Blink, and you'll miss an NFL trade. The transaction wire is surprisingly hot, with several last-minute deals being made leaguewide to upgrade rosters before cutdown day. It's about time the Green Bay Packers joined the party.
Several teams have reportedly shown interest in acquiring a wide receiver, and the Packers have plenty of talented pass-catchers. Too many, perhaps. Packers fans have spent an offseason wondering whether Romeo Doubs could land a deal elsewhere. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract and may see his opportunities decrease in a crowded receiver room.
Enter the New York Jets, the Packers' old pals in the AFC. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that New York is among "among several teams monitoring the trade market" at wide receiver. The Jets need a timely solution with the regular season two weeks away, and the Packers might have a last-minute answer as roster cutdown day looms.
Packers should trade Romeo Doubs to the Jets for a fourth-round pick
Who says no?
Doubs is a reliable piece of the Packers' passing attack and a wide receiver Jordan Love trusts. However, it's impossible to ignore that the team suspended him for a game last season after he reportedly had frustration with his role on offense.
That's unlikely to improve after the Packers added first-round pick Matthew Golden and third-rounder Savion Williams to a receiving corps featuring Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft, and Dontayvion Wicks.
Christian Watson will return at some stage, and possibly sooner than expected.
A Jets trade for Doubs has made sense for a while. Justin Fields needs another reliable receiver to play alongside All-Pro Garrett Wilson, and Doubs would give the Jets an immediate upgrade on Josh Reynolds and former Packers teammate Allen Lazard.
Green Bay would have to seriously consider accepting a fourth-rounder.
That's what it cost the Packers to select Doubs in the 2022 NFL Draft, and there's a good chance he's entering his final season in Green Bay. The team has a long and daunting list of upcoming free agents next offseason, and given their recent investments at wide receiver, it seems inevitable that Doubs will depart.
They would still enter the season with Golden, Reed, and Wicks as their top three receivers, with Watson soon joining them. Add Kraft, and with any luck, a healthy Luke Musgrave, and the Packers will have more than enough pass-catchers to spread the ball around to.
New York is active in the trade market, having made deals for defensive linemen Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs. Doubs would fix another need for the Jets.
It's a win-win. The Packers would love to keep Doubs, no doubt, but that's why it's a fair deal. He would get more opportunities in New York's passing game, while Green Bay moves forward with good depth at the position and a fourth-rounder for a player likely entering his final season with the team.