Packers Trade Proposal Adds Kenny Clark Replacement on the Cheap
There may be a fire sale down in New Orleans soon, and if that’s the case, the Green Bay Packers could be a team that benefits.
The Saints are sitting at 0-4, and the future is looking bleak as ever without an answer at quarterback. Meanwhile, in Green Bay, the 3-1 Packers traded longtime defensive anchor Kenny Clark to the Dallas Cowboys in the blockbuster deal that brought Micah Parsons, leaving a big leadership and production void inside.
Green Bay’s current DT rotation — Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden, along with rookies Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson — is talented, but still young and relatively unproven. Wyatt has already battled a knee issue, while Wooden is still learning the nuances of playing inside. With Clark gone, though, the team’s lack of an established, dependable interior presence is obvious.
John Sigler of USA Today’s Saints Wire thinks the Packers could make a bid for Saints veteran DT Nathan Shepherd to fill that void. Let’s discuss.
Should the Green Bay Packers Try to Trade for Saints DT Nathan Shepherd to Replace Kenny Clark?
“Right now, the Saints don’t have a pick in two of the final four rounds next year,” Sigler wrote on September 29. “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.”
Sigler thinks the Pack could snag him on the cheap, too. Here’s his trade proposal:
- New Orleans gets: 2026 sixth-round pick (projected No. 203 overall)
- Green Bay gets: DT Nathan Shepherd
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,” Sigler added. “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.
A Closer Look at Shepherd’s 8 Seasons in the NFL
A 2018 third-round pick by the Jets out of Fort Hays State, the 6-foot-4, 315-pound Shepherd has evolved from a fringe player to a reliable rotational presence and occasional starter. He spent five seasons in New York before inking a three-year deal with New Orleans in 2023.
That first season with the Saints was arguably his best. He started all 17 games, finishing with 50 tackles (four for loss), 3.5 sacks and eight QB hits. In 2024 he remained a steady contributor with 16 games (13 starts), 37 tackles (three for loss) and 1.5 sacks. His pass rush production dipped a bit, but his ability to hold his ground against the run remained strong.
In four starts so far this season, Shepherd has 13 tackles (one for loss) and three QB hits. He has yet to get a sack, but he’s playing on a struggling Saints team that could soon be looking to move veterans.
Financially, he wouldn’t cost the Packers much. His 2025 cap hit sits in the mid-$3 million range, with a cash payout just over $4 million. A trade for Shepherd could help stabilize the interior, give the young guys more breathing room to develop and offer dependable snaps if Wyatt misses more time. If the Saints are selling, Green Bay might want to see if he’d like to play for a contender yet this season.
Broncos QB Bo Nix Urged to Take Critical Next Step as Eagles Loom
The Denver Broncos got the version of Bo Nix they hoped for in Week 4 after an uneven start to the season. It was against a beleaguered Cincinnati Bengals team. However, there is progress to be made for the second-year QB.
Nix and the Broncos face the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5, and his comments on the matchup suggest he understands what is required of him.
That is good news for the Broncos.
Bo Nix Urged to Take Critical Next Step for Broncos
The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider highlighted Hall of Famer Troy Aikman raving about Nix during one particular “play worthy of gold jacket praise” during which he found Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims before halftime in Week 4 against the Bengals.
The Broncos got into range for a field goal. But Nix and Co. took advantage of an offsides call on the Bengals by finding Courtland Sutton for a touchdown.
Kosmider believes the entire sequence highlighted what the Broncos need from Nix consistently.
“Before turning attention toward their fast-arriving match with the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles, there was an urgency to identify the things that could be built upon,” Kosmider wrote on October 1. “For Nix, it starts with the brilliant execution of a two-minute drive that helped the Broncos more or less close the door on the Bengals.
“He was decisive, quick and accurate. Mostly, he was visibly calmer than he was during some of the late-game situations on the road in which the Broncos came up short the previous two weeks.”
“The decisiveness with which Nix delivered the ball, trusting both the protection in front of him and what his eyes were seeing with the defense, was encouraging,” Kosmider wrote. “Nix can undoubtedly make plays on the move.
“But he must continue to make progress from the pocket to become a more consistent passer.”
Through four weeks, Nix has completed 65.7% of his passes for 861 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions.
Bo Nix Knows Broncos Must Be Sharper Against Eagles
Nix and the Broncos are on the road for this game against the Eagles, adding another layer of difficulty for the entire group.
The QB understands that the Broncos must be sharper than they were in Week 4.
“It’s a short week. So, we don’t have much time to think about [the win]. We’re going to be in Philly soon. So, it’s an important week. We have to get back to the basics, and really figure out what’s holding us back, and why we still have penalties, and how we can avoid certain situations. And they’re going to be a good defense. They have been for a while. They’re going to have good players. They’re going to have good scheme,” Nix told reporters on September 29.
“We have to do a good job. We’ve got to play really efficiently and make explosive plays, find a way to create explosive plays. We’ve got to just do a good job. And it’s going to be tough, but that’s why we practice throughout this week, and it’s going to be important.”
“The next step for Nix is creating a similar performance on the road a
