Micah Parsons was secured before the 2025 NFL season began, so the Green Packers passed on trade deadline deals. Their true blockbuster move already reshaped the roster.
The 2025 NFL Trade Deadline came and went and at the end of it all, the Green Bay Packers did nothing. That shouldn't be surprising, though, because the Packers already made their big move earlier this offseason by bringing in superstar pass-rusher Micah Parsons.
That can, of course, be hard to remember when big trades were happening on Tuesday -- six trades in total -- and the Packers, despite being 5-2-1, have some serious liabilities.
That's not to say general manager Brian Gutekunst wasn't involved in talks. Reports coming out of 1265 Lombardi Ave suggest that the Packers were looking to replace injured tight end Tucker Kraft with a trade for Michael Mayer from the Las Vegas Raiders.
They were also talk about David Njoku of the Cleveland Browns.
Ultimately, Gutekunst didn't pull the trigger on anything, but let's keep in mind the grand scheme of things. Alongside Kenny Clark, he traded a first round pick in 2026 and a first round pick in 2027 to the Dallas Cowboys for the privilege of trading for and then paying Parsons $188 million over four years.
Sure, Gute may have been able to make some changes on the edges of the roster, but with what draft capital was he going to go out and trade with? He's already down two first-rounders in the next two drafts, and even though the Packers are absolutely in a Super Bowl window here in 2025, Gutekunst is also responsible for keeping that window open in 2025 and beyond.
Having draft capital is key to keeping this roster solvent in the long-term.
So yes, while the 2025 trade deadline felt a bit like that SpongeBob SquarePants meme with Squidward looking out the window at a frolicking SpongeBob and Patrick having fun, keep in mind that the rest of the NFC, and especially the rest of the NFC North, was living that meme out in real time in late August when the Packers traded for Parsons.
Would it have been nice to get Sauce Garner? Of course, but the Indianapolis Colts gave the New York Jets the same two first round picks that the Pack sent to Dallas. Speaking of of the Cowboys and Jets, Dallas traded away one of its two 2027 first-round draft picks for Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
Would Williams look incredible next to Devonte Wyatt and Parsons on Green Bay's defense? Of course. Again, though, because Parsons is already on this roster, the Packers didn't have the ability to make that kind of move.
And it's okay, because Parsons is absolutely worth it. That's worth remembering for any fans who may be feeling FOMO in the aftermath of the deadline.