Packers Trade Deadline: 3 Moves to Win Now

What the Packers do between now and next week’s trade deadline could dictate the outlook for the remainder of their season.

With one week remaining until the NFL trade deadline, there are a variety of players who could become available that, if acquired, could put the Green Bay Packers over the top in the NFC North.

The Chicago Bears recently made a splash by acquiring former Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, a player who looks like the missing piece for a defense that had been relatively average through the first half of the season.

After arriving in Chicago late last week, Simmons wasted little time making his presence felt on Monday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks. The Bears dominated, and their newest addition was a significant part of that success.

The reality is that Chicago recognized a weakness on its roster and made an aggressive move to address it. Meanwhile, the Packers have several weaknesses of their own, particularly along the offensive line, that could ultimately determine how far this team goes.

The Packers simply cannot afford to stand pat and let the trade deadline come and go without making a concerted effort to improve this roster.

Micah Parsons Is Practicing

Perhaps the best addition the Packers could make ahead of the trade deadline is already on their roster.

Micah Parsons returned to practice this week, giving Green Bay something it hasn’t had in quite some time: its best defensive player back on the field.

Very rarely does a future Hall of Fame-caliber player become available at this point in the season, and in many ways, Parsons’ return could be more impactful than any acquisition Brian Gutekunst could realistically make.

However, expectations need to be tempered.

With a targeted return around the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the Packers are still several weeks away from seeing what Parsons can bring to this defense. Even when he does return, there’s likely to be a ramp-up period that could extend well into December.

There’s no questioning the impact Parsons can have on a football game, but if you watched the Bears against Seattle on Monday night, you saw exactly what makes a dominant defensive front so difficult to play against.

The ability to generate pressure without sacrificing coverage is what separates good defenses from great ones.

Parsons will undoubtedly make Green Bay’s defense better, but the unit has already performed among the league’s best despite missing its most talented player and dealing with a host of injuries throughout the season.

The question is whether the Packers can take that next step once Parsons returns.

And more importantly, should they really be relying on one player to make that happen?

Adding Playmakers

One way to make Parsons’ return even more impactful would be to add another difference-maker along the defensive line.

You’d like to think that the attention Parsons commands would create more favorable matchups for Lukas Van Ness, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, and the rest of Green Bay’s defensive front.

But adding another legitimate interior pass rusher could make all the difference in how far this team ultimately advances in the postseason.

The unfortunate reality is that quality defensive tackles rarely become available, and when they do, they aren’t cheap.

Just look at what Chicago surrendered to acquire Simmons: two future first-round picks and a fourth-round selection.

The Packers simply don’t have the draft capital to make that type of move, nor would I necessarily advocate for it given the number of positions that will need attention next offseason.

However, there’s a difference between making a blockbuster trade and finding an impact player at a reasonable price.

That’s where New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore comes into play.

Barmore, who has reportedly fallen out of favor in New England, is an intriguing option for a Packers team looking to add talent without sacrificing premium draft capital.

Reports suggest the Patriots could be willing to move Barmore for a fourth-round selection, which is certainly a price Green Bay should be willing to explore.

At just 27 years old, Barmore is still in his prime and has two additional years remaining on his contract after this season.

The financial commitment is certainly something the Packers would need to evaluate, particularly with his salary increasing over the next two seasons. However, unlike a rental, Barmore could provide a long-term running mate for Parsons.

Sure, you can make the argument that Green Bay needs to preserve its draft capital to address the lack of depth at several positions, especially along the offensive line.

But with approximately 11 projected selections in next April’s draft, I have a hard time believing the Packers couldn’t afford to part with one of those picks to improve their chances this season.

For a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, acquiring a player like Barmore is exactly the type of calculated risk worth considering.

Moves and Countermoves

Of course, when evaluating your own roster, you also have to consider what the teams around you are doing.

The goal is to win the NFC North, and with Chicago adding Simmons, the Bears have significantly strengthened an already competitive roster.

So how do the Packers counter?

The most obvious answer is along the offensive line, a unit that, at this point in the season, seems to be held together by tape. 

Two things can be true.

The Packers desperately need to improve their offensive line, and the options available at this point in the season are extremely limited.

Aaron Banks has been a disappointment, even when healthy, and simply hasn’t looked like the player Green Bay expected when it signed him.

