The 1 trade Packers must make in final week before 2026 NFL trade deadline

© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsThe 1 trade Packers must make in final week before 2026 NFL trade deadline appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Green Bay Packers have bounced back from a disappointing start to the 2026 season, winning four of their last five games to improve their record to 5-3. However, despite this improvement, Matt LaFleur’s team remains at the bottom of a competitive NFC North, and their ongoing offensive struggles have become increasingly hard to overlook. They have faced difficulties in establishing a reliable running game, with injuries and inconsistent blocking forcing the coaching staff to try different combinations along the offensive line. Although the passing attack has helped to compensate, these issues may become more problematic as the team approaches the toughest part of their schedule.General manager Brian Gutekunst should look to address this situation before the NFL trade deadline on November 10. An interesting option is Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson, who lost his starting job despite being a second-round draft pick just two years ago.Packers must trade for Raiders’ Jackson Powers-Johnson before NFL deadlineKirby Lee-Imagn Images.The Green Bay Packers’ offensive line has undergone significant changes throughout the season due to injuries, forcing several players into roles they are not accustomed to. The challenges with protection became evident early on, as the Packers struggled to protect quarterback Jordan Love during the opening games. They allowed pressure at an alarming rate, despite utilizing a strategy designed to get the ball out quickly. So, the running game has been even more disappointing, and Green Bay has had difficulty creating space at the line of scrimmage, often leaving running back Josh Jacobs with little opportunity to build momentum before encountering defenders.Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)These issues have persisted, although the team has shown some improvement recently. To address the situation, the Packers signed experienced guards Laken Tomlinson and Kevin Zeitler during the season, hoping to stabilize a unit that has struggled with injuries and inconsistent performances.Tomlinson has become a key contributor, even shifting to right guard to accommodate Aaron Banks on the opposite side. In contrast, Zeitler has not seen any offensive snaps, despite coming in with considerable starting experience, and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich explained that Tomlinson’s performances played a role in the decision to keep him in the lineup, leaving Zeitler without a regular offensive role.This situation highlights the challenges Green Bay faces in establishing a consistent offensive line combination. Sean Rhyan has provided valuable stability at center, but an ankle injury will prevent him from playing against New England in Week 9. Additionally, starting right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele is out for the remainder of the season due to a serious knee injury.Why Jackson Powers-Johnson could benefit from a fresh startPowers-Johnson entered the NFL with high expectations after a successful college career at Oregon. The Raiders selected him with the 44th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, drawn to his versatility and physical style of blocking. He seemed capable of solidifying a long-term starting position, particularly given his ability to play multiple roles on the interior offensive line, but his development has not been as direct. Powers-Johnson began the 2026 season as the starting right guard for Las Vegas, but his performances did not secure the position. The Raiders initially replaced him with Caleb Rogers and eventually shifted to rookie Trey Zuhn III. This decision has left Powers-Johnson largely sidelined from the offense.In his last three appearances, he has played only 16 snaps, all on special teams, and this represents a significant decrease in responsibilities for a player who started the season hoping to be an established starter. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has praised his attitude and versatility, acknowledging that Powers-Johnson can contribute at both guard and center. Nevertheless, the coaching staff appears confident in continuing with Zuhn, whose performances have helped enhance the Raiders’ rushing attack.This situation creates a unique dilemma for Las Vegas. While Powers-Johnson remains a talented young offensive lineman, the franchise has already invested in another player for his position. Retaining him as a backup makes practical sense, but the opportunity to gain meaningful draft compensation could be appealing. For Green Bay, Powers-Johnson’s declining role doesn’t diminish his potential, so the Packers would be acquiring a player who already has starting experience at the professional level and is still several years away from the typical peak of an offensive lineman. His versatility could also prevent the organization from becoming overly reliant on a specific interior combination.Why the Raiders should consider the trade© Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY SportsLas Vegas has had a challenging season, but with a 4-4 record, the franchise has legitimate reasons to stay competitive. Kubiak has helped the Raiders achieve several impressive offensive performances, including their 38-33 victory over the New York Jets in Week 8. Therefore, the organization has little incentive to trade established starters just to accumulate extra draft picks. Powers-Johnson, however, presents a different situation, and the Raiders have moved forward with a different offensive line combination, and the former second-round pick has been given limited opportunities to contribute.General Manager John Spytek must decide whether keeping him as a reserve is more valuable than trading him for a draft pick that could help strengthen the roster in other areas. A fourth-round pick would represent a meaningful return for a player who has lost favor, especially given the uncertainty about his long-term role with the Raiders. Moreover, if the Raiders trade Powers-Johnson, they could avoid making a more difficult decision as his rookie contract nears its conclusion, but there are reasons for the franchise to hesitate. Injuries can quickly alter the depth requirements of the offensive line, and Powers-Johnson’s ability to play multiple positions provides useful insurance. The Raiders might also believe that his development would benefit from more time under Kubiak’s coaching staff.Yet, if Green Bay makes a reasonable offer, it would give Spytek the chance to recover some draft capital without losing a current starter. Such a deal could be particularly intriguing because both teams could benefit without drastically altering their immediate competitive outlook.What the Packers should offer for Powers-JohnsonGreen Bay should start negotiations with a fourth-round selection in the 2027 NFL Draft. The Packers have already given up their 2027 first-round pick in the trade that brought Micah Parsons to Green Bay, making it essential for General Manager Brian Gutekunst to preserve their remaining valuable draft picks. Additionally, the organization obtained an extra fourth-round pick from Dallas in the Rashan Gary trade, which provides the flexibility to pursue a relatively inexpensive acquisition. A fourth-round pick would be a reasonable investment in a 23-year-old offensive lineman who has starting experience and positional versatility.Powers-Johnson’s contract further enhances the attractiveness of this proposal. He remains on his rookie contract through 2027, with a scheduled base salary of approximately $1.99 million for next season. This manageable figure allows Green Bay to assess his long-term potential without immediately committing significant resources to acquire an established veteran starter.The Raiders would still be responsible for any applicable signing bonus accounting, while the Packers would take on the remaining contractual obligations associated with the acquired player. This modest financial commitment is especially important given Green Bay’s current investments across the roster. Gutekunst has already allocated considerable resources to improve the team, so the Packers cannot afford to be overly aggressive at every position. Powers-Johnson presents an opportunity to address a weakness while keeping enough financial flexibility for future decisions.His recent benching also lowers the likelihood that Las Vegas would demand the same compensation typically associated with a productive young starter.Related: Packers’ Evan Williams credits red-hot Green Bay defense for winning Defensive Player of the MonthRelated: Packers’ Matt LaFleur won’t say too much about Jordan Love’s blind ref costume, but admits it was ‘hilarious’