If the Green Bay Packers roster progresses in 2024, this team could become a Super Bowl contender rather quickly.
Heck, they had the 49ers on the brink of elimination on their own home field. This Packers team is not only not far off from being a contender, but they might only be a couple of moves away from being a permanent fixture in the NFL's final four for the next handful of seasons, at least.
As we approach the 2024 NFL offseason, there are some names that could be available to the Packers that could wind up being absolute game-changers for them. The last two years, the Packers have made offseason trades to get rid of star players. Could they use some of their massive hoard of NFL Draft picks in 2024 to add a much-needed veteran presence that could take this roster to a new level?
1. Justin Simmons, S
Justin Simmons is going to be 31 years old this season and is entering a contract year. From the Denver Broncos' perspective, losing a player like Simmons would be a brutally tough pill to swallow, but their loss could be the Packers' gain.
Simmons has a base salary of $14.5 million this year and the guaranteed money on his deal has run out. I think Simmons will be looking for an extension this offseason or a trade to a team that might give him one, and the Packers with Jeff Hafley just might be the ones to do it.
Although they didn't cross paths there, Hafley and Simmons share the Boston College bond, and with both Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, and Rudy Ford hitting free agency, safety is arguably Green Bay's top defensive need. If the Broncos are willing to part ways with Simmons for a third- or fourth-round pick, he could very well be a worthwhile investment for the Packers. Simmons has 30 career interceptions and at least three interceptions every year since 2018.
He's a turnover machine. Adding Simmons to the back end of this defense could take Green Bay to the next level on that side of the ball.
2. Alvin Kamara, RB
I wouldn't normally advocate trading for running backs who are already on their second NFL contracts, but there's no doubt that Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst have seen the impact that a trade like the Christian McCaffrey deal has made for the San Francisco 49ers.
In fact, they saw it up close and suffered unfortunate consequences from it.
The McCaffrey trade was such a game-changer for the 49ers, who acquired a player that was considered too beaten and too injury prone to be overly effective over the long haul. That has proven to be a complete misjudgment. How more teams weren't in on McCaffrey, I'll never know. We could be coming to a similar point with Alvin Kamara and the Saints this offseason.
Kamara has a salary of $10.2 million this coming season and will turn 29 this summer. The Saints might want to start thinking about maximizing value for Kamara, and a team like the Packers could greatly benefit from having him around.
Although Aaron Jones has a cap hit north of $17 million this season, the Packers were seemingly interested in the potential of a Jonathan Taylor deal last offseason, and with an extension looming for Jordan Love, they're going to be able to fit some bigger short-term deals in the salary cap pie.
Kamara, even if not paired with Aaron Jones, has proven he can be an every-down back and a dynamic option as both a featured runner and receiver.
3. Tee Higgins, WR
How much of a trigger is it to see Tee Higgins' name associated with the Green Bay Packers?
Probably not as bad anymore now that Jordan Love has managed to prove himself worthy of the "franchise QB" mantle, right?
At any rate, the idea of Tee Higgins in Green Bay may still have some merit. The Bengals just gave a massive contract to quarterback Joe Burrow, a historic moment for that franchise which has been notoriously cheap through the years. They're going to likely have to follow that up by giving a big deal to wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase in the next year or less, which means there's not going to be quite enough to go around for Tee Higgins.
The Bengals could tag Higgins this offseason and keep him around, eating the cost for another year, but they might also be able to recoup some decent NFL Draft assets or players for him in a tag-and-trade. The Packers would be an interesting option because Higgins could come in and be that true WR1 the Packers need, while the Bengals could get at least a second-round pick, or maybe a Day 2 pick and Christian Watson in this type of deal.
4. Jaycee Horn, CB
The idea of the Green Bay Packers trading for Jaycee Horn would be somewhat of an underrated option when it comes to boosting their Super Bowl chances. I think Horn is the type of player who simply needs a string of good luck health-wise or maybe just a change of scenery to figure things out.
The former eighth overall pick out of South Carolina was outstanding in his rookie year for the Panthers, but he's been limited to just 22 games in three seasons.
That sounds painfully familiar to Packers fans regarding their own 2021 first-round pick, Eric Stokes, who is also coming up on a make-or-break type of year.
This offseason, the Panthers are going to have to decide whether or not to pick up Horn's fifth-year option on his rookie contract, and they might want to pass that responsibility off on another NFL team. Although his availability doesn't exactly scream second-round value, I think sending Carolina a second-round pick for Horn could get the deal done, and the Packers already have two of them.
They're also likely considering corners with their top 3-4 picks. I would love to see Jeff Hafley get his hands on Jaycee Horn, attempt to rehab his value, and watch the Packers benefit from hopefully a good string of health. The Panthers need the talent, but they also need the picks and they might not be able to bank on Horn being able to stay on the field anymore.
5. Jerry Jeudy, WR
There could be some motivation from the Denver Broncos to get a couple of trades done this offseason.
We already talked about Justin Simmons, but what about that wide receiver group in Denver? Both Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy have been mentioned in trade rumors over the last year or two, and I think one or both could make some sense for the Packers.
Green Bay lacks a true WR1, and while Jerry Jeudy hasn't exactly proven that he can be that guy in Denver, he has the type of skills to really flourish in Matt LaFleur's offense. Jeudy is a route-running technician and is outstanding after the catch. He has the potential to be a high-volume target in an offense that can get him the ball quickly, and in combination with guys like Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks, Jeudy could be that consistent go-to player.
It's not that the Packers need to compromise NFL Draft capital to acquire any wide receiver they can, but if the right fit is out there for the right price, it's something they should look into.
A player like Jeudy could potentially be had for a third-round pick, and if the Packers feel like they need to add that go-to weapon in the passing game, this could be a worthwhile move.