Meanwhile, Kevin Zeitler, who was brought in to help stabilize the right guard position, has seemingly been in a ramp-up period for the better part of a month without seeing an offensive snap.

Sean Rhyan continues to deal with a high ankle sprain, although the fact that he wasn’t placed on injured reserve gives me some optimism that his return could come sooner rather than later.

That leaves three significant question marks along the interior offensive line, and we’re already approaching the second half of the season.

The Packers have managed to piece things together, but that’s hardly a sustainable approach for a team expecting to compete for a championship.

Offensive Line Help

To be fair, not everything along the offensive line has been a disappointment.

I think Laken Tomlinson has performed at an average level, which, considering the circumstances, is respectable.

Jordan Morgan has certainly turned a corner over the past few weeks and looks significantly more comfortable than he did earlier in the season.

The jury is still out on Anthony Belton as a long-term solution at right tackle, but for the time being, he’s done enough to warrant continued opportunities.

The real concern remains the interior, where the Packers simply haven’t been able to establish any consistency.

Fortunately, there are a few names worth considering ahead of next Tuesday’s deadline.

Landon Dickerson — Philadelphia Eagles

My first and favorite option is Philadelphia Eagles guard Landon Dickerson.

With the Eagles facing what appears to be a lost season, there’s reason to believe Philadelphia could be willing to move on from some of its more expensive veterans as it looks toward a quick rebuild.

Dickerson, 28, would immediately provide the Packers with a proven interior offensive lineman who has experience playing at a high level.

More importantly, he offers versatility, having played guard and center throughout his career.

That versatility is particularly valuable for a Packers team that has already been forced to shuffle players across multiple positions.

The biggest concern with Dickerson is his injury history, which has limited his availability and could explain why Philadelphia might entertain moving him in the first place.

However, that same concern could make him significantly more affordable than a player of his caliber would typically be.

If the Packers could acquire Dickerson for a mid-to-late-round selection, I’d have a difficult time arguing against it.

He’s the type of player who could immediately stabilize the interior while providing a potential solution beyond this season.

Tyler Steen — Philadelphia Eagles

Another name worth considering, and perhaps a more realistic option, is Dickerson’s teammate Tyler Steen.

Unlike Dickerson, Steen wouldn’t necessarily arrive in Green Bay with the expectation of being a long-term cornerstone along the offensive line.

However, that’s not necessarily what the Packers need right now.

What they need is a capable offensive lineman who can provide competition, improve depth, and potentially step into the starting lineup if injuries continue to mount.

Steen has experience at right guard and could be an intriguing option for a team that hasn’t been able to find a consistent answer at the position.

With his contract set to expire after this season, Philadelphia could have some incentive to move him rather than risk losing him for nothing in free agency.

For Green Bay, the appeal would be simple: adding a relatively young offensive lineman without making a significant financial or draft-capital commitment.

Would Steen completely transform the Packers’ offensive line? Probably not.

But at this point, the Packers don’t necessarily need five All-Pro offensive linemen. They need five dependable players who can stay healthy, communicate, and consistently protect Jordan Love.

If Steen can help accomplish that, he’s worth a phone call.

The Window Is Open. Act Like It.

Ultimately, I don’t believe the Packers need to make a blockbuster trade to compete for a Super Bowl.

What they need is to recognize the opportunity in front of them.

Green Bay has a talented quarterback, a defense that has continued to perform despite significant injuries, and one of the league’s most impactful defensive players preparing to return.

That’s a pretty good foundation for a championship-caliber football team.

But the margin for error in the NFL is incredibly small, and as we’ve seen over the past several weeks, the Packers have struggled to overcome mistakes and missed opportunities against quality opponents.

The offensive line remains the biggest concern, and it’s difficult to envision Green Bay making a deep postseason run if Jordan Love continues to face the type of pressure we’ve seen throughout the season.

Adding another defensive lineman would be a luxury, but improving the offensive line feels much closer to a necessity.

The Bears have made their move. The Seahawks have made theirs. The 49ers have made theirs.

At some point, Brian Gutekunst needs to decide whether he’s willing to sacrifice a little bit of tomorrow to improve the Packers’ chances today.

Nobody is suggesting Green Bay mortgage its future.

But with the trade deadline approaching and a legitimate opportunity to compete in the NFC, standing pat might be the biggest gamble of all.