The Green Bay Packers made it very evident that their 2024 season was the focal point of their trade strategy when the NFL trade deadline for 2023 arrived and went.

The Packers’ lone deal was a third-round draft pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for cornerback Rasul Douglas and a fifth-round selection. The Packers were not shopping Douglas, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and they would only grant the Bills’ request if a third-round pick was at stake.

When the NFL trade deadline for 2023 came and went, the Green Bay Packers made it very clear that their 2024 season was the centrepiece of their trade strategy.

In return for cornerback Rasul Douglas and a fifth-round selection, the Packers made only one trade, sending a third-round draft pick to the Buffalo Bills. According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers were not shopping Douglas, and they would only agree to the Bills’ proposal if a third-round pick was included.

The Green Bay Packers made it quite evident that their 2024 season was the focal point of their trade strategy when the NFL trade deadline for 2023 passed.

There was only one deal made by the Packers, sending a third-round draft pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for cornerback Rasul Douglas and a fifth-round selection. The Packers were not shopping Douglas, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and they would only accept the Bills’ offer if it contained a third-round pick.

In addition to leading the defence, Douglas’s move made him their best defensive back this season and provided much-needed experience in the locker room. Most people were surprised when Douglas was dealt, even though Alexander is recovering from a back ailment and not performing to his usual superstar level, and Eric Stokes is returning to injured reserve following four special teams plays on his comeback from injured reserve.

Moving off of Preston Smith to give young players Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, or Brenton Cox more opportunities would have been more expected if the Packers’ intention was to see what they have in terms of more youthful potential.

A competing team hoping to acquire linebacker De’Vondre Campbell may have also made sense.