The Green Bay Packers got lucky by trading Kenny Clark to the Dallas Cowboys in the Micah Parsons blockbuster. The Packers could’ve gotten Trey Hendrickson from the Cincinnati Bengals for a similar price.
While it’s unclear if the deal would’ve been as close to identical as possible, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport revealed that Clark was set to be included in a potential Hendrickson proposal. Green Bay drew a harder line in the sand for Clark in negotiations.
“The Packers first set their sights on a trade for Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, sources say, before they pulled off the blockbuster trade of the offseason when they acquired star Micah Parsons from the Cowboys,” Rapoport wrote.
“The Packers are among the teams that called and engaged the most with Cincinnati on a potential trade for Hendrickson this offseason, with an initial offer made for last season's sack leader.
“In fact, standout defensive tackle Kenny Clark would also have been involved in the trade had the two sides come to an agreement, though Green Bay was not willing to part with him at that point in the process.”
Hendrickson ended up signing a reworked deal to return to Cincinnati.
Parsons is the kind of player you compromise with Clark on in negotiations. Green Bay’s defense looked even more dangerous than last year’s top-five unit in a 27-13 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Still, this reflects poorly on Jerry Jones. As most major trades his franchise makes tend to do.
The Cowboys received two first-round picks and third- and fifth-round picks, but it’s possible the Bengals could’ve gotten that too.
You’re in a bad place if your player personnel decisions are on par with, if not behind, Duke Tobin.