While it’s understandable to feel frustrated at the Green Bay Packers’ lack of movement at the NFL trade deadline, general manager Brian Gutekunst deserves credit for some of the moves he doesn’t make.
Should they have made a stronger push to land a pass-rusher like Azeez Ojulari? Absolutely. Would the Packers have benefitted from adding a cornerback? Of course, even if Gutekunst doesn’t agree.
That said, Gutekunst’s unwillingness to panic and overpay should be applauded. He is willing to walk away from potential deals and not waste draft picks and eat a big contract for a move that may not even pay off. Several trade deadline deals don’t go to plan.
It seemed like a missed opportunity when the Chicago Bears traded for Chase Claypool ahead of the Packers, but it prevented Gutekunst from losing a second-round pick he would eventually turn into Jayden Reed. Claypool played 10 games for the Bears before they traded him for a sixth-round pick.
This season, arguably the biggest deadline-day deal saw Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore swap New Orleans for Washington. Packers fans can thank Gutekunst for not making this move.
The Commanders rolled the dice by sending picks in the third, fourth, and sixth rounds to the Saints, receiving Lattimore and a fifth-rounder in return. It’s a bold, win-now move, and with a talented quarterback on a rookie deal, there’s some logic behind it.
However, going all-in on a 28-year-old cornerback with an extensive injury history comes with a degree of risk, and it’s already coming back to haunt the Commanders.
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The four-time Pro Bowler has already missed two games due to a hamstring injury this season, and he won’t make his Commanders debut on Sunday. Lattimore didn’t practice all week. With another game coming up on Thursday Night Football in Week 11, there’s a chance the veteran corner will miss even more time.
“The injury just happened, so, you know, I don’t really know what’s going on as far as like timetable, getting back on the field, so it’s up to them,” said Lattimore.
This is the risk the Commanders took. Lattimore has missed time with hamstring issues throughout his career, as well as several other injuries. He has only completed a full season once in the NFL—all the way back in 2018. Over the past three seasons, Lattimore has played in just 24 of a possible 43 games.
The Packers needed cornerback help but didn’t show much interest in the trade market. When healthy, Lattimore would’ve been an excellent starting partner for Jaire Alexander. The trade may yet pay off for the Commanders.
But Lattimore has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons, and his hamstring issue will cost him the chance to make his Commanders debut this week.
Green Bay may have made the right decision not to get involved in the trade, especially as Washington gave up multiple picks to make it happen.
