Green Bay Packers: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix trade leaves hole at safety
By Joe Kipp
The Green Bay Packers traded Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to the Washington Redskins just moments before the 2018 NFL trade deadline, leaving a giant hole at safety.
It’s been a crazy 2018 NFL trade deadline for the Green Bay Packers. In addition to trading away Ty Montgomery to the Baltimore Ravens, the Packers traded Pro Bowl safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to the Washington Redskins just moments before the trade deadline ended.
According to multiple reports (first by ESPN’s Adam Schefter), the Packers received a 2019 fourth-round pick from the Redskins in exchange for Clinton-Dix. The move comes just days after there were several rumors swirling around that Clinton-Dix was available right before the 2018 trade deadline.
Clinton-Dix had recorded three interceptions, three passes defensed, one forced fumble and 27 tackles for the Packers this season. He’s also Pro Football Focus’ (subscription required) third-ranked safety on the season with a grade of 87.7.
Clinton-Dix’s departure leaves a huge hole at the safety position, further additions notwithstanding. Currently, the Packers have safeties Kentrell Brice, Josh Jones, Jermaine Whitehead and Raven Greene on the roster.
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Brice and Whitehead have traded reps for much of the season at strong safety, while Clinton-Dix had occupied the free safety spot. It remains likely that Brice will slide over to free safety, with Whitehead taking on a larger role at strong safety.
Raven Greene, a rookie undrafted free agent out of East Carolina, has played almost exclusively on special teams and simply can’t be counted on to play in any meaningful snaps at this point. That leaves Brice and Whitehead as the primary contributors.
Then there’s former second-rounder Josh Jones, a player whose been frustrated with his playing time so far this season. The Clinton-Dix trade presents a huge opportunity for Jones, whose logged just four defensive snaps all season, having playing a major role on special teams instead. Jones is likely to see an uptick in snaps.
A player worth looking at in free agency might be JJ Wilcox, a former third-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2013. Wilcox has since bounced around the league, but is a solid starter who could help fill in depth at the position. In fact, the Redskins worked out Wilcox just a day before trading for Clinton-Dix.
If worse comes to worst, the Packers might look at moving Tramon Williams permanently to safety. Williams played some snaps at safety last week against the Rams and during his time with Mike Pettine when both were with the Cleveland Browns.
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For just a fourth-round pick, it remains somewhat unclear the motive behind dealing away Clinton-Dix. It seems likely Green Bay didn’t want to pay him after this season, as he remains in a contract year. Although Clinton-Dix wasn’t a superstar for the Packers defense, his presence will surely be missed as a playmaker and reliable stalwart.
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