General manager Brian Gutekunst can still find ways to improve the roster or to generate more draft capital for the future.
The Green Bay Packers
have created roster surplus through competitive training camp and preseason battles, and general manager Brian Gutekunst could capitalize by trading expendable players for draft capital or positional help. Green Bay's depth at a few spots has positioned several veterans as potential trade candidates before the 53-man roster deadline. Here are three Packers players who could be on the move.
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The Packers signed Taylor to a one-year, $2.5 million deal
earlier this offseason to provide a veteran presence behind Jordan Love
. At the time, the immediate backup option was Desmond Ridder
, so adding Taylor made sense as an insurance policy.
The problem is that Taylor hasn't performed well in the preseason. Third-string quarterback Kyle McCord has arguably been better
. Reports from inside training camp suggest Taylor has practiced at a higher level than McCord, but McCord carries a higher ceiling and youth on his side. That combination could push the Packers toward giving McCord the backup job, especially if Green Bay
can extract something in return for Taylor.
Taylor has started 61 NFL regular season games and even a playoff game for the Buffalo Bills
in 2017. Teams like the Cleveland Browns
and Miami Dolphins
could use more competition in their quarterback rooms. If the Packers can land draft capital for Taylor, they would likely feel comfortable handing the backup role to McCord.
This one gets complicated because Brooks is in the final year of his rookie contract
. He earned the proven performance escalator based on playing time throughout his first three NFL seasons, pushing his 2026 salary to $3.674 million.
The Packers have surprisingly strong depth along the defensive line. Head coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged as much after the Week 2 preseason game against the Denver Broncos
. Third-round rookie Chris McClellan, Devonte Wyatt
, Javon Hargrave
, and Anthony Campbell have all had high expectations and/or shown well throughout training camp and the preseason, creating a logjam at the position.
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Brooks' limitation is clear, as he doesn't play well against the run. The Packers already have Wyatt and Hargrave as interior pass rushers, and players like McClellan, Jonathan Ford
, and Campbell offer more run-defense versatility. Brooks has generated 25 pressures in each of his first three NFL seasons, so there is real pass-rush value there. But with the Packers transitioning to a new defense where completeness along the interior matters more, Brooks could find himself in a lesser role.
It wouldn't make sense to cut him outright, though. Brooks is a solid rotational pass rusher, and the Packers should be able to get reasonable compensation from a team that values interior pressure.
Green Bay invested heavily in the cornerback room this offseason. The Packers drafted Brandon Cisse and Domani Jackson
, signed Benjamin St-Juste
in free agency, and now Nixon finds himself squeezed. He is in the final year of his contract with a $5 million salary, and he has also been practicing with the second and third units throughout training camp.
Nixon has expressed frustration
about potentially battling for a starting spot, and with Cisse stepping up and Carrington Valentine
coming back, the Packers appear comfortable exploring life without Nixon. The veteran still carries trade value around the NFL because of his starting experience at cornerback and his All-Pro credentials as a kickoff returner.
If Green Bay can find a trade partner willing to offer reasonable compensation, moving on from Nixon would save cap space and clear a roster spot and playing time for younger players the Packers are developing.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: 3 Packers players who could find themselves on the trade block before the regular season arrives
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