Getty The Green Bay Packers could trade for another weapon for Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers.
The Green Bay Packers continue to be linked to wide receivers around the NFL in trade rumors, and while those rumors haven’t turned into anything real over the last few years, fans are getting their hopes up for a new playmaker after Week 5.
After the Carolina Panthers fired their head coach Matt Rhule on October 10 after a 1-4 start to the season, trade rumors started to pile up around the Panthers. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones noted that teams are already “sniffing around” by making calls to the Panthers and offering to trade for some of their star players as they consider a full rebuild.
One of those stars is wide receiver D.J. Moore. CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin named the Packers a logical suitor for Moore, and fans quickly took to Twitter to voice their support for a potential trade.
“Alright I’ve officially decided to be a big dumb idiot, and believe DJ Moore will be a Packer,” one fan tweeted, making fun of the fact that Packers fans consistently get their hopes up for big trades that haven’t happened.
“If I’m the #Packers, DJ Moore is the PERFECT fit for this offense right now that wants to throw all these RPOs and get the ball to guys for YAC opps,” Peter Bukowski of The Leap tweeted.
If the Packers don’t pick up the phone and ask about DJ Moore then we riot
“If the Packers don’t pick up the phone and ask about DJ Moore then we riot,” another fan tweeted.
Do the Packers Make Sense for D.J. Moore?
Given all the turmoil in Carolina, Moore could become a star on a team with a star quarterback. Though Green Bay could be an appealing option for Moore, 25, it might not be the easiest trade for Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst to make.
Moore has had a terrific start to his NFL career. After being taken by the Panthers in the first round of the 2018 draft, Moore caught 301 passes for 4,313 yards and 14 touchdowns over his first four seasons.
The Panthers rewarded Moore with a three-year, $61.9 million extension this past offseason. That salary could make it difficult for the Panthers to trade him.
According to Spotrac, Moore has a cap hit of only $6.1 million this season. However, if the Panthers traded him, they would take on an extreme dead cap of $41.8 million. Moore’s cap hit skyrockets in 2023 once his extension takes effect, with the receiver counting for more than $25 million against the cap.
For a team like the Packers, which has historically been strategic with the expensive external players they’ve brought in, that makes a possible trade for Moore seemingly unrealistic. However, if the team is truly desperate for another weapon, and the Panthers have interest in moving on, the two sides could find a way.
What About Odell Beckham Jr.?
Moore may be an interesting trade target for the Packers, but free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. continues to be a top target.
Considering the Packers wouldn’t have to trade assets for Beckham, and wouldn’t need to sign him to a massive contract with him still recovering from a torn ACL, media outlets have continued to list Green Bay as a top fit for the superstar receiver.
Other teams will still try to pursue Beckham once he’s fully healthy, including his former team in the Los Angeles Rams, but Packers fans are getting their hopes up again for the team to land such an exciting weapon.