Packers trade deadline primer: Where does Green Bay need help? - Packers Wire
The NFL's 2026 trade deadline is one week away. Will Brian Gutekunst, Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers make any moves over the next seven days? At 5-3, the Packers are currently in last place in the NFC North, but a 4-1 stretch has revived the season, and the return of Micah Parsons looms on the horizon. It's possible the Packers see the trade deadline as an opportunity to provide an answer or two for a talented but flawed team at the midway point of the 2026 season.
Offensive line: Every team is looking for help along the offensive line, but the Packers are desperate to kickstart the run game, and injuries have created more hurdles along the interior. Kevin Zeitler hasn't played. Aaron Banks struggled in his return from another injury. Sean Rhyan will miss at least 2-3 more games. Could an addition spark the run game?
Running back: Josh Jacobs once again has an uncertain future, both in the short and long term. Although Chris Brooks will eventually return, MarShawn Lloyd has really struggled, and Kaleb Johnson has not been an answer at running back.
Kicker: The Packers have preached patience, but the leash is probably tightening for rookie Trey Smack, who has at least one miss in five of his first eight NFL games.
Defensive tackle: Losing Javon Hargrave to a season-ending injury hurt the depth and disruptive potential of this group.
Receiver: Jayden Reed's season-ending neck injury created a hole in the slot. Are the Packers comfortable with Savion Williams as the third receiver, and with the depth behind Christian Watson and Matthew Golden?
CB Carrington Valentine: He's in the final year of his deal, and the Packers have a promising rookie (Brandon Cisse) and a veteran playing well (Keisean Nixon) in starting roles, plus Benjamin St-Juste as a top backup on the outside and Kamal Hadden developing as a slot/perimeter backup.
Zach Kruse: I'm only buying if there's offensive line help available. More than likely, the Packers will gauge the trade interest in a few players, decide the price is too high and stand pat at the deadline. The glaring weakness on this team is along the offensive line, and the Packers still have a few unused options -- see: Kevin Zeitler and Mekhi Becton -- to try. However, adding a legitimate starter to the offensive line and then getting Micah Parsons back later this month could really provide a boost to a team fighting for a spot in the competitive NFC playoff race.
Mark Oldacres: Stand pat. It remains unclear whether this Packers team is a legitimate contender or not, so committing to buying or selling carries risk. They do not have many assets they would want to sell off anyway, and their biggest issue (running the football) is not going to be solved by trading for a running back or adding yet another offensive lineman, especially given they haven't even used one of the players they signed earlier this season in Kevin Zeitler.
Mark Oldacres: If the Packers do make an addition, they should target a defensive tackle to help bolster a position which has taken a hit with Javon Hargrave's season-ending injury and does not have a standout player right now. Finding one of those will be tough, but they cannot afford to risk the D-line falling apart due to more injuries like it did last season, adding Roy Lopez from the Cardinals or Grover Stewart could make sense to add some quality and insurance.
Brandon Carwile: If Iβm Brian Gutekunst, Iβm picking up the phone and calling the Tampa Bay Buccaneers about Robinson. After losing Javon Hargrave for the rest of the season, the Packers could be in the market for a veteran defensive tackle and Robinson happens to be having an excellent year. Heβs currently ranked second in run defense grade and third in overall defensive grade among defensive linemen this season, per Pro Football Focus. Tampa Bay has won three of its last four after starting the season 0-4, but Robinsonβs been a rotational piece who has played only 45 percent of the defensive snaps. The Buccaneers signed Robinson to a one-year deal this offseason so he may not be part of their long-term plans. Green Bay could afford to add depth to its defensive line and it may take only a Day 3 pick to acquire Robinson.
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