The NFL is quickly approaching the November 1 trade deadline window. For the Green Bay Packers, this year’s trade deadline will be an important date to watch. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers believes his team will “be in the mix” while opposing general managers are “certain” the Packers will make a move at the wide receiver position. With that in mind, here are some potential Packers trade deadline targets.
Chase Claypool
The first big name the Packers have been linked to this year is Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Chase Claypool. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Claypool is a player multiple teams have been keeping tabs on this season. Claypool was believed to be available for trade during the preseason but at a high asking price, however. Now, teams are starting to show interest.
Claypool is coming off his best outing of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he caught seven passes for 96 yards and a touchdown despite the slow start to his season. In six games, he has recorded just 23 receptions for 225 yards under offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s system. The 6’4 wide receiver is still ripe with talent and athleticism at 24 years old.
DJ Moore
The next name the Packers should have on the radar is D.J. Moore. With the Panthers currently in flux and potentially in the middle of a roster fire sale, there’s no better time to pursue a big-name wide receiver. The splash will also give the Packers a new, and needed, bona fide playmaker at the position.
Moore just capped off his third straight 1,000-yard season but will come with a hefty price tag after signing a three-year extension back in March. He currently has recorded 20 receptions for 204 yards and one touchdown. He was also on pace to have a career low in receiving yards going into last weekend’s game.
Moore has struggled at times in Carolina operating with continuous subpar quarterback play but has still shown signs of being a Top-15 wide receiver. Joining forces with Rodgers and the Packers can establish a speedy and reliable target in the passing game while offering the most upside out of anyone Green Bay could look into.
Nelson Agholor
The biggest piece missing from the Packers’ offense this season has been a downfield threat in the passing game. Injuries to current wide receivers such as Sammy Watkins and Christian Watson have been key losses for the Packers in that regard. Another trade target worth pursuing could be Patriots’ wideout Nelson Agholor.
The former first-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft has been known for his speed and downfield play-making and even ran a 4.34 forty-yard dash during the 2015 NFL Combine. The 29-year-old still has some speed left in the tank to pair with Rodgers in order to give the Packers’ offense the deep threat needed this season.
Fellow Patriot wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has been another player whose name has been floated out for a potential trade. However, unlike Agholor, Bourne is still under contract in New England beyond this season and the Patriots appear inclined to keep him on the roster. As a younger and cheaper option, Bourne looks appealing, but Agholor seems to be the one more likely to become available.
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Kole Noble is a lifelong Packers fan currently living in North Carolina and is a huge NFL Draft nut. You can follow him on twitter at @SlawSportsShow.
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