The NFL trade deadline. The most overhyped, anti-climactic day of the calendar? Not anymore.
Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams, Jakobi Meyers, and Rashid Shaheed all found new homes, with the New York Jets stealing the headlines with a fire sale for the ages. It was a far quieter day in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where the Packers preferred to stand pat at the deadline and remain calm while chaos ensued around them.
That's not to mistake their inactivity for negligence. They reportedly made calls about a potential move for a tight end, which suddenly became necessary following Tucker Kraft's heartbreaking season-ending injury. In the end, nothing happened, and that's because the Packers already made their blockbuster move.
The Dallas Cowboys panicked with a trade for Quinnen Williams. The Indianapolis Colts paid a fair but steep price to land Sauce Gardner midway through the season.
Green Bay didn't have the draft ammunition to make a mega move, but that's because it already cashed in by landing Micah Parsons in August. Two firsts and Kenny Clark for Parsons remains the heist of the century, the Packers recouping maximum value. Not a single trade from Tuesday's deadline is more appealing than Green Bay's deal for Parsons.
Packers weren't willing to overspend in a panic move, and that's the correct call
If we're talking about trades made this season, the Packers played chess while the rest of the league played checkers. While many teams were scrambling for defensive help, especially for pass-rushers, Green Bay sat back, having already acquired Parsons at a bargain price.
The Philadelphia Eagles gave up a third-round pick for pass-rusher Jaelan Phillips. A talented player, yes, but also an upcoming free agent who played just 12 of a possible 34 games in 2023 and 2024.
Sure, it would've been nice if the Packers landed cornerback help. Or defensive line depth. Or a short-term rental at tight end to fill the void left by Kraft.
But while deadlines spur action, they also raise the prices. Many of the biggest rumored trade candidates, like Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and pass-rusher Bradley Chubb, would've cost top-of-the-market draft capital. The same goes for a true game-changing cornerback like Denzel Ward or a star running back like De'Von Achane.
The Packers either had to spend wildly to land a difference-maker or send valuable Day 3 assets for a depth piece.
Fortunately, the Packers still have options to address needs. Cornerback is the biggest, and they could turn their attention to free agent Asante Samuel, who is reportedly cleared after requiring spinal fusion surgery in the offseason. He offers more upside than just about any cornerback the Packers could've realistically traded for.
Green Bay currently holds seven draft picks in 2026, but none in the first round. Brian Gutekunst wasn't going to give away a precious third- or fourth-rounder for a player not worth that price.
The Packers often receive criticism for not making major splashes at the deadline, but it's about picking your moments. Sometimes, the best deals are the ones you don't make.
The Washington Commanders' decision to overspend for Marshon Lattimore a year ago proves that point a million times over. They effectively burned a third-, fourth-, and fifth-round pick for nothing.
It's all about value. Green Bay found that with Parsons. The moment the door opened to make a move, Gutekunst pushed it down and made a brilliant deal for the Packers.
The work on this roster isn't finished, and the Packers will need to find some help at tight end and, ideally, cornerback, but overspending at the trade deadline isn't always worth it. Green Bay couldn't find a deal that made sense, so they move on with six draft picks still in the bank.
Gutekunst made his blockbuster trade on August 28, and he wouldn't change that for any deal that went down on Panic Tuesday.