Why the Packers must trade these 5 players for 2024 draft picks

The Green Bay Packers have unsurprisingly faced several ups and downs in the opening five games. They have lost two one-score games, won a blowout, lost a blowout, won a game they should've lost, and lost a game they should've won. Welcome to the rollercoaster of the Packers' 2023 season.

Once Aaron Rodgers departed, Green Bay flipped the switch into rebuild mode. They won't call it that, and, no, it's not a complete, burn-it-to-the-ground rebuild, but the Packers are in transition. They have to eat Rodgers' dead cap number, forcing them to build a younger, more affordable roster.

The Packers' roster is the league's youngest. While they could compete for a wild-card berth in a wide-open NFC, this team isn't ready for a Super Bowl challenge. For several reasons, including financial, the Packers likely won't be buyers before the trade deadline, but they should consider selling.

Trading away these players may hurt the team in the short term, but it would give Green Bay more 2024 draft capital to accelerate their rebuild.

5. Keisean Nixon

A contending team in search of a game-changer may consider swapping a Day 3 pick for Keisean Nixon. His return ability landed him first-team All-Pro honors last season. While he hasn't yet hit the ground running this year, he is only ever one moment away from returning a kickoff to the house. Nixon can also start on defense and, as we've seen already this season, play on offense.

Why would the Packers consider moving on?

One reason is the return of Eric Stokes. Rasul Douglas is Green Bay's only cornerback to play more snaps than Nixon this season, but Stokes' return could change that. Nixon has struggled in coverage, allowing 81.8 percent of passes to be completed, with a 106.8 passer rating, per Pro Football Reference.

The Packers have good cornerback depth, with Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, Stokes, and Carrington Valentine. Trading Nixon for a Day 3 pick could make sense.