Former NFL GM suggests Packers trade to add veteran WR
The Green Bay Packers are not necessarily projected buyers before the trade deadline, but that doesn't mean it can't happen if a good deal presents itself. After ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Packers are among teams making calls for veteran wide receivers, former NFL general manager Randy Mueller suggested a potential target. Hunter Renfrow. The […]
The Green Bay Packers are not necessarily projected buyers before the trade deadline, but that doesn't mean it can't happen if a good deal presents itself. After ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Packers are among teams making calls for veteran wide receivers, former NFL general manager Randy Mueller suggested a potential target.
Hunter Renfrow.
The idea behind this deal is how much the Packers young receivers have struggles. A veteran presence could create a solid environment to help the front office make a fair evaluation of quarterback Jordan Love.
Renfrow will be 27 years old in December. He was a solid slot receiver for the first three years of his career, which included a 1,000-yard season in 2021 under interim head coach Rich Bisaccia, who's now the Packers special teams coordinator and assistant head coach.
However, Renfrow has been an afterthought in Las Vegas since Josh McDaniels is the head coach — it's almost counterintuitive, because his slot profile theoretically would be an ideal fit to McDaniels' system. This is what Mueller wrote:
"If the Packers can find it within themselves to add a veteran receiver, or even two, I think it would make everyone's life on offense easier (…) He's the same Renfrow who had 103 catches in 2021. He has a mind-boggling eight catches on 12 targets this season (both fifth on the team) and is playing 36 percent of the offensive snaps. That sounds even crazier to me when you pull up the film and still see quickness, agility, burst to separate against man-to-man coverage AND a natural feel for finding soft spots against zone."
The biggest issue for a potential deal is the money. If the Packers acquire Renfrow next week on his current contract, they would have to pay him around $3.8 million for the rest of the season. He's also under contract for $11.88 million in 2024. The Raiders would probably be happy to get rid of the receiver for low compensation, but the more the Packers demand them to keep in terms of money, the higher the draft compensation would be.
Another problem is the fit. Renfrow is a pure slot receiver, and the Packers drafted Jayden Reed in the second round to perform this role. Even though he's young, Reed has been arguably the most productive rookie for Green Bay, and acquiring Renfrow would probably impact his reps and his development.
General manager Brian Gutekunst said before the season that his plan was to allow growth from the young players. The growing pains are clear, and that could affect their thought process, but it would still be more likely that the Packers would prefer to add a boundary receiver.
Mueller is a long-time football executive. He worked for the Seattle Seahawks for 17 seasons. Then, became a general manager for the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins. He's currently the director of player personnel for the XFL's Seattle Sea Dragons, in addition to football analyst for The Athletic.
The NFL trade deadline is next Tuesday, so the Green Bay Packers will have one more game (against the Minnesota Vikings) before having to make any decision. It's unclear at this point if Christian Watson will be available, as he left the game against the Denver Broncos early because of a knee injury.
Prolific separator, Dontayvion Wicks deserves a bigger role in the Packers’ offense
Rookie fifth-rounder has a track record as high school QB
