of the offseason has in store for the Packers. Brian Gutekunst may be done making moves or he could look to make a trade. So, let’s try to answer the question that this article has presented.
Should the Packers look to trade Williams? The answer is, maybe in the right situation.
On one hand, the Packers would be wise to consider pulling the trigger on a trade if they can get a fourth-round pick for Williams. However, if they can’t get good value, there is absolutely no reason to make a trade just to shake things up.
Expect to continue hearing rumors as the season draws closer. Green Bay may not even consider making a move, but if they do, Williams is one of their most intriguing trade candidates.
Don’t be surprised if the Packers opt to run with three backs heading into the season. They can always make a move ahead of the NFL trade deadline should Dillon prove that he should handle more of a workload behind Jones.
