The Green Bay Packers are going into the 2023 NFL season with a wide receiver room full of first and second year players. Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure, were drafted last year, and Bo Melton and Jeff Cotton were stashed away on the practice squad. They have been joined by this year’s draft picks: Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Grant Dubose.
This is a very young and inexperienced wide receiver group, no doubt. However, head coach Matt LaFleur has stated that the plan right now is for the team to stick with their young guys going into the season. Despite his words, some NFL analysts are still naming the Packers as potential destinations for wide receivers that may be on the trading block.
The Green Bay Packers Were Named as a Potential Trade Destination for Wide Receiver Chris Godwin
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report listed seven wide receivers that could be traded and what teams he thinks would be best fits for them. Of Chris Godwin, he names the Packers and Kansas City Chiefs as the most likely trade destinations:
“It’s not hard to see why teams would be interested in Godwin. In six professional seasons, Godwin has eclipsed 1,000 yards three times. Last year, Godwin set a career high with 104 catches. At 27, Godwin is in the prime of his career, and he’d be a huge upgrade for quite a few passing attacks.
“There’s also at least some rationale for the Buccaneers to consider trading Godwin. Unlike Evans, Godwin isn’t entering the final year of his contract. But after re-doing his deal last year, 2024 will be. Godwin’s cap hit for that season will be a whopping $27.5 million—a whopping amount for a team that has salary cap issues.
“On one hand, an argument can be made that it makes more sense for the Buccaneers to keep Godwin around than Evans, if only because Godwin is significantly younger. On the other hand, that youth could also mean that Tampa could fetch a better haul of picks.
“Frankly, it’s a matter of Tampa taking a long, hard look at the status of the roster and the team’s future.
“Because some short-term losses may help the franchise rebound in the long-term.
“Potential Landing Spots: Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers”
The problem with projecting the Packers as a potential trade suitor for Chris Godwin is that they are in a bad spot with their salary cap as well. This year, Godwin carries a $8.6 million cap hit, which is not much; but it would eat up all of the Packers cap space, and they would probably need to cut someone else to make it work.
That $27.5 million cap hit next year is a concern as well. The only way the Packers would be able to afford Godwin is to work out an extension and kick some money down the road. Given the fact that Brian Gutekunst loves having draft picks, it is far from likely this deal would happen.
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