A Packers Trade for Deebo Samuel Is Unlikely
K. Joudry
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Credit where it’s due: I’m getting intel from Mr. Paul Bretl, one of the foremost Packers writers out there. His piece on Dairyland Express details the upcoming cap crunch for those pesky Packers. As it stands, GB will have six players gobbling up just under $126 million in 2023; plus, they still need to do deals for Jaire Alexander, Rashon Gary, and Elgton Jenkins. Being able to add Deebo Samuel, then, feels out of reach for the Packers.
Samuel, reasonably enough, is looking for a sizeable contract extension. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is coming off an All Pro season. His cap hit in 2022 comes in just below $5 million, making him one of the main bargains in the NFL. He deserves far, far more.
Green Bay, as we all know, has the necessary draft capital to pull off a major trade. The Davante Adams deal gives them four choices in the top 60 picks. The downside of the Adams deal is that it leaves them with a huge hole at WR, an issue for the aging Aaron Rodgers.
Bringing Deebo Samuel aboard would therefore appear to be a logical solution for the Packers. They have the draft capital and Deebo wants out. Being able to pay him is where things get challenging.
The salary cap is highly malleable, but it is real and does have implications. Teams can’t just add talent without any regard to how they’ll make it work in the present and future. Deebo would be a perfect fit in the Packers offense, instantly giving them a dynamic WR1 who inspires fear in the opposition’s defense. His versatility is a major asset; if they just kept him at WR, though, he’d still be a top-tier player in the NFL.
Recent deals for high-end receivers have been gargantuan, so Green Bay could only pull this off if they were willing to sacrifice in other areas. Expect them to respond to this reality by using their picks for drafting receivers rather than making a move for one of the game’s best.
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