2. Trade for EDGE Chandler Jones
While he’s not a player on the offense, edge rusher Chandler Jones is a player who can give the ball to the offense with an unnatural ability to cause destruction in the backfield. What was once a fabled rumor of bringing the Cardinals’ vet to Titletown could become an unbelievable reality
The Packers struck gold after bringing in Za’Darius Smith to the team as he’s become one of the NFL’s most fearsome edge rushers with a knack for getting to the quarterback. Where the Cheeseheads lack, however, is on the inside of the tackles.
Now, with the news of a trade request out of Arizona being reported by ESPN, Green Bay could harvest the most fearsome defense in the entire league, one that could easily give the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or San Fransisco 49ers a run for their money.
What frustrates Aaron Rodgers the most is that, even after an unstoppable march down the field for a touchdown, the Packers defense lets up a touchdown just two minutes later, forcing No. 12 to score another touchdown of his own. There is only so much one man can do and, without a defense that can prevent the opposing team from scoring and even with the boundless talent of A-Rod, the chances of winning are slim.
To win it all, a team needs to keep their defense off the field. The longer playing time they get, the worse the result. The Packers built their defense to stop a team quickly and to turn the ball over often. But when you play a team that can hold off your top pass-rusher and top cornerback, eventually a guy like Tom Brady is going to pick you apart.
To make teams uneasy, they have to acquire Chandler Jones. As a part of a win-now strategy, draft picks are useless. If it requires a first and second-round selection, so be it. If the end result is a Super Bowl, then it’s safe to say the trade would be well worth it.
What serves as the double-edged sword for the Green Bay Packers is their draft and development philosophy. Historically, the Pack gets alligator arms when it comes to big free agents and trades and plays the cautious approach towards winning. Aaron Rodgers can’t wait around for a player to develop into a solid player in three years.
The quarterback and the team need someone who can play at an elite level now. Trading for Chandler Jones will show him that they want to win with Rodgers and for Rodgers.