I know Green Bay Packers fans are desperately searching for a potential trade candidate at either defensive tackle or cornerback to give this team a shot in the arm in the second half of the 2025 regular
season. Thankfully, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen talked about the trade deadline this week and named their top 25 trade candidates as it stands today.
They also think there’s a possibility of one outgoing trade. Let’s knock through those candidates, specifically, and talk through their quotes about the players.
Defensive Tackles
NONE. That’s right. NONE.
Almost no one is willing to part ways with quality defensive tackles in today’s NFL. College football seems to be pushing these big bodies on the offensive line more than the defensive line. There just isn’t the talent at the position that there was in the early-to-mid 2010s.
Last year’s free agency class was barren, unless you were in the market for paying one-year starters around $15 million a year. On draft day, defensive tackles went way higher than most expected. It’s a seller’s market, due to the desperation at the position, but no one wants to send off a defensive tackle. There’s no promise that you’ll be able to backfill at the position next offseason, unless you spend a very high draft pick.
Cornerbacks
Riq Woolen, Seattle Seahawks
Multiple league execs have Woolen earmarked as a strong trade candidate leading into the deadline. “They’ve been wanting to move him for a while,” one executive said. “He doesn’t fit what [Mike Macdonald] wants to do.” Woolen would be best served going to a team that can use his man-coverage traits. One potential hurdle to a deal: Seattle’s other starting corner, Devon Witherspoon, has had a difficult time staying healthy this season.
If there’s one knock here, it’s that the Packers don’t really play a lot of man coverage, unless opposing offenses lock into quick game. With that being said, Green Bay has been playing more man coverage as of late because teams are trying to get the ball out of their hands so quickly against this pass rush. This was particularly evident against the Cincinnati Bengals and quarterback Joe Flacco.
Alontae Taylor, New Orleans Saints
This would be a surprise but is still one to watch. The Saints don’t want to trade Taylor but would consider it if they receive a strong offer. He is on the radar of a few teams. Taylor is a 2026 free agent who figures to earn a big payday, and it’s worth noting that the Saints have a young core of defensive backs they like in Kool-Aid McKinstry, Quincy Riley and Jonas Sanker.
I’m not sure what qualifies as a strong offer here, but the Packers are willing to take on comp picks for expiring contracts next free agency cycle. Clearly, the Saints haven’t been able to reach a deal with Taylor on an extension. New Orleans probably isn’t in a position where they’ll want to bow out of the upcoming free agency class, which is going to be the case for Green Bay just due to their cap situation.
Cornerbacks like Carlton Davis, Paulson Adebo and Charvarius Ward all earned their prior teams fourth-round compensatory picks. If the Packers only have to give up that much, it would essentially be a free rental for Taylor for a half-season.
Michael Carter II, New York Jets
Among all of the Jets players implicated in trade rumors, Carter might have the best chance of actually getting dealt. My understanding is there is interest in the slot corner. The Jets just picked up a corner in Jarvis Brownlee Jr., who has acquitted himself well while Carter has missed time in concussion protocol. Carter is 26 years old and could give a new team steady nickel presence. One obstacle to a trade is his $4 million injury guarantee that locks in on the fifth day of the 2026 league year. The new team must consider that.
I doubt the Packers would be in on Carter. First of all, they are already dealing with converting Nate Hobbs from slot cornerback to outside cornerback. Secondly, Carter is under 5’10” and Green Bay has been allergic to undersized cornerbacks since drafting Ahmad Carroll in 2004. It’s just fundamentally something the team doesn’t do.
Roger McCreary, Tennessee Titans
Similar to Key, McCreary is a defensive starter who doesn’t fit the long-term plans of a team in transition. His name circulated in trade buzz at roster cutdowns too. He’s a reliable corner who can play inside or outside — traits that typically elicit some type of trade interest, even if just for Day 3 pick swaps.
This is another situation like Alontae Taylor. The Titans will probably spend in the next free agency period, so they won’t get a comp pick for McCreary. If they want any compensation for letting him walk, it probably has to come via a trade. I don’t hate this idea. The Packers, specifically, were listed as one of three teams that could make sense for this trade by Bowen.
Cam Taylor-Britt, Cincinnati Bengals
Taylor-Britt was a healthy scratch Thursday night against Pittsburgh, forcing him to contemplate his immediate future. DJ Turner and Dax Hill have emerged as the Bengals’ primary corners. Taylor-Britt has shown flashes, but he needs to up his 2026 free agency value. And he could use a fresh start. Perhaps the Bengals will give one to him. His former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is now coordinating the Colts’ defense, which is depleted at corner.
I guess if the Packers really needed to push Bo Melton or Kamal Hadden, this is one way to do it. With that being said, I don’t think Taylor-Britt is going from a healthy scratch on the Bengals to a starter for the Packers.
Potential Outgoing Trades
DE Kingsley Enagbare
Enagbare started in 2024 but felt the squeeze of the Micah Parsons trade, getting relegated to a reserve role. While Green Bay typically likes to keep its draft-and-develop talent, Enagbare probably would welcome the chance to play more elsewhere in a contract year.
I really don’t think that the Packers can move off Enagbare, at least until Lukas Van Ness returns from injury. With that being said, when Van Ness does come back, the team has some options, as rookie Barryn Sorrell is taking on more snaps. Beyond Sorrell, the team has Brenton Cox Jr. and rookie draft pick Collin Oliver on its injury lists. They have the numbers, when Van Ness returns, to get off Enagbare’s expiring contract if the deal makes sense to them.
