At times, it feels almost impossible to imagine that elite athletes at premier positions could ever be traded away from their original teams. Yet, there are moments when the trade rumors are almost inevitable. Recently, the conversations surrounding Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett have reached a fever pitch, with the possibility of them being moved creating endless speculation.

Dallas Cowboys’ Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President, and Director of Player Personnel, Stephen Jones, offered some insight into the tough decisions teams must face when their star players are earning top-tier money. He discussed how challenging it can be to build a solid roster when multiple high-paid players are sidelined due to injuries.

“I think it’s always a balancing act that you have to look at,” said Jones. “Especially when your good, good players get hurt and are not on the field. It totally magnifies the issue if you lose guys like Dak, or if Diggs misses games, or Zack Martin misses games. It’s going to magnify something like that. You’re going to say, ‘God, are we smart having this much money tied up in the top five to 10 players?'”

Meanwhile, Garrett has expressed his desire to stay in Cleveland, but under one crucial condition—he doesn’t want to be part of a rebuilding process. “I want to stay loyal to a team that showed loyalty to me and faith in me by drafting me. But we have to do, at the end of the day, what’s best for us,” Garrett emphasized. “So, if we have that alignment where this is something that is still possible in the near future—winning, going deep in the playoffs, putting a great defense out there—I think that would really keep my mind at rest and keep me settled.”

Could the Green Bay Packers be involved in these discussions? It’s certainly not out of the question, as they’ve been in similar conversations in the past.

Track Record: A Willingness to Make Bold Moves

Back in 2018, during the first offseason with Brian Gutekunst as the Packers’ general manager, Green Bay made a significant offer to the Oakland Raiders to acquire former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Khalil Mack. Although Mack ultimately went to the Chicago Bears for a package including two first-round picks, the Packers’ interest in elite defensive talent was clear. The Bears’ investment in Mack paid off with stellar production for several seasons, before Mack was later traded to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for a second-round pick.

Looking ahead, the Packers are well-positioned to make another bold move. They have $62.7 million in projected cap space for 2025 and $68.3 million for 2026, with manageable veteran contracts that could allow for additional flexibility. Furthermore, Green Bay still holds onto all of their high and mid-round draft picks, providing them with valuable assets to execute a potential blockbuster trade.

So, the Packers have the financial resources, draft capital, and the historical willingness to pull the trigger on high-profile acquisitions. But would they take that leap again?

The Pros and Cons of Making a Big Move

Acquiring a player of the caliber of Parsons or Garrett would undoubtedly be a game-changer for the Packers. Both are used to playing in 4-3 defensive systems, and their skill sets would easily translate into defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme. Adding such a player could solidify the Packers’ defense for years to come, potentially giving them a championship-caliber squad.

However, there is a reasonable argument against committing both high draft capital and significant cap resources to a single player. The Bears’ experience with Khalil Mack is a cautionary tale—while Mack performed at an elite level, the Bears ultimately found that investing so heavily in one player left them without the financial flexibility to build a well-rounded team. The lack of high draft picks and cheap talent in Chicago eventually became a liability.

For the Packers, the production they’ve received from players like Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness has not been as stellar as hoped. The absence of elite-level output from their first-round picks could make them more inclined to pursue a different strategy if a great opportunity arises. However, Green Bay’s general manager, Gutekunst, would need to be extremely strategic with the rest of the roster to ensure that such a trade doesn’t cripple their long-term flexibility.

Acquiring more draft picks has been a key factor in the Packers’ recent success, and that would be even more crucial in the event of a major trade like this. The Packers’ ability to accumulate draft capital through smart moves could give them a competitive edge in the future, even if they were to part with several key assets in a trade for a star player.

Ultimately, the decision will come down to whether Green Bay feels they are just one star player away from being true Super Bowl contenders. If the opportunity arises, they may be tempted to make the trade, but only time will tell if they are willing to sacrifice future flexibility for immediate success.