The Packers’ edge-rush picture has gone from shaky to downright thin, and the trade market suddenly looks like the most obvious place to patch the hole.
Green Bay entered the 2026 season already bracing for Micah Parsons to miss at least the first month, which put an immediate cap on what the front seven could do off the edge. Then Edgerrin Cooper’s injury ended his season, turning a concern about ceiling into a real problem about depth.
That’s why the obvious names - Josh Sweat and Maxx Crosby - aren’t the only ones worth watching. Neither looks close to being available, which pushes attention toward the NFC South and a New Orleans Saints team that has stumbled to a 1-3 start. With the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons shaping up as the clear two-team race in that division, the Saints may be more willing to listen on veteran pieces.
Chase Young fits that conversation.
The 27-year-old already has 3.5 sacks this season, and he’s the kind of player who could make sense as a trade chip for a team looking to reset. A change of scenery would give Young a fresh start, and in Green Bay he’d have a chance to put up elite numbers working opposite Parsons.
For the Packers, the timing matters. This is a team trying to salvage a season that has already been underwhelming, with offensive issues and defensive inconsistency both showing up early. Adding Young would be a way to inject some life into the roster and address a glaring need at the same time.
Young’s value goes beyond the current season, too. He closed last year with 10.0 sacks and two forced fumbles, and while his run defense still isn’t elite, he has grown into a more complete starter. That matters for a Green Bay defense that has been hammered by injuries and badly needs someone dependable on the edge.
A mid-round pick would seem like a reasonable price, especially for a Saints team that could use a broader reset. For Green Bay, the appeal is simple: get another legitimate pass-rush threat and stop asking Parsons to carry the entire burden.
The Packers need a steady source of pressure outside of Parsons if they want to stay in the playoff mix, and Young checks a lot of boxes. The real question now is how aggressive Green Bay gets - and whether this is the move it decides to make.
In Other News...
Packers Pass Rush May Be Close To A Huge Boost
Micah Parsons remains sidelined by a left knee injury, and the Packers are not expecting him back for Week 5, but there are signs the recovery is moving in the right direction. Head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst both have stressed that Parsons is making progress, even if the team is still keeping the timeline guarded because of how central he is to their plans.
The cautious approach makes sense for a pass rush that could look very different once Parsons is available again. For now, Green Bay is watching the rehab closely and waiting for the next step in his ramp-up, with his return date still uncertain as the Packers try to balance urgency with the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]
Why Packers Fans Still Talk About What No. 89 Came To Mean
Before it was attached to memorable catches and familiar Sunday moments, No. 89 carried a different kind of Green Bay weight. The number has been worn by a few recognizable Packers over the years, including Mark Chmura and James Jones, but the deeper thread in the jerseys history runs through a linebacker who helped define one of the franchises most dominant eras.
Dave Robinson arrived as a first-round pick in 1963 and became part of the force behind three consecutive NFL championships, plus two Super Bowl wins. His place in Packers history was cemented long ago with Hall of Fame recognition in Green Bay and later in Canton, which is why fans still bring his name up whenever the conversation turns to the best player to ever wear that number. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Rivalry Game Just Got More Complicated For Sunday
Caleb Williams return to practice Friday added a layer of uncertainty to an already charged NFC North matchup, and it matters plenty to the Packers as Sunday approaches. The Chicago quarterback had missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, leaving the Bears to lean on Tyson Bagent, who stepped in last week and helped guide them to a win over the New York Jets.
Williams is now listed as questionable, which leaves Chicago with a late call to make on its most important position. If he is not ready to go, Bagent would get the nod again, giving Green Bay a very different look to prepare for and turning an already familiar rivalry game into one with a little more suspense. [Read more 🡒]