Packers could soften unfortunate situation and add valuable draft capital for 2027 if proposed trade becomes reality
Running back MarShawn Lloyd was a third-round pick back in 2024, but he’s barely played due to a sequence of injury and health issues.
It’s almost impossible to have a more unfortunate career start in the NFL than the one running back MarShawn Lloyd has gone through. A third-round pick back in 2024, the offensive weapon has barely played for the Green Bay Packers. It was a sequence of hamstring injuries and even an appendicitis, which made him miss 35 of 36 potential games in two seasons.
The Packers aren’t in a rush to move on from him, because the benefit of doing so is limited — especially after Josh Jacobs’ arrest. Well, that’s unless they can get something in return for him.
Could Lloyd be a trade candidate?
PFSN‘s Jacob Infante made a list with one trade candidate for each team in the NFL. And that’s a tough one for the Packers because they’ve already dealt edge defender Rashan Gary, wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks, and interior defensive lineman Colby Wooden this offseason. At some point, there aren’t many great options.
But Infante mentions Lloyd as a player Green Bay could move.
“Though the stakes haven’t been very high with how well Josh Jacobs has played for the Green Bay Packers, their third-round selection of MarShawn Lloyd in 2024 has aged poorly thus far. He’s only played in one game at the NFL level due to injury, tallying just six carries for 15 yards in 2024. Availability is the best ability, so if Lloyd doesn’t fare well in training camp or the preseason, it might make sense to move on.” — Jacob Infante
Incentives to trade Lloyd
At this point, the Packers don’t have a great reason to part ways with Lloyd. The running back will make $1.31 million in 2026 and $1.57 million in 2027, which is a little bit more than the minimum salary. If he’s healthy, Lloyd has a decent ceiling to back up Josh Jacobs. And to be a starter if Jacobs isn’t available. If he’s not, the Packers could move him to injured reserve and he wouldn’t even waste a roster spot.
So if money and roster spot aren’t big factors, Green Bay can simply wait for the situation to develop. If someone makes an offer, though, things could change. The question is how much anyone would be willing to pay for a player who hasn’t been on the field since college.
If a team that liked Lloyd coming out of USC is willing to give up, let’s say, a fifth- or sixth-rounder in a loaded 2027 draft class, the Packers could be more inclined to make a deal. If it’s just a late-round swap, the front office could just wait and see with Lloyd on the roster.
It’s a difficult and unfortunate situation. But at this point, the Packers don’t have much control over it.