3 Moves the Green Bay Packers Need to Make After the NFL Draft
By Paul Bretl
Find a Trade Partner for Lane Taylor
This is a move that many – including myself – thought would have happened by now. Taylor is in the final year of his contract and comes with a cap hit of $5.49 million, which is a fairly steep amount for a backup guard.
However, if the Packers were to cut or trade Taylor, they would create an additional $4.1 million in cap space that could go towards a free agent signing or at least be used in the future.
While Green Bay could just flat-out cut Taylor, that should be an absolute last resort and if it were to come to that, then they might as well keep him for insurance. Despite having a down 2018 season and missing most of 2019 with an injury, Taylor has shown that he can be a starting guard in this league and there are a lot of teams that need offensive line help. Which is why trading him is the best option.
In return, the Green Bay Packers could choose to stockpile a draft pick for next offseason or perhaps they may be able to get a worthwhile player in return. Two names that come to mind are David Njoku of Cleveland and O.J. Howard in Tampa Bay. After some offseason moves, both tight ends are now the third tight end options on their respective teams and a fresh start could do each of them wonders.
Next. Packers Draft: Gut Reactions. dark
Whether or not these are deals that would get done remains to be seen, but I think you get my point. With Elgton Jenkins, Billy Turner, Lucas Patrick, and a few new draft picks to occupy the guard positions, coupled with Taylor’s cost, the Packers should be shopping him around to see what they may get back for him.