DEAL DONE: Packers on a huge Trade Projected for $136 Million Superstar
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur might feel sick at the mention of needing a No. 1 wide receiver, but oddsmakers are still optimistic about the team’s chances of making a blockbuster trade for one of the NFL’s top talents.
According to the latest odds from sportsbetting.ag, the Packers are among the frontrunners to acquire Cowboys superstar CeeDee Lamb for the 2024 season if Dallas decides to trade him rather than extend his contract. As of August 13, the Kansas City Chiefs (+500) lead the odds, followed by the Detroit Lions (+600) and Pittsburgh Steelers (+600). The Packers (+700) are also in the mix, tied with the New England Patriots (+700), who recently attempted to trade for San Francisco receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Adding Lamb to the Packers’ roster would settle any debate about the team’s need for a true No. 1 receiver. The 25-year-old had an NFL-best 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Cowboys in 2023, earning first-team All-Pro honors and making his third consecutive Pro Bowl in just four seasons.
However, there are significant challenges to this trade scenario. Lamb has not formally requested a trade from the Cowboys, despite his ongoing holdout from camp. While the situation could shift if negotiations stall, a Lamb trade does not seem imminent. Additionally, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst’s cautious roster-building approach casts doubt on whether the team would be willing to pay the steep price for Lamb, though he has occasionally deviated from tradition in the past.
CeeDee Lamb’s Trade Availability May Tempt Packers
Among Packers fans, it’s a running joke that the team is always rumored to be in the mix for high-profile wide receivers but rarely ends up acquiring them. General manager Brian Gutekunst is known more for trading away veteran players than for bringing them in. Since March 2022, he has traded away key players like Davante Adams, Aaron Rodgers, and Rasul Douglas, while making no significant trades to acquire veterans.
This doesn’t mean Gutekunst is hesitant to trade for players he wants; rather, he tends to prioritize building through the NFL draft over trading for established veterans. However, he has made substantial offers for veteran players in the past. According to FOX Sports insider Jay Glazer, the Packers offered a first-round pick to the Carolina Panthers for star wide receiver DJ Moore at the 2022 trade deadline, but the offer was declined.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter also reported that the Packers made trade offers for tight end Darren Waller and wide receiver Chase Claypool around the same time, offering a second-round pick and a late-round pick for the latter before losing out to the Chicago Bears.
The Jonathan Taylor saga during the 2023 training camp is another example. ESPN’s Stephen Holder confirmed that the Packers had trade discussions with the Indianapolis Colts about acquiring the All-Pro running back and had “legitimate interest” in finalizing a deal. While some doubted the Packers’ willingness to pay Taylor a large contract, they later signed Josh Jacobs to a $48 million deal less than seven months later.
While Gutekunst’s interest in CeeDee Lamb might not be as strong as in some of these previous targets, it’s clear that he is willing to make a substantial offer when he feels motivated.
Major Play at WR Might Not Be Necessary for Packers
Even if some believe that Brian Gutekunst has the nerve to pull off a blockbuster trade, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will happen with CeeDee Lamb. There are still significant obstacles that could prevent the Packers from pursuing him if the Cowboys were to make him available.
The draft capital alone could be a major stumbling block. While the exact compensation the Cowboys would demand for Lamb is uncertain, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay suggests that a potential deal might require the Packers to part with both their first- and second-round picks in 2025, along with third-year receiver Christian Watson.
Another issue is the projected cost of Lamb’s new contract. Although the Packers have around $22.4 million in effective cap space for the 2024 season, which could accommodate a lucrative extension for Lamb with the right structuring, the financial commitment is substantial. Spotrac estimates that Lamb’s next deal could be worth approximately $136 million over four seasons, which would take up a significant portion of the Packers’ cap space for years to come.
Fortunately for the Packers, they might not need to make a high-profile trade for a receiver. LaFleur’s frustration with questions about a No. 1 receiver stems from his confidence in the talent already on the roster. He believes that Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks all have the potential to perform like No. 1 receivers. Each has made impressive plays throughout camp and is expected to contribute significantly to the 2024 offense.
Moreover, all four receivers are on rookie contracts for at least two more seasons, giving the Packers plenty of flexibility to allocate resources to other areas of the roster.
Given the potential of their current receiving corps, the Packers might not need to pursue Lamb at all. If their young receivers continue to develop, Lamb could end up being an unnecessary luxury.