The Green Bay Packers are ready for a changing of the guard in 2023. All signs are pointing to future Hall of Famer, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, not being with the franchise. Rodgers has made it clear he intends to play for the New York Jets in 2023, which has put Green Bay in a tough predicament.
Originally it was reported that the Packers were seeking two first-round picks in exchange for Rodgers. With him coming out and saying he intends to play for the Jets, any leverage that the franchise may have had is now gone. New York tried taking advantage of that, submitting what was considered a lowball offer.
While that is where all of the Packers’ focus is, other needs persist on the roster. The team has been very quiet in free agency, lacking cap space to make a big splash and waiting to see how things shook out with Rodgers.
The 2023 NFL Draft will be the best chance for Green Bay to make additions to its roster. If things go according to plan, they will have some extra draft capital from the Jets to add more pieces to the team.
While they could add more high-level prospects to the roster, that draft capital could also be used to bring in veterans via trade. The Packers have been connected to veteran wide receivers this offseason, but safety remains a position of need as well.
One player who could come onto the Packers’ radar in the coming weeks is Kevin Byard of the Tennessee Titans. Byard and the Titans could be parting ways as the team looks to be strongly considering a rebuild. But, with no intentions of taking a pay cut, Byard could be traded.
Byard has been one of the best safeties in the NFL over the last few seasons. A third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Middle Tennessee State product already has two All-Pro and two Pro Bowl nominations on his resume. He is extremely durable, never missing a single game in his career and remaining very productive in 2022.
With 108 tackles, four interceptions and six passes defended, he is a versatile safety that can transform a secondary instantly. He is the highest-paid free safety in the NFL but has earned that distinction, registering a 79.5 defensive grade at PFF last season along with a 78.0 run defense grade and 81.0 pass defensive grade.
What could a trade between the Packers and Titans look like? Based on production, it would seem a premium pick would be required. However, his contract would be tough to navigate, knocking down what the Titans could demand in a trade.
Green Bay could wait to see what they get in a Rodgers deal and flip some of that to the Titans for Byard. A strong proposal would have to be made for Tennessee to consider parting ways with their star, so the Packers could offer a third and seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft for him.
Tennessee would receive two selections to help push their rebuild along. The Packers address a major need at the back end of their defense where Adrian Amos remains a free agent and Tarvarius Moore is the only addition that the team has made thus far.
