Will Corey Davis end up with Packers as part of Aaron Rodgers’ trade?

Will New York Jets wide receiver Corey Davis be a part of the trade package that the Green Bay Packers receive for Aaron Rodgers? Perhaps a few signs are pointing to that being the case.

The biggest potential indicator is that Davis is still on the Jets roster. With a cap hit of $11.16 million in 2023, coming into the offseason, many thought that Davis was a cut candidate for the Jets as a measure to help free up $10.5 million cap space.

Also, keep in mind that this is cap space that the Jets very much need. At the moment, Over the Cap has them with $10.38 million in available cap space. Acquiring Aaron Rodgers will eat up $15.79 million in cap space this season, not to mention needing space for any other free agent additions and other upcoming expenses.

Wide receiver is also a position of depth for the Jets. Even after trading Elijah Moore to the Cleveland Browns, New York still has Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, Garrett Wilson, and Denzel Mims. Reportedly, Rodgers has also asked them to look into free agents Randall Cobb and Odell Beckham Jr. as well.

From a football perspective, Davis would be a great fit in Green Bay. For starters, he would provide some needed veteran experience for Jordan Love to lean on with his 476 targets over six NFL seasons. As of now, Romeo Doubs is the most experienced player at receiver for the Packers, with 529 career snaps.

On top of that, Davis has experience in the Matt LaFleur offense, having played for him in 2018 while in Tennessee, along with Mike LaFleur being his offensive coordinator in New York. Davis would also be a steady middle-of-the-field target for Love, and he’s a willing run-blocker as well.

However, the issue for the Packers – as is often the case – is the salary cap, as they would inherit $10.5 million of Davis’ 2023 cap hit. Although having $23.49 million in cap space isn’t a bad place to be, that figure isn’t what the Packers have available to spend on players.

Trading Rodgers will come with an added dead cap hit of roughly $9 million, reducing Green Bay’s available cap space to around $14.5 million. If, as part of the trade, the Packers take on any of Rodgers’ $59.5 guaranteed salary, the dead cap will grow, and their cap space will shrink.

Then, just like with the Jets and every other NFL team, there are incoming expenses that will reduce the salary cap, which includes any other free agent signings, the final two players on the 53-man roster, the draft class, practice squad, and cap space for in-season additions.

Now, there are ways to make this trade still work. Green Bay could look to extend Davis, which would help lower his 2023 cap hit by adding more years on to the contract. Or, as they’ve often done, the Packers could add void years, pushing a portion of those cap charges into future years.

Although I do believe there is a lot of value in adding a veteran and that Davis would be a great fit, I just can’t get on board with acquiring him at that cap hit, given the Packers’ current salary cap situation. At 28 years old and having played just 22 games over the last two seasons, he’s also not someone I would be looking to extend either.

As I wrote about earlier in the offseason, Green Bay should be trying to put the best team that they can around Love to truly evaluate where he’s at and if he can be the starting quarterback beyond 2023. However, there is still a balance that has to be struck between trying to put talent around Love in 2023 and having the resources to hopefully open a championship window in future years.

If Davis does not end up as part of the Aaron Rodgers’ trade package, I do still expect New York to cut him for the reasons mentioned. If – or when – that happens, the Packers should then absolutely try to sign him as a free agent to a more cap-friendly deal. But if that doesn’t work out, and Davis signs elsewhere, then Green Bay should move on, looking for another veteran option while also prioritizing receiver in the draft.