The Green Bay Packers could really use some help in the backfield in the midst of Josh Jacobs' uncertain future. Jacobs is mired in a legal situation that could lead to a suspension, and third-year third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd has appeared in only one NFL game to date.
With Lloyd looming as an unproven wildcard and Chris Brooks as the only other viable running back option, GM Brian Gutekunst might want to consider making a trade.
It's noble for Gutey to still have conviction in Lloyd. Maybe he'll be the solid RB2 or temporary lead back Green Bay envisioned him to be. But until then, that's all speculation, and the Pack could really use an insurance policy.
One recent hypothetical trade proposal would capitalize on the brotherly head coaching connection between the Packers' Matt LaFleur and his brother, Mike, the new Arizona Cardinals head honcho.
Cardinals RB Trey Benson rides the LaFleur Express to Packers in mock trade
FanSided's Zachary Rotman kicked off his list of 20 players who are prime trade candidates before Week 1 with Trey Benson, naming the Packers as his ideal landing spot:
"[Arizona] drafted Jeremiyah Love and signed Tyler Allgeier in free agency, adding those backs to a room that already had James Conner and Trey Benson in it. Benson has always had a good amount of upside if healthy. [...] The Green Bay Packers...are dealing with uncertainty in their running back room. Josh Jacobs is dealing with issues off the field, and MarShawn Lloyd has just one NFL game under his belt. Benson gives them much-needed depth at the running back position."
This piece was published prior to Mike LaFleur's brain-dead decision to give No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love 14 touches in a preseason game, which led to a high-ankle sprain. Nevertheless, the trade is still appealing for both sides due to Arizona's tailback surplus and Green Bay's wanting supply.
Despite Benson's own history of medical red flags (torn ACL in 2020, an ankle injury as an NFL rookie, and a meniscus injury last year), he has looked good for the Cardinals when he's had his chances. Benson's healthy 4.9 yards per carry on 92 totes make him an ideal backstop for Jacobs in the event that he's suspended, or a solid No. 2.
Think about how difficult it is to run the ball in Arizona, given the state of that roster since Benson entered the NFL as the 66th overall pick in 2024.
If he were able to land with the Packers and have a studly quarterback like Jordan Love to complement him, there's no telling how well Benson could fare. I'm willing to make that statement with plenty of foreknowledge of the obvious question marks surrounding the Packers' offensive line.
Benson ran a 4.39 40-yard dash coming out of Florida State. He's way more explosive than Jacobs and considerably more so than Lloyd — with superior size to boot at 6-foot, 225 pounds.
Plus, the system Benson is learning now must have a lot of schematic carryover. I mean, shoot, he'd go from being coached by one LaFleur brother to another. Their terminology must be quite similar, too.
So yeah, these front offices have an inside track via the LaFleur sibs. Green Bay has a dire need. The Cardinals could use any and all draft capital to dig their way out of the NFC West basement in the coming years.
It's a total win-win here. What are the LaFleurs waiting for? Get Gutey and Monti Ossenfort on the horn pronto!
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