For the first time in five years, the Green Bay Packers have a healthy salary cap situation. That creates enough flexibility for general manager Brian Gutekunst to invest in the roster and make aggressive moves to put it over the top.
Gutekunst is not exactly an aggressive trader, but he has already tried to make deals for players like Khalil Mack, Will Fuller, and Chase Claypool.
“When you trade a high pick for a veteran player, you’re trading a young, really good contract for a player who’s proven, but probably expensive, so you’re giving up a pick and salary cap space,” Gutekunst explained after the season. “You gotta weigh that. If it’s the right player, if you can feel he can be a dynamic player that can change your football team, you gotta consider that, because there’s not many of those guys out there. But you also have to understand what you’re giving up.”
The questions will always be how much the team is giving up in terms of draft compensation and what the contract looks like. If the combination of the costs are fair, the Packers could consider something.
And these are three options for the Packers in the trade market.
WR DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
There has been a lot of talk around the Seattle Seahawks possibly moving on from Metcalf to get younger and (especially) cheaper at the wide receiver position, since Tyler Lockett is also expected to move on.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero mentioned that the Seahawks could get anything from a first- to a fourth-round pick as compensation. And as Metcalf’s contract is not cheap, a third-round pick could sound like an attractive value for the Packers.
If that happens, Green Bay would absorb $18 million in salary for 2025. Presumably, the parties would have to sit down and discuss a new contract extension, securing him in Green Bay for longer—and reducing his 2025 cap hit. There are no guarantees left.
Gutekunst recently revealed that the Packers had a second-round grade on Metcalf, but decided to take Elgton Jenkins instead.
WR Davante Adams, New York Jets
This is a very particular situation, because Adams’ contract with the Jets is somewhat unrealistic. There are two balloon years left, slated to pay him $35.64 million each, so the most likely scenario is that the Jets will end up releasing the star wide receiver.
However, the Packers could step in and offer New York a late-round pick to secure Adams’ return home.
In this case, Davante would have to agree to renegotiate his deal—and based on his desire to play in Green Bay again, that would be realistic. A low draft pick and a new deal seem like a fair combination for the Packers.
EDGE Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
This is certainly the most aggressive move among these three. With Myles Garrett off the table, Crosby would be the best edge defender possible in the trade market. Well, that is if general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll are willing to do it.
This type of move would involve giving up at least a first-round pick, probably more, and taking a significant contract. Crosby will make $23.12 million in 2025 and $19.72 million in 2026, which is a relatively team-friendly amount of money for an elite edge rusher.
The question here would be if Gutekunst thinks Crosby is valuable enough to give up the combination of draft compensation plus salary.
Crosby is still a relatively young player at 27, but he has a significant mileage based on how many snaps he’s played for the Raiders. In 2024, he had 54 pressures (which would lead the Packers) and 7.5 sacks.
