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Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst, left, stands with head coach Matt LaFleur.

The Green Bay Packers enter the bye week at 2-1-1 after Micah Parsons‘ return to Dallas ended in a final score of 40-40.

In addition to going winless for a second straight game, the interior of the Packers‘ defensive line could be without DT Devonte Wyatt after the Georgia product picked up a knee injury against the Cowboys.

Since the Packers shipped off DT Kenny Clark as part of the deal that brought Micah to Green Bay, one writer believes Packers GM Brian Gutekunst could explore the trade market again to add depth to the interior of the defensive line.

New Orleans Saints DT Nathan Shepherd Named a Top Trade Option for Green Bay Packers

John Sigler of Saints Wire went digging for potential trade partners to help accelerate the inevitable rebuild of the New Orleans Saints entering the 2026 NFL season. Interestingly enough, he saw the Green Bay Packers as a potential landing spot for Saints DT Nathan Shepherd via trade.

Sigler wrote, “The Green Bay Packers’ defensive line was worn down by the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, and they took a big hit when Devonte Wyatt left the game with a knee injury. Micah Parsons was worth the trade but their depth chart has been exposed without Kenny Clark in the middle. Shepherd isn’t a comparable talent to Clark or Wyatt. But he is an established, starting-quality defensive tackle. He could do a lot to shore up a Packers defensive line that hopes to compete in the playoffs.

Shepherd isn’t exactly a pass-rushing machine, but he has tallied 7.5 sacks over the last three seasons. At 6’4” 315 pounds, the Fort Hays State product could be a quality rotational piece along the interior of the defensive line.

Sigler touched on why dealing Shepherd to a contender makes sense by adding, “Right now, the Saints don’t have a pick in two of the final four rounds next year. Trades that swapped sixth rounders for defensive linemen with similar resumes like Roy Robertson-Harris and Harrison Phillips have established a precedent. Shepherd isn’t going to be part of a multiyear rebuild. Getting a pick and sending him to a playoff contender is good for both sides.”

How Does the Packers Trade for Micah Parsons Look Through One Month of NFL Action?

Admittedly, the true winner of this trade will likely be determined by exactly who the Cowboys select with the acquired draft assets sent by Green Bay in trade, but comparing Micah Parsons‘ impact directly to Kenny Clark’s feel like a complete mismatch.

Through four games, Parsons has 2.5 sacks and eight total tackles while working through a back injury, while Clark has one sack and 12 total tackles.

At first glance, the numbers don’t feel all that lopsided. Yet, Parsons has generated nine hits on the quarterback through four games — which is tied for the fourth-highest mark in the NFL. In this category, Clark has just two hits on the quarterback.

Clark has been solid, but Parsons has likely had the larger impact — which can also be proven when you compare how the two defensive units as a whole have been performing in 2025.

It is still early stages of this trade review case, but the early results certainly appear to favor the Green Bay Packers.