2 options the Packers have for making trade deadline mistakes

The Green Bay Packers missed out on Chase Claypool at the NFL trade deadline, but they could redeem themselves by targeting these two options.

The Green Bay Packers offense needed a boost for the second half of the 2022 season. Specifically, they needed to bring in some wide receiver help, as they have struggled with the absence of Davante Adams and injuries across the depth chart. The NFL trade deadline on Nov. 1 stood as the best time to do so.

Green Bay reportedly offered a second-round NFL Draft pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for wide receiver Chase Claypool, but they lost out to the rival Chicago Bears, who offered similar draft compensation. So, you can’t say that the Packers didn’t try.

Even though the Packers came up empty-handed at the trade deadline, they still have the chance to improve their wide receiver talent. There are two specific options, one being a long shot.

Those two options are free agent Odell Beckham Jr. and Houston Texans wideout Brandin Cooks

Packers have 2 options to improve wide receiver corps

The easiest option for the Packers is to try and sign Beckham. In the second half of last season, Beckham was a difference maker for the Los Angeles Rams, and played a role in the team winning Super Bowl 56. In that game, however, he tore his ACL. Hence why he’s still a free agent.

While it’s easy to say that the Packers should go sign him. What makes this task a challenge is the fact that there are expected to be plenty of interested teams making a run at Beckham to help put them over the edge in their Super Bowl aspirations.

As for Cooks, that is a real challenge and quite possibly the least feasible option for the Packers. He was expected to be dealt at the trade deadline, but his contract and the team’s reported asking price of a second and fourth-round picks (per ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter) proved to be detriments in progress of a deal. Cooks then posted a cryptic tweet after he wasn’t traded, and ultimately didn’t play in the team’s Thursday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

On Friday, Nov. 4, Cooks reported to the team facility.

The only way Cooks could be an option for the Packers is if he and the Texans were able to come to terms on a release. The thing is, he is guaranteed $18 million for the 2023 season on his current deal. That alone is evidence enough that Cooks could remain with Houston for the remainder of this season.

Signing Beckham is realistically the only choice for the Packers to bring in wide receiver help.