Packers trade CB Rasul Douglas to Bills: What to Know
By Paul Bretl
The Green Bay Packers are reportedly trading cornerback Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills, according to Ian Rapoport. Here is what you need to know.
In return, the Packers will be receiving a third round pick and will also have to part with a fifth-round pick, in addition to sending Douglas to Buffalo.
On a team that has struggled mightily this season, Douglas was one of the few frequent bright spots for the Packers. Douglas was allowing just 11.9 yards per catch this season and had recorded one interception and five pass breakups. During his time with the Packers, Douglas had been excellent at making plays on the ball, coming away with nine interceptions and 14 pass breakups between 2021 and 2022, several of which came in key moments late in games.
Along with his play on the field, Douglas during his time in Green Bay has emerged as one of the leaders on a young team—a go-to resource for many in the locker room who leads by example.
In the midst of a four game losing streak with no end in sight, the Green Bay defense has been hanging on by a thread to keep the Packers in games as the offense struggles to move the ball and put up points.
Following Sunday’s loss to Minnesota, Douglas spoke with a number of his teammates at his locker and met with reporters as well, sharing his frustrations.
"“I’m both. I’m both,” said Douglas at his locker following Sunday’s loss. “We’re saying [sh**] but until we actually do the [sh**], it don’t really matter. I’m thinking about it like, bro, I’ve never been a loser in my life. These last two years have been [f***ing] loser. That [sh**] ain’t me. I don’t think that [sh**’s] us. We’ve got to do something, you know what I mean?”"
Trading away Douglas creates $864,706 in cap space for the 2023 season, according to Ken Ingalls. Douglas was still under contract in 2024 and came with an $11.6 million cap hit. On next year’s cap sheet, Douglas will still be on the books for $5.1 million in dead cap but the Packers will net $6.5 million in savings.
At the start of the season, cornerback was viewed as one of the strengths of this Packers team. However, it is now a position group very much in question. Eric Stokes is back on IR for at least three more games. Jaire Alexander continues to battle a back injury and the Packers are now going to have to rely heavily on seventh-round rookie Carrington Valentine, who took some lumps and was picked on during his last performance against Denver. Keisean Nixon will remain in the slot.
Losing Douglas will likely magnify the defensive issues that the Packers are experiencing, which will then have a negative trickle-down effect to the offensive side of the ball.
"“I just think that OCs against us can stay in rhythm,” Douglas said. “You don’t have to do nothing extraordinary against us because, ‘Well, they won’t score.’ So, it’s like, ‘We can stick with what we do and, even if it’s not working out, eventually it might work because our offense isn’t scoring.’ We’ve got to find ways for them to score on offense.”"
Douglas, soon to be 29 and with only one year remaining on his contract, wasn’t a part of the Packers future plans, or at least not a part of when their next contention window will be. As the team continues to try to get back on track, Green Bay now has five picks on 2024 within the first three rounds.