Week 9 is arguably the biggest game of the year, thus far, for the Green Bay Packers. It's a divisional matchup with the Detroit Lions, and Green Bay might just be down their starting quarterback, Jordan Love, depending on what happens with his injury status in the coming hours.
At 6-2, the Packers should be feeling confident despite Love's minor injury. Even if he misses a game, Green Bay is in good shape.
For fans who thought this team had just about everything needed to make a run this season, they were right. Now, there are a couple of spots that could be improved before a deep run is made, but thankfully the NFL trade deadline is a few days ahead.
On Tuesday of next week, the deadline passes. Currently, the Packers could use a lift in two key areas: the secondary and pass rush. If Brian Gutekunst wants to get real serious, and real fast, he should try to attempt one of these last-minute trades to make an immediate impact on this club.
Packers should make a big splash at the NFL trade deadline to ensure NFC North supremacy
Trade 1: Packers go get pass-rusher Azeez Ojulari
With Kayvon Thibodeaux out due to injury, temporarily, Azeez Ojulari has really come on for the New York Giants in recent weeks. It's also a contract year for the fourth-year pro, so that makes a lot of sense why this season matters more than ever for the young pass rusher.
The 24-year-old has posted an impressive 5.0 sacks in his last three games and has totaled 6.0 on the season as a rotational pass rusher, for the most part, having played 55 percent of snaps. New York may be willing to part with him as he might not be part of their future plans, at the moment.
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The Packers need help up front, with no player having more than 3.0 sacks on the season. If Ojulari lands in Green Bay and totals 6.0 or more sacks down the stretch for the Packers, this fifth-round pick would turn into a fourth rounder. That seems like a pretty fair deal, and maybe the Packers even get a long-term extension done with Ojulari.
Trade 2: Packers take advantage of the Browns' misfortune, land cornerback Greg Newsome
Another area the Packers desperately need some help is in the secondary. Other than Jaire Alexander, this defense hasn't had much of any standout performers at corner. The Cleveland Browns very well could be holding a fire sale despite their recent win over Baltimore. While they're not going to part with the likes of Myles Garrett, former first-round pick Greg Newsome could be in play, here.
Newsome is versatile and can play both in the slot and outside, which is a huge advantage for this Packers defense. In the spirit of so many conditional picks being dealt recently, here's another one: should Newsome tally two or more interceptions and the Packers make the postseason, this pick becomes a third rounder.
That might seem like a hefty price, but the Packers also have him next year as his fifth-year option was picked up. If he and Alexander become the one-two punch this defense has long needed, it's capital well-spent.
Trade 3: Packers go all-in and make waves by snatching cornerback Marshon Lattimore
Finally, the Packers could truly try and go all-in with a trade for veteran corner and former All-Pro Marshon Lattimore of the New Orleans Saints. The four-time Pro Bowl corner is a contract the Saints likely want to try and part with, otherwise they can cut him next offseason and save roughly $11 million.
New Orleans has been noted for being in cap hell the last couple of years, pushing money down the road over and over again, and it's going to catch up to them. Lattimore could very well be on the way out and has seen his name in trade rumors in the past, as well.
This season, he's enjoyed a phenomenal season and not many are talking about it because of the Saints' current struggles. Giving this secondary a corner who has yet to allow a touchdown and is giving up an opposing quarterback rating of just 69.1? Sign us up.