Pete Dougherty mailbag: Reader questions about trades and next year’s NFL draft

Posted by Admin November 1, 2024 NFL

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GREEN BAY − Green Bay Press-Gazette and PackersNews columnist Pete Dougherty responds to reader questions as the Green Bay Packers prepare for their Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions.

Here are some excerpts on the trade deadline and next year’s NFL draft. For the full story, click here.

Robert Welch: Should the Packers make a trade, and if so, at what position?

Dougherty: I’m thinking I’d be pretty cautious if I were GM Brian Gutekunst. I’d be open to trading for a pass rusher and might give up a significant pick for the right guy, but let’s face it, good rushers rarely are available. It’s usually older guys who were good but are in decline and so very much a short-term addition for a long-term asset (draft pick). But if a bad team is looking to accrue picks, it’s worth exploring. Probably can’t rule out cornerback either. Jaire Alexander’s current (knee) injury and injury history have to be a concern, and a decent backup might come at palatable price. Eric Stokes hasn’t done much to inspire a lot of confidence, though I still think Carrington Valentine has plenty of potential, he just needs to stay healthy. But adding to the depth there wouldn’t be the worst idea. Still, all in all, I wouldn’t be hell-bent on doing a deal if I were Gutekunst. He has great depth at a couple of positions (wide receiver, linebacker), but I’m always reluctant to trade that depth because there’s a decent chance you’re going to need it in a long NFL season. And as we’ve seen from Gutekunst’s last two drafts, picks even in the middle rounds can yield good players, so I wouldn’t be overly eager to part with them either.

Guy from Japan: Hi Pete, Thanks for the chats every week! If you were a GM in GB, will you get Maxx Crosby for a D1 pick? Do we need to pay more picks or a D1 + players like Rashan Gary? Thanks!

Dougherty: I find it really hard to believe the Raiders would trade Crosby for only a first-round pick and a player. He turned 27 in August, so he probably has two high-level years left after this one, based on how the top rushers appear to age out. Might even have more than two more. He had 14½ sacks last season and has 6½ this year in seven games, and he led the league in tackles for loss the last two seasons. He’s missed only one game in his six-year career, and that was earlier this season because of a sprained ankle, so he’s durable, and that bodes well for his longevity as well. So the Raiders are going to want a lot for him. They’ve lost four straight games and are going nowhere at quarterback, so maybe they’re open to trading him, but the price would be high. In their circumstances, a player in return wouldn’t be of much value, they’d want draft picks as capital to move up for a quarterback. I’d think at minimum it would take a D1 and D2, and maybe (more likely?) two D1s. Have to think Gutekunst would draw a hard line on what he’s willing to give up. I’m guessing either of those would be more than he’s willing to pay, though you never know. Crosby is a real difference maker, but that’s a lot of draft capital.

Jim from Nashville: Thanks for the chats, Pete. We are almost at the halfway mark. Do you think by this time Gutekunst is already putting together a 2025 mock draft board based on what he sees in the current roster’s strengths, weaknesses, and which older players/end of rookie contract players he will let go in exchange for more cap-space-friendly rookies? Based on your assessment, where do you think the focus might be for his round 1-4 picks? Edge? Corner? Center/OL? DL? DB? Other?

Dougherty: Gutekunst surely has position priorities already mapped out, though it’s always subject to change based on what happens the rest of the season. Ten games is an eon in the NFL, and what he thinks his greatest needs are today could change by the time the season ends. I don’t know if they stack a draft board at this point, it might be something they dabble with, but it’s obviously subject to major revisions. The real stacking happens before and after the scouting combine, and then in the three or four weeks leading up to the draft. The Packers’ greatest needs at this point are, IMHO, pass rusher and corner. Offensive line/tackle is up there too, depending on whether they think Jordan Morgan is a left tackle in the future. A lot also depends on how Rasheed Walker plays the second half of the season. They like him but I don’t think he’s wrapped up the spot as their long-term left tackle. My gut feeling on center is it might not be a high priority because of Jacob Monk, but I could be wrong there. He hasn’t played in a game, so we don’t know a lot about him, but from what I saw in camp he struck me as one of those guys who just knows how to play football even though he’s not a physical specimen, a high pick, and is the kind of guy who succeeds at that position. Like I said, I could be wrong and maybe they’ll draft one in the second or third round, say, assuming they let Josh Myers walk in free agency. But they see Monk every day in practice, and my gut based on what he did in camp, they might feel good about him being their guy next year that they won’t feel a dire need if they decide not to re-sign Myers.