2021 NFL Trade Deadline: Three deals Packers should make in order to get to Super Bowl 56

The Green Bay Packers are Super Bowl contenders as soon as once more, which is no surprise with Aaron Rodgers placing up one other All-Professional caliber season. Inexperienced Bay sits at 6-1 atop the NFC North and is at present one recreation behind the Arizona Cardinals for the highest seed within the convention. 

Thursday’s showdown with Arizona will inform loads in regards to the Packers, even with Davante Adams and Allen Lazard on the reserve/COVID-19 record. Inexperienced Bay is already one of many prime groups within the NFL, however a commerce for a Professional Bowl caliber participant might put the Packers excessive and get them to the Tremendous Bowl. Bear in mind, this may very well be Rodgers’ final yr in Inexperienced Bay — so the Packers have incentive to go “all in.” 

There are just a few gamers the Packers ought to think about with the commerce deadline arising within the coming days. Inexperienced Bay must half methods with excessive draft capital for a few of these property, however these are the strikes that may get the Packers the Vince Lombardi Trophy this season. 

Packers quit: 2022 second-round choose to Houston Texans 

Aaron Rodgers might at all times use some extra weapons in his arsenal, and having a powerful No. 2 possibility reverse of Davante Adams offers the Packers arguably the most effective offense within the NFC. Having Cooks lined up with Adams would give Rodgers the most effective 1-2 huge receiver mixture within the recreation, as Cooks is sixth within the league in receptions and has 502 yards on the yr (11.2 yards per catch). 

Cooks would give Rodgers one other possession wideout, but additionally excels as a deep ball menace. His presence may also free Adams up in opposition to opposing secondaries, one thing Rodgers will actually take pleasure in when he is terrorizing defenses along with his arm. 

The Packers nearly acquired Will Fuller from Houston final yr as they have been making a Tremendous Bowl run. The value for Cooks is steep, however value it for a workforce that is making an attempt to get Rodgers one other championship earlier than he decides on his future after the yr. Possibly Cooks might be sufficient to persuade Rodgers to stay round. 

Packers quit: 2022 first-round choose to Miami Dolphins 

The Packers can go for the jugular by giving up a first-round choose for Howard, one of many prime cornerbacks within the recreation who’s not having his greatest yr. Inexperienced Bay wants cornerbacks with Jaire Alexander on injured reserve and Kevin King continues to be banged up — and the Packers have misplaced sufficient convention title video games as a result of poor cornerback play over the past decade. 

Howard is the No. 1 cornerback the Packers want to finish this surprisingly good protection, which is ranked sixth in yards allowed however the 14 landing passes given up are twenty first within the league. 

Howard has three years and simply over $41 million remaining on his contract. He does desire a new deal, however that is one thing the Packers can work on after the season. Paying a excessive worth for Howard now can rejuvenate his season (two interceptions,102.6 passer score allowed) as he can turn into the turnover machine that may get the Packers again to the Tremendous Bowl for the primary time in 11 years. 

Packers quit: 2023 fifth-round choose to Baltimore Ravens 

This is able to be a chance for the Packers, however Inexperienced Bay might use a go rusher that wants a change of surroundings. Ferguson might have fallen out of favor in Baltimore, having simply 4.5 sacks in 30 profession video games. He has simply two tackles on the yr and hasn’t performed since Week 2 — when he performed only one defensive snap. Ferguson frolicked on the reserve/COVID-19 record, which actually affected his season because it took him three weeks to recuperate. 

The Ravens had worthwhile go speeding depth in Ferguson, who had a powerful preseason (and had 45 sacks at Louisiana Tech). Laborious responsible Baltimore if the Ravens held onto Ferguson, however the Packers want somebody who can get after the quarterback whereas Za’Darius Smith is out. 

Even with the addition of Whitney Mercilus, it could be value Inexperienced Bay to take a shot on Ferguson and develop him. A workforce can by no means have too many go rushers within the fold, particularly in a protection that has overachieved this yr.