The Green Bay Packers went all-in last season when they traded for Micah Parsons. It didn’t quite work out the way they hoped, but the front office showed they’re not afraid to make big moves. With the 2026 season shaping up as a make-or-break year for this regime, the pressure is on to win the NFC North or at least make noise in the playoffs. If they fall short again, major changes are coming next offseason.
But here’s the thing. The trade deadline isn’t just about acquiring players. Sometimes you have to give up pieces that don’t quite fit anymore. And the Packers have a few guys who could be on the move this fall.
Let’s start with the tight end situation, because it’s genuinely weird.
Luke Musgrave’s Role Depends on Tucker Kraft’s Knee
The Packers drafted Luke Musgrave in the second round back in 2023. They clearly had big plans for him. But then Tucker Kraft — drafted a round later — basically stole the job. Kraft put up 50 catches for over 700 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024. He looked like the future at the position.
Then Kraft tore his ACL in Week 9 against the Panthers. That should have been Musgrave’s chance to break out. Instead he managed just 24 catches for 252 yards all season. After Kraft went down, Musgrave had 15 catches for 164 yards. That’s not what you want from a former second-round pick who just got handed the starting job.
So here’s the problem. On paper, the Packers don’t really need Musgrave. Kraft is the guy when he’s healthy. But Kraft is coming off ACL surgery and might not be fully ready for Week 1. That means Green Bay probably has to keep Musgrave around for the first month or two as insurance. After that? He’s expendable. A trade around the deadline makes sense if Kraft is back to full speed.
Ty’Ron Hopper Is Lost in the Linebacker Shuffle
The Packers switched defensive coordinators again. Jeff Hafley is out, Jonathan Gannon is in, and that means a move to a 3-4 front. In Gannon’s scheme, you only need two off-ball linebackers in the base defense. Edgerrin Cooper and newly acquired Zaire Franklin are locked in as the starters.
Isaiah McDuffie looked like the odd man out after a 92-tackle season in 2025. But the Packers extended him on Sunday. That pretty much tells you he’s part of the plan.
That leaves Ty’Ron Hopper as the fourth option. He was drafted for Joe Barry’s defense, then thrived in Hafley’s system. Now he’s in a totally different scheme and buried on the depth chart. The Packers might keep him as depth, but if someone offers a Day 3 pick, they should take it and move on.
Carrington Valentine’s Contract Clock Is Ticking
This one might surprise people. Carrington Valentine has been a solid starter since the Packers grabbed him in the seventh round. He played his way up to a $3.67 million salary through the proven-performance escalator. That’s cheap for a starting cornerback.
But Valentine is in the final year of his rookie deal. Green Bay has to decide whether to extend him or let him walk in free agency. And there are reasons to think he won’t be a priority.
The cornerback room is getting crowded. Benjamin St-Juste, rookie Brandon Cisse, Domani Jackson, and Javon Bullard (who plays nickel) are all under contract beyond this year. The Packers might add more through the 2027 draft.
Money is also tight. Green Bay projects to have only about $14 million in cap space for 2027. That doesn’t leave much room for extensions, especially for a good-but-not-great cornerback.
If the Packers end up selling at the deadline, Valentine’s name will come up in conversations. He’s playing for his next contract somewhere, and Green Bay might decide to get something for him now rather than lose him for a compensatory pick later.
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