Report: Packers trade Rasul Douglas to the Bills
The Green Bay Packers have made a move before the trade deadline. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the team moved cornerback Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills. The Packers will receive a third-round pick as compensation, and the Bills get Douglas and a fifth-rounder. Rasul had been with the Packers since 2021, and he […]
The Green Bay Packers have made a move before the trade deadline. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the team moved cornerback Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills.
The Packers will receive a third-round pick as compensation, and the Bills get Douglas and a fifth-rounder.
Rasul had been with the Packers since 2021, and he signed a multi-year extension in 2022. He was initially signed off of the Arizona Cardinals practice squad when Jaire Alexander got hurt.
Douglas became a locker room leader and a full-time starter right away. After his first season, he got a three-year, $21 million deal to keep him in Green Bay through 2024. But now, he goes to Buffalo with a better chance at competing for a second Super Bowl — he got his first ring with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017.
Understanding of the moment
The deal makes sense for the Packers, as they are 2-5. General manager Brian Gutekunst knows the team will not win in 2023, so the smart move is to add draft capital trying to build for the future.
Packers fans' immediate reaction was to think that the recent history of third-round picks isn't good at all, but that's much more coincidence than a process-related issue. If they can get good players in the second and in the fourth rounds, the more third-rounders they have, the bigger the chance of success.
Secondary question marks
Jaire Alexander is still the primary cornerback for the Packers. But behind him and without Rasul Douglas, it's a group full of uncertainties.
Eric Stokes is on the injured reserve because of a hamstring injury. He's slated to miss at least three more games. When he's back and fully healthy, he is going to be the starter opposite Jaire. Keisean Nixon is in the slot.
While Stokes is out, the other cornerbacks on the 53-man roster are rookie seventh-rounder Carrington Valentine, Corey Ballentine, and recently-signed Robert Rochell. The team still has Innis Gaines, Zyon Gilbert, and Anthony Johnson on the practice squad.
Cap ramifications
The Packers will have $3.6 million in dead money this year and $5.1 million next year. But the cap savings aren't insignificant. The Packers save $840k in 2023, $6.5 million in 2024, and $2.5 million in 2025 (a void year).
The Bills absorb $840k in 2023 and $9 million in 2024.
5 players that the Packers could trade before the deadline
NFL trade deadline is on October 31st
