"I thought it was next week."
That was Mike McCarthy's now-famous quote on the day of the 2016 NFL trade deadline. McCarthy didn't need to know when the trade deadline was because the Green Bay Packers never made a move.
The Packers stood pat again at this year's deadline, but it would be disingenuous to accuse Brian Gutekunst of not trying to win or being willing to go all in.
That argument falls apart when remembering that he traded away two first-round picks and Kenny Clark to acquire Micah Parsons a little over a year ago. Gutekunst has made 27 player trades during his Packers tenure (we ranked all of them, by the way), including two on roster cutdown day this August.
It was busier around the NFC North: the Minnesota Vikings reunited with Kirk Cousins, the Chicago Bears traded two firsts for Jeffery Simmons, and the Detroit Lions sent a sixth-rounder to the New York Jets for Andre Cisco.
What are the biggest takeaways for the Packers from the trade deadline?
1. It has to be Kevin Zeitler time
The Packers' offensive line has been a huge topic all season, but Gutekunst opted against trading for more help. Green Bay has already added veterans Laken Tomlinson, Kevin Zeitler, and Mekhi Becton, so it wouldn't have made sense to trade for more of the same. If they were going to make a move, it had to be for a player who would be an undeniable upgrade on what they have.
Think Quenton Nelson or Sam Cosmi.
Nelson was the best offensive lineman to switch teams before the deadline, with the Seattle Seahawks giving up only a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round selection.
That felt like a bargain and a missed opportunity for the Packers, but Nelson has since required knee surgery, sidelining him for at least a few weeks.
The Packers stumbled across their best starting five during the win over New England on Sunday. It's the lineup fans have been calling for, with Tomlinson at left guard and Zeitler at right guard.
Zeitler had to wait over a month to get his first offensive snaps for Green Bay, and it only happened because Aaron Banks went into the blue medical tent. And Zeitler sure looked like he's still the player he's always been.
According to Pete Dougherty and Eric Baranczyk of Packers News, Green Bay averaged 4.9 yards per carry with Zeitler in the game, and 3.2 yards without him.
Meanwhile, Banks continues to struggle. He received the Packers' worst PFF pass-blocking grade and just a 53.9 run-blocking grade. In two games since returning from injury, Banks has surrendered eight pressures and a sack. Not good.
Forget Banks' contract. Forget moving Tomlinson out of position. Put Zeitler in at right guard, keep Tomlinson at left guard, and put the best starting five on the field. It's time.
2. Kaleb Johnson's importance to Packers offense has skyrocketed
After weeks of trade rumors about Jonathan Taylor and Tony Pollard, the Packers decided to stick with their current backfield. It's a vote of confidence in Kaleb Johnson, who may have climbed the depth chart with his impressive performance against the Patriots.
The Packers have continued to believe in MarShawn Lloyd, but the results simply aren't there.
He's carried the ball 57 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns, averaging a disappointing 2.6 yards per attempt. Lloyd has passed on open lanes and hesitated rather than driving downfield.
Johnson ran with an edge on Sunday. He was decisive and once again showed off his big-play potential, breaking out a 34-yard rush, something we just haven't seen enough from this Packers team. Johnson is averaging 4.1 yards per carry this season and deserves more opportunities.
Josh Jacobs is sidelined with a fractured finger that requires surgery, which creates some uncertainty in the backfield. The Packers didn't acquire another running back before the deadline, but they should put faith in the player they traded for in August.
3. Micah Parsons' return could be more impactful than any deadline-day move
Jeffery Simmons is already making an impact in Chicago. Quenton Nelson will do the same in Seattle, once healthy. Kirk Cousins is a potentially season-saving addition for the Vikings.
Several teams strengthened at the trade deadline. But none of them can compete with Micah Parsons, who is nearing his Packers return after almost a year on the sidelines.
Parsons is arguably the second-best defensive player in the NFL behind only Myles Garrett. It's hard to quantify his impact because it goes beyond the box score. We saw it last season. It wasn't just his 12.5 sacks, but the attention he receives. Parsons draws double teams whenever he's on the field.
Green Bay couldn't take full advantage last year because the pass rush became Parsons-or-bust. That's no longer true.
According to Pro Football Reference, the Packers are tied for No. 4 in sacks, No. 6 in QB hits, No. 8 in pressures, and No. 16 in pressure rate.
The Packers recorded 36 sacks in 2025, including Parsons' 12.5. They're already at 26 sacks this season and on pace for 49. And those are the numbers without Parsons. Imagine how much scarier the pass rush will become when he's on the field.
Simmons is already making a huge impact in Chicago, which is a bit annoying, but just wait until Parsons returns. The Packers' defense is playing close to an elite level. Parsons could make it championship caliber.
4. Sometimes the best deals are the ones you don't make
Were there opportunities to strengthen? Sure. But there's always a cost.
The Packers were reportedly in for Chase Claypool before the deadline in 2022. The Bears ultimately won that race, giving away a second-round pick to get him. That decision aged terribly, as Claypool played only 10 games in Chicago, making 18 catches on 43 targets for 191 yards and a touchdown.
Sometimes, the best deals are the ones you don't make. And, to Gutekunst's credit, he could end up using the draft capital to add a difference-maker in April.
Tyler Brooke of Best Available made an excellent point about the Packers' recent hit rate in the fourth round. Gutekunst found Evan Williams, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Romeo Doubs, and Zach Bako-Bewele in Round 4. How many potential trade targets would contribute more than those four players?
Giving away a draft pick might've cost the Packers the next Evan Williams. Who knows?
It makes sense to acquire talent before the trade deadline if there's an opportunity to upgrade, but the Packers weren't going to make a move for the sake of it.
5. Vikings-Kirk Cousins trade is annoying, but it could've been much worse
The Bears' Jeffery Simmons deal is already paying off, though it's undeniably a short-term move. Simmons is 29 and cost two first-round picks, which will hurt Chicago's roster-building efforts in the long run. But it's looking like a great deal for the Bears.
Minnesota reunited with Kirk Cousins at the trade deadline buzzer, which has immediate consequences for the Packers. Cousins will likely get the start at Lambeau Field this week, giving the Vikings a massive upgrade at quarterback.
Ideal? No. But it could've been much worse.
The Vikings had rumored interest in star running back Jonathan Taylor. Pair an elite running back with the league's best defense? That could've gotten scary.
Many expected Chicago to reunite with Khalil Mack, who, even in his age-35 season, would've made the Bears' pass rush formidable alongside Simmons, Austin Booker, and Montez Sweat. The Bears also failed to upgrade their struggling cornerback room, as did the Lions.
Did the Bears and Vikings get better? Absolutely. But at one stage, it looked like it could've been much worse.
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