The Green Bay Packers are entering the 2023 season without many expectations. There is a large contingent of people who have already written them off for the upcoming season given the inexperience up and down their roster.
The Packers are going to be relying on a lot of new faces in key places this year. None will have more eyes on them than Jordan Love, who will be taking over as the team’s starting quarterback following the trade of Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets.
If Love can play as well as the team believes that he can, the Packers are going to surprise some people this season. Coupled with the elite talent they have compiled defensively, where eight first-round picks could see the field at the same time, there is certainly a chance for success.
But, if the team were able to add some impact players to the roster, their chances of winning games would certainly increase. Here are three ambitious trade targets for the Packers this year.
3. EDGE Chase Young, Washington Commanders
The Packers’ pass rush should receive a boost in the form of 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness. But, this is a group whose success will rely solely on the health of Rashan Gary, who is recovering from an ACL injury suffered last season.
Without Gary in the lineup, the team’s pass-rushing statistics plummeted across the board. Despite playing in only nine games, he finished second on the team with 6.0 sacks, behind only Preston Smith, who had 8.5. Adding another high-upside piece to the mix would be smart and Chase Young could fit the bill.
The Washington Commanders declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, meaning he will hit free agency in 2024. A devastating knee injury of his own has derailed him in recent seasons, but the potential is still there.
Landing a possible game-changing pass rusher to add to Van Ness and Gary long-term would be great for the Packers. If Young doesn’t get his pass-rushing juice back, at least he can fall back on elite run defense, something Green Bay could certainly use more of.
2. Wide Receiver Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
A lot has been made about the current state of the Packers’ skill positions, and rightfully so. There isn’t a single wide receiver on the roster who has more than one season of NFL experience under their belt.
That is certainly a bold strategy to take when your new starting quarterback has only 83 regular season passes to his name. Surrounding him with more experienced options at wide receiver would make sense and Tee Higgins makes for an ambitious target.
The Bengals have made it clear they will attempt to work things out long-term with Higgins, but it is a tall task. Ja’Marr Chase is extension eligible next offseason and Joe Burrow is going to get a megadeal this offseason as well.
If there isn’t enough money for Higgins, a team could swoop in and make a trade. He would instantly become the No. 1, go-to option for Love in the passing game, raising the ceiling of a young, high-upside group.
1. Safety Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals
There isn’t a position group on the Packers that is as concerning as safety. Given their salary restraints this offseason they were unable to pursue some of the impact players at the position, such as Jessie Bates III or Jordan Poyer.
It would certainly be risky entering the season with the current group the team has, as past results haven’t been great. But, the Packers could get aggressive and make an offer for disgruntled Cardinals star, Budda Baker.
Baker requested a trade from Arizona earlier this offseason as he sought a new contract and didn’t want to be part of a rebuild. While the Packers are a young team and not contenders themselves, they are closer than the Cardinals are.
Adding Baker to a secondary with Jaire Alexander would give Green Bay elite players at every level of their defense. The versatility that Baker brings to the table would help take this unit to a different level as he could cover up a number of their holes.
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