The quarterback transition from Aaron Rodgers is going to dominate headlines in Green Bay for years to come. One underrated part of that storyline is the need for the Packers to adjust their timeline for Super Bowl contention. This team needs to get younger to make sure they maximize Jordan Love's prime.
That means the Packers' front office should work hard to offload veterans sooner rather than later. Big names could leave Green Bay as a result, but this roster needs to get younger and more flexibile in a hurry.
There's no reason to conduct a total fire sale though. Holding on to the right young players will help give Love the support he needs to thrive at the game's most important position. Threading the needle between dumping veterans and investing in youth is Green Bay's challenge. This list begins with a tight end who should be traded for any meaningful draft compensation.
Selling high on Josiah Deguara would be a shrewd roster move by the Packers
Dealing the only experienced tight end on the roster might seem like a drastic move by the Packers, but he's already buried behind two rookies on the depth chart. Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft are going to soak up most of the meaningful snaps for the Packers which means Deguara won't be able to put up any noticeable stats.
The Packers don't need to give Deguara away, but if they can acquire a mid-round draft pick for his services it would be a big win by the front office.
Preston Smith is a classic sell-high candidate for a team in need of a talent infusion
On the surface, the idea that the Packers would deal an edge-rusher who notched 10 sacks last year seems ludicrous. A closer examination of Preston Smith's overall play for Green Bay in 2022 makes it clear it could be a stroke of genius by the team's front office.
Smith isn't a bad player but his sack total from last year covered up his struggles to make an impact every down for coordinator Joe Barry's defense. The 30-year-old did a nice job rushing the passer on obvious passing downs last year, but he didn't do much else to help out his defensive teammates.
That's a big reason why the team invested a first-round draft pick on Lukas Van Ness back in April. It might be a little early to thrust him into the starting lineup, but it also might be best to let the former Iowa standout learn on the fly. He comes into the NFL with the reputation of being a bit of a project, but his strength should be rushing the passer on obvious throw downs. That makes him a nice instant replacement for Smith in the event that the veteran is traded.
The reality that Smith's current contract would see his salary cap hit rise to over $16 million next year also makes now the time to get him off the team's books. Smith is a decent player, but he isn't worth anywhere near that kind of money at this stage of his career. The time to deal the edge rusher is now.
Aaron Jones is one running back that might net a meaningful asset in a trade
Dealing a veteran running back in the modern NFL is a big challenge for any front office. That does not mean the Packers shouldn't try to accomplish the rare feat with Aaron Jones in the coming days.
Jones has a chance to buck the trend because he is still a big-play threat who can help boost a team's pass game as well as its rushing attack. Green Bay isn't going to net a first-rounder for their 28-year-old running back. Flipping him for a second or third-round pick could be a reasonable proposition though.
The franchise already has A.J. Dillon on the roster to soak up most of the conventional carries. Emanuel Wilson is also lurking in the background. It's easy to envision a scenario where he becomes the team's third-down back as a partner for Dillon.
Giving Jones away for a late-round pick would be a mistake. He can still be a valuable tool in Love's backfield. At the very least, the Packers should be quietly gauging what Jones' trade value might be. If any team in the league loses a big-name running back in the next few weeks they should hear from Green Bay immediately. He's a durable veteran who could be trustworthy enough to land Green Bay a valuable trade asset.
Zach Tom might be the best contract on the Packers roster
NFL teams are typically pleased if a fourth-round draft pick can find a way to play meaningful snaps during their rookie contract. The fact that Zach Tom has already carved out a starting role at right tackle makes him a very valuable player for Green Bay.
Zach's current cap hit during his second year in the league nestles in at under $1 million for the Packers. That's an obscene value contract for a starter at a premium position. Right tackle might not have quite the same cache that left tackle still has around the league, but some of the deals going to right tackles signal a sea change in that regard.
That makes the idea of Green Bay offering Tom up in trade talks laughable. The franchise shouldn't even pick up the phone on a team inquiring about the former Wake Forest star unless a top-20 pick in the first round is on the table. Even still, the Packers should hold on to Tom because of his value as a starter on a small-money deal.
Tom may never blossom into a star, but his high floor as a quality starter at multiple positions along the offensive line makes him incredibly valuable to the Packers. He isn't a big name but he's got big-time value for Green Bay. They should keep him at all costs to grow alongside Love.
