The Green Bay Packers are a team that many people are going to be keeping an eye on throughout training camp. There are a lot of unknowns surrounding the team, starting with their offense being under a new leader.
All attention will be on quarterback Jordan Love and how he handles replacing Aaron Rodgers as the starter. It is a major change for the franchise as Rodgers has been under center since 2008 but the coaches and players are confident that he can get the job done.
There are also a few positional battles to keep an eye on which could lead to some roster movement in the coming weeks. Eventually, cutdowns will have to occur and some trades could be made to receive value in exchange for players who may be on the chopping block instead of just releasing them.
Who could be on the move? Here are three Packers that are top trade candidates heading into training camp in 2023.
3. RB AJ Dillon
The Packers aren’t going to necessarily shop around AJ Dillon. Given the inexperience in their passing game, Dillon is going to play an integral part along with Aaron Jones in the offensive game plan. That duo should be leaned on heavily, especially in the early going.
But, long-term, the Packers are probably thinking about what will happen with Dillon. They are already locked into a long-term deal with Jones and doubling down at the running back position would be bad business.
If a player such as Tyler Goodson plays well during training camp, Green Bay could be comfortable moving on from Dillon. If there aren’t plans to keep him long-term and they want to maximize his value, even receiving a Day 3 pick in return for him could be worthwhile.
2. TE Josiah Deguara
The Packers made a concerted effort to upgrade the weapons around Love in the 2023 NFL Draft. They ended up selecting two tight ends; Luke Musgrave in the second round and Tucker Kraft in the third. Cameron McDonald was added as an undrafted free agent.
It is clear that the Packers are moving in a different direction at the position, which puts a player such as Josiah Deguara on the chopping block. His experience could be what saves him, as he is entering Year 4 and could be seen as a mentor for some of the younger players.
Alas, he could very well be in competition with Tyler Davis and Austin Allen for one spot at the tight end position. If those players and the rookies all excel, the Packers could see if there is any market for Deguara to cash in on.
1. OL Yasuah Nijman
One of the strengths of the Packers’ roster is their offensive line depth. They have one of the best units in the trenches in the NFL and if they receive some better injury luck in 2023, it will help immensely.
Heading into training camp, the starting unit looks like. Veteran David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan Jr. and Zach Tom from right to left are the projected starters. So, where does that leave someone such as Yasuah Nijman?
Nijman has shown to be a versatile piece that can fill in anywhere on the offensive line. He has a lot of value to a Green Bay team that has been hit hard by injuries along this unit in recent years.
But, teams are always looking for help in the trenches. If someone offered a Day 2 or 3 pick in exchange for Nijman, who has 21 starts and 50 overall appearances under his belt, the Packers would have to strongly consider it.
Swing tackles are important, but with how much success they have at developing offensive linemen, and with other younger options potentially emerging on the roster, Nijman is a name to watch on the trade block.