The Packers went into the trade deadline reeling as a team. Green Bay had lost four consecutive games to the Giants, Jets, Commanders and Bills and were suddenly questioning whether they were in the playoff picture, let alone the division race.
Indeed, Green Bay was in dire straits after a 27-17 loss against the Bills on “Sunday Night Football,” and it seemed like the 2022 NFL trade deadline could provide it.
Instead, the Packers decided to do nothing, much to the chagrin of their fans… and probably their quarterback.
Green Bay stood pat on a record-breaking NFL trade deadline day that saw teams across the NFL agree to 10 total trade. Within the NFC North, the Vikings acquired tight end T.J. Hockenson from the Lions while the Bears sent a second-round pick to the Steelers for those pass catchers.
The Packers certainly could have used either of those players. They are in great need of help at the receiver position in particular, but they weren’t able to get any deals done.
But why did the Packers’ brain trust of Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur stand pat? Here’s what we know about Green Bay’s decision not to improve their trade even after its stumble to 3-5.
MORE: Full list of deals completed before record-breaking NFL trade deadline
Why didn’t the Packers make a trade before the NFL trade deadline?
The Packers’ decision not to make a trade seems to be related to the front office’s approach to swinging deals. It was outlined by LaFleur at a recent news conference during which he described how he and Gutekunst — who he calls “Gutey” — communicated in the lead-up to the 2022 NFL trade deadline.
“We’ve been having those conversations for weeks now, and it really comes down to opportunity,” LaFleur said of making a trade, per The Athletic. “If the right opportunity presents itself, I know that Gutey’s all on board trying to upgrade our roster.
You’re always trying to do that, but we’re not just going to do a silly deal.
Effectively, the Packers know what price they would be willing to pay to acquire certain players. They don’t want to overpay just to get an upgrade for the team, as it may hamstring the team further down the line.
That’s certainly a sensible approach. And it’s not like the Packers fully ignored trade talks. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport detailed that they tried to make a move but none ultimately happened.
Speaking of things that didn’t happen…no deals for the #Packers, either. Though they tried. https://t.co/8vG37anFIL
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 1, 2022
After all, they dealt Davante Adams away for a number of reasons, mostly cap related, so to expect Green Bay to change course on that strategy would be foolish.
Still, it’s easy to understand why Green Bay fans would be disappointed with this strategy. After all, two of their divisional rivals made moves for pass catchers that will remain with the team this season and beyond.
IYER: Why Packers are among the biggest losers of the 2022 NFL trade deadline
Meanwhile, the Packers were unable to acquire a receiver. They were mentioned in connection with Chase Claypool, who was traded to the Bears on Tuesday for a second round pick, but they couldn’t get anything done.
But it wasn’t because they didn’t try.
According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers offered their second-round pick in 2023 for Claypool, but the Steelers believed the Bears’ second-round pick would be “considerably higher” than Green Bay’s by the end of the season. Both teams are 3-5 through the first eight games.
Now, the Packers will have to get by with their banged-up, inexperienced receiving corps as they look to make a playoff push.
Certainly, that’s less than ideal, especially as the championship window for the 38-year-old Aaron Rodgers continues to close.
Maybe it was time for the Packers to make what some would consider a “silly deal.” Maybe they needed to be desperate at this point considering the state of their team and the franchise.
That said, it shouldn’t be a major surprise that the Packers did nothing. Gutekunst has been the general manager of the Packers since 2018 and he has never made an in-season trade where Green Bay has acquired a player.
In other words, Gutekunst has never seen the right opportunity to make an in-season trade before; and he didn’t see it this time, either.
