Green Bay Packers: 3 Wide Receivers to Target at Trade Deadline

Jamison Crowder – New York Jets

Jamison Crowder has been one of the very few, and I mean very few bright spots on the New York Jets this season. However, at 0-7 and not anywhere close to competing, trading Crowder for a draft pick or two would be the prudent move, even if he has been their top wide receiver.

The 2019 season was Crowder’s first in New York, where he was a high-volume target with 122 passes thrown his way. Crowder would haul in nearly 64 percent of those throws for 833 yards and six touchdowns. This season has been much of the same as he has 46 targets in only four games, a completion rate of 63 percent, 383 yards, and two touchdowns.

This is a Green Bay Packers’ offense under Matt LaFleur that doesn’t need a prototypical slot receiver to be successful, as we’ve seen Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Aaron Jones, and others all take snaps from there. But the addition of Crowder, who has been dominant from the slot, would be a nice change of pace.

Of Crowder’s 228 offensive snaps in 2020, 179 of them have come from the slot. His 321 slot yards are the fourth-most in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus ($), while his 2.49 yards per route run from the slot are the sixth-most. And keep in mind, he’s only played in four games. As I said, this type of player isn’t a requirement for LaFleur, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be a nice addition.

In terms of cost, Crowder has two years left on his deal and has a base salary of $8.5 million this season that would be pro-rated and affordable for Green Bay. In 2021, he has a $10 million base salary but a dead cap hit of only $1 million if the Packers did want to move on from him at that point. So out of the three contracts we’ve discussed, Crowder’s provides the most flexibility.

Now with all of that said, it should be noted that Crowder did miss Week 7 with a groin injury, and he has been ruled out for Week 8 as well, even though he did practice, giving hope to many that he might play. While this is noteworthy, it doesn’t appear to be a prolonged injury either, making this a move that Gutey should strongly consider.

Bonus: Michael Gallup – Dallas Cowboys

Michael Gallup is another player, like Will Fuller, who many have said the Packers should target. Although of this group of four receivers Gallup would be my top choice, earlier this week, the Dallas Cowboys made it very clear that he is not available.