Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE
One of the bigger stories during the 2012 NFL off-season was the contract situation of Green Bay Packers WR Greg Jennings. Talks went back and forth between the two sides and ultimately ended with Jennings suspending talks before the season started. The two sides did not make any sort of significant ground throughout the off-season and Jennings did not want talks to be a distraction once the season began. But, since Jennings’ contract expires, he will more than likely be the top free agent in the class of 2013.
With the looming free agency many people have wondered that, if the Packers and Jennings do not get close on a deal, maybe the Packers would consider trading the two time Pro Bowler. The latest rumor out of Milwaukee seems to support this theory. Bob McGinn ,of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, has said multiple times that he is convinced that 2012-2013 will be the last season for Jennings as a member of the Packers.
It’s no secret that the Packers have a lot of depth at the WR position, especially with the recent good play of Randall Cobb, so the loss of Jennings would not at all be devastating. The trading of Jennings would also allow the Packers to address bigger needs, such as re-signing their young superstars Clay Matthews, B.J Raji, and Aaron Rodgers, in the future. Additionally you could make an argument that, at this point, Jordy Nelson is more of a weapon than Jennings.
McGinn added that there are several teams who are interested in Jennings, one of them being the Cleveland Browns. McGinnwent on to say that he has spoken with an executive of the Packers who said that they are willing to part with Jennings for a second round pick. Allowing Jennings to leave via free agency would almost guarantee the Packers the 91st overall pick in the 2014 draft, but a trade this season would garner even a higher pick in the 2013 draft, a pick they could definitely use for that shoddy defense.
For Browns fans the question now arises, would you want your team to part with a second round pick for Jennings? If your answer is yes well then you really haven’t been paying attention. The Browns already gave up a 2012 second rounder for Josh Gordon in the 2012 NFL supplemental draft. In my opinion I would say do anything you can to try and get a second round pick, it would be extremely hard but like they say, where there’s a will there’s a way.
The NFL draft is always a crapshoot, you never know exactly what you’re going to get, especially in the second round. Drafting a WR may not pan out, but trading for Jennings would, he’s already proven that he’s a legitimate No. 1 option. For a team like the Browns, with no real legitimate threat at the WR position, acquiring Jennings for a second round pick, if you can find a way to trade for one, should be a no-brainer.
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