Matt LaFleur head coach of the Green Bay Packers
It’s officially trade deadline season, folks. With the NFL’s trade deadline on November 5 fast approaching, the rumor mill is heating up. As always, we’ll see a flood of speculative tweets, most from dubious sources claiming inside info from a friend who “works in marketing” for a team. Amidst the noise, though, some trade scenarios actually have the potential to make waves.
And that’s where the Green Bay Packers come in.
The Packers are a team to keep an eye on over the next few weeks. While they’re not known for being aggressive at the deadline, it’s not out of the question that they’ll take a big swing this year, especially with their underwhelming pass rush. One name being floated? None other than Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby.
Now, before you dismiss this as another wild, unrealistic trade idea, hear me out. Yes, Raiders owner Mark Davis recently said that Crosby isn’t going anywhere. And sure, Crosby himself has voiced his desire to win in Vegas. But as we saw with the Davante Adams situation, even the most steadfast declarations can crumble under the weight of reality.
Crosby, the two-time Pro Bowler and relentless pass-rusher, has been the heart and soul of the Raiders defense. But after some recent comments, it’s hard not to imagine a world where he could be open to a change of scenery.
“I’m not here to rebuild, I’m here to win,” Crosby said recently, fueling the rumor fire. “And wherever I’m gonna be, I’m here to win.” Those words could be interpreted as a man ready to move on if the situation doesn’t improve quickly in Vegas.
This is where the Packers come in.
Green Bay’s defense has been solid, but their pass rush has been lacking. With Rashan Gary still recovering from his torn ACL and the rest of the unit underperforming, the addition of Crosby could give the Packers exactly what they need to make a playoff push in a suddenly competitive NFC North.
Of course, this is all speculation. The Packers aren’t known for making blockbuster trades mid-season, but GM Brian Gutekunst did make a run at Khalil Mack back in the day, so a big move isn’t out of character. And let’s face it—if Crosby isn’t heading to Green Bay, there’s a real chance he could end up in Detroit alongside Aidan Hutchinson, which would be a nightmare for the Packers.
So, should the Packers go for it? Absolutely. Will it happen? That’s a different story. But in the wild world of the NFL trade deadline, anything is possible, and the Packers could use a beast like Crosby to keep pace in the NFC North race.
