3 sneaky trade candidates for Packers entering 2026 season

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3 sneaky trade candidates for Packers entering 2026 season

Ben Strauss, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Mon, Jul 13, 2026 ·

5 min read

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The Green Bay Packers will be under immense pressure during the 2026 season. Green Bay needs to win the NFC North this fall, or at least make a deep playoff run as a wild card team, to validate the current regime. If the Packers put together another middle-of-the-road campaign in 2026, big changes could follow in the offseason.

Green Bay already showed their willingness to go all in on a season by acquiring Micah Parsons last season . The Packers could always go back to that well at the deadline this fall to replenish their roster with talent before a playoff push.

Which players might Green Bay be willing to flip in trades at the deadline?

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Three Packers players stand out as being sneaky trade candidates heading into the 2026 NFL season.

Is now the right time to trade Luke Musgrave ?

© Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Musgrave has to be the most fascinating trade candidate to think about on this entire list.

The Packers seemingly had high expectations for Musgrave when they selected him in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, he has not emerged as an elite receiving tight end in the years since.

A big part of the problem is his teammate Tucker Kraft .

Green Bay selected Kraft one round after Musgrave and they look like geniuses for doing so. Kraft has played a big role in Green Bay's offense, posting 50 receptions for 707 receiving yards and seven touchdowns back in 2024.

Kraft tore his ACL back in Week 9 against the Panthers, prematurely ending his season. That set Musgrave up to take over Kraft's role and, hopefully, have a breakout season.

Sadly, Musgrave only managed 24 receptions for 252 receiving yards throughout the entire season. After Kraft's injury, Musgrave only managed 15 receptions for 164 receiving yards. Obviously that is not good.

The Packers are in an interesting spot because, on paper, they really don't need Musgrave. But given Kraft's season-ending injury, they actually do need Musgrave more than ever in 2026.

Ultimately, Kraft's status could very well determine what happens with any potential Musgrave trade. Green Bay may need to keep Musgrave for the early weeks of the season while Kraft works his way back. But after that, Musgrave will be nothing more than an expendable piece.

If the Packers do explore a Musgrave trade, it will likely happen close to the deadline.

Ty'Ron Hopper could be the odd man out of Green Bay's linebacker room

Hopper is the clear odd man out in the linebacker room. But does that mean the Packers would actually consider trading him this season?

The biggest factor for Hopper is the departure of Jeff Hafley as defensive coordinator. Now Jonathan Gannon is leading the defense , which means a transition to a 3-4 defensive front. As a result, Green Bay only needs a pair of off-ball linebackers in their base defense. Edgerrin Cooper and newcomer Zaire Franklin should be the starters in Week 1.

If it were only a few days ago, Isaiah McDuffie would look like the stronger trade candidate After all, he had an impressive season in 2025 where he logged 92 total tackles. However, the Packers extended McDuffie on Sunday , a clear sign that he is part of their plans in 2026 and beyond.

As for Hopper, he finds himself fourth on the depth chart and without any obvious guarantees that he'll be kept around. Remember, he was drafted to fit into Joe Barry's defense and then flourished in Hafley's defense. Those are both quite different from the scheme Gannon runs.

This may all come down to how much Green Bay values Hopper as depth vs. their desire to acquire future draft capital.

It is certainly possible that the Packers keep Hopper around as reliable depth. But if they do wish to explore a trade, they may not need much to actually make a deal.

Green Bay should jump at the chance to pick up a Day 3 pick in exchange for Hopper if that opportunity ever arrives.

Will Carrington Valentine 's time with the Packers run out in 2026?

This may be the most controversial inclusion on this list.

Valentine may actually be the least likely player on this list to be traded. He projects as a starter in 2026 and could net a compensatory pick depending on how free agency goes next spring.

The former seventh-round pick has played well over the past three years. In fact, he pumped his salary all the way up to $3.67 million thanks to the NFL's proven-performance escalator. But Valentine is on the final year of his rookie contract , leaving time for Green Bay to enjoy his services for so cheap.

Green Bay is now faced with the choice of extending Valentine or simply letting him walk in free agency next spring. There are a few compelling reasons to believe he won't be a priority for the Packers.

First, there are better options already on the roster. Green Bay has Benjamin St-Juste , rookie Brandon Cisse, Domani Jackson , and safety Javon Bullard (who plays a lot of snaps in the nickel) as long-term pieces at cornerback. The Packers may add more to that room in the offseason, but probably through the 2027 NFL Draft.

There's also the simple fact that Green Bay may not be able to afford it. After all, they're pacing towards having only $14 million in cap space for the 2027 offseason. That leaves hardly no room to entertain extensions, especially for players like Valentine.

If the Packers become sellers at the deadline, Valentine's name is bound to come frequently.

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