The Green Bay Packers finally have an opportunity to land running back Trey Benson, but there's a catch. There's always a catch.
Benson, who has long felt like an ideal trade candidate for the Packers, is now available without the need to part ways with draft capital. The Arizona Cardinals have waived/injured their 2024 third-round pick, which is a somewhat surprising decision.
While his days in Arizona were numbered given the team's ridiculous running back depth, trading Benson rather than waiving him felt more realistic.
And that's why it's potentially difficult for the Packers. One, Benson must clear waivers. Two, he'll need to pass a physical.
Trey Benson is available, but two stumbling blocks could prevent a Packers move
The first step is whether the Packers even put in a waiver claim. They hold the 20th spot in waiver priority, which means they'd need the 19 teams above them not to put in a claim.
That's the first potential stumbling block.
The other is Benson's injury situation. He has been battling a knee injury since Week 4 of last season. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Benson underwent arthroscopic surgery on his meniscus last October. The initial recovery timeline was believed to be 4-6 weeks, but Benson didn't play again for the rest of the season.
Earlier this month, Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur said that Benson had a "little flare-up" in his knee.
He hasn't featured in the preseason, and now the Cardinals have waived him with an injury designation. Benson will revert to Arizona's injured reserve list if he clears waivers.
It would be a no-brainer if he were fully healthy. The former third-rounder has a rare blend of size, athleticism, power, and speed. He broke tackles for fun in college, which is one of Josh Jacobs' biggest strengths, but he also ran a faster 40-yard dash time than MarShawn Lloyd.
We're talking about a running back who led the NCAA in yards per attempt after contact in 2022, per PFF, but also clocked 22 mph on an 85-yard touchdown, according to Cam Mellor of Pro Football Network.
Injuries have stood in Benson's way, though, and that remains the biggest concern.
Packers have a decision to make on Trey Benson on the eve of Cardinals' arrival in Green Bay
The Packers will need to decide whether to put in a waiver claim by the Tuesday deadline. By pure coincidence, the Cardinals are coming to town on Wednesday.
It's plausible, although probably unlikely, that Benson could start the week as a Cardinals player, and two days later stand on the opposite sideline as a Packer for a joint practice against his former team. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Again, there are multiple factors in play here.
What is the situation with Benson's injury? That's something the Packers and every other team will have to determine. The Cardinals likely would've moved on from Benson this summer, regardless, given their strong running back depth, but using an injury designation is notable.
If, and it's a big if, the Packers decide to put in a waiver claim, they will need to wait to see if they have the highest priority.
In some ways, trading for him would've been easier.
We'll see. The Cardinals have opened the door for the Packers by waiving Benson. That much we know. But whether he ends up in Green Bay will come down to two important factors.
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