KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 09: Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Dee Ford (55) before the snap in the fourth quarter of an NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs on December 9, 2018 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
If the Chiefs are really willing to let Dee Ford go this offseason, the Packers should make sure no team outbids them for the talented pass rusher.
Premium pass rushers don’t come available very often, but it seems the Chiefs are actively shopping Dee Ford. The Packers and 49ers both have every reason to trade for the talented defender, but Green Bay’s front office must make sure bring Ford to Lambeau.
The Packers clear priority this offseason is to do everything they can to amass enough talent to allow Aaron Rodgers to make another Super Bowl run. Part of that equation will be giving the future Hall of Famer more offensive weapons to utilize. However, improving the other side of the football is just as important for GM Brian Gutekunst.
The probable departure of Clay Matthews means the Packers need to find a new player to anchor their pass rusher on the edge. It’s hard to imagine a guy better suited to play that role than Ford. The 27-year-old end/linebacker racked up 13 sacks in Kansas City last season. He would give Green Bay a dominant player to build their defense around for the foreseeable future.
The Packers also have a unique advantage over the 49ers in their quest to complete a deal for Ford. They are armed with two first-round picks in April’s draft after allowing the Saints to move up for Marcus Davenport in the 2018 Draft. The Chiefs would certainly want prime draft compensation to be a part of any package for Ford. The Packers could certainly use one of their first rounders as the cornerstone of any trade.
The decision the Packers will likely be faced with is whether or not they’re willing to include another premium asset in the deal. Players of Ford’s talent and age don’t come available very often. If Green Bay really wants to blow away the competition, they might need to send multiple first rounders to Kansas City.
Another potential complicating factor for the Packers is just how much money Ford is looking for in his next contract. His salary demands are the primary reason the Chiefs are willing to deal him in the first place. Any team that trades for Ford will need to price the cost of his new contract into the transaction.
The Packers are the best positioned team to roll the dice on a player like Ford. They can feel free to negotiate hard with the Chiefs, but in the end, they can’t afford to be outbid. Ford could be the difference between Super Bowl and mediocrity for Green Bay in 2019.