Packers: Josh Jones ‘hoping to be traded’, per report

The Green Bay Packers made improving the safety position a priority this offseason, but a former draft pick at the position could play for another team in 2019.

Rob Demovsky of ESPN has reported that Josh Jones, a second-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2017, is skipping OTAs as he is “hoping to be traded”.

This doesn’t come as a huge surprise, as Jones has been unable to find a regular starting spot in Mike Pettine’s defense, and the offseason additions at safety suggest the Packers have other plans.

Jones has started 12 games over the past two seasons for the Packers, playing both safety and linebacker. It’s possible the Packers prefer to play him at linebacker this year, with Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage Jr. likely to start at safety.

In two seasons, Jones has 122 tackles, three sacks, seven tackles for loss, seven passes defended and one interception. But he could be hoping for a bigger role on another team.

Jones still has two years remaining on his rookie deal, so the Packers aren’t in a position where they’d feel like they have to trade him. A potential deal could also depend on what the team would receive in a trade. After all, Green Bay was willing to spend a second-round pick on Jones only two years ago.

Of course, that draft was led by former GM Ted Thompson. Brian Gutekunst was part of Thompson’s staff, but the current general manager may be willing to move on from Jones.

If Jones does get a trade, the Packers depth chart at safety would look something like this: Amos, Savage, Tramon Williams, Raven Greene, Mike Tyson, Tray Matthews.

But by trading Jones, Green Bay would be losing a versatile player who can line up at multiple spots on defense, and as a second-round pick just two years ago, a player who still has a ton of potential.

Do you think the Packers should trade Jones?