The Packers lost out to two divisional rivals at the trade deadline
It was widely reported the Green Bay Packers were bitten by the Chicago Bears at the trade deadline. The Bears came in and won the bid on wide receiver Chase Claypool, who had been linked to the Packers for weeks. That was a harsh reality for the Packers, who came out of the trade deadline empty-handed. However, the Packers reportedly had other deals fall through.
The Packers were in the market for Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks and Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. Those moves would have been complex with cap space. The two players didn’t wind up getting traded. But one player did get traded who the Packers were interested in. That player went to the Minnesota Vikings.
According to Tom Silverstein with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers inquired about tight end T.J. Hockenson before the deadline, as well as a few other pass catchers:
In addition, the Packers checked in with the Lions on tight end T.J. Hockenson before he was traded to Minnesota and had a brief but not serious discussion about Denver’s Jerry Jeudy, according to a pair of league sources. They also showed interest in New York Giants wide receiver Kadarious Toney before he was traded to Kansas City, another source said.
An even worse look for the front office
Missing out on Claypool is one thing. And that move raised the blood pressure of Packers fans. But losing out on another player who went to a divisional rival and playoff contender is hard to stomach. The Packers could have used Hockenson on their roster as well. Coupled with losing Claypool to the Bears, the Packers front office looks incompetent at being able to work a deal.
Those questions will only continue to compound if the team doesn’t make the playoffs. At 3-5 heading into Week 9, the Packers had better hope the roster filled with injured wide receivers can muster enough points to beat an electric Detriot Lions offense.