The Green Bay Packers enter the final stretch of the preseason with lingering questions about their running back depth, prompting some analysts to suggest a trade for Arizona Cardinals back Trey Benson could address the issue before the regular season begins.
Arizona appears well-stocked at the position after recent additions, creating a potential surplus that might open the door for a deal. Green Bay, by contrast, relies heavily on starter Josh Jacobs while looking for reliable options behind him.
FanSided’s Zachary Rotman highlighted the mismatch in roster construction between the two teams.
“The Arizona Cardinals have holes all over their roster, but have as deep a running back room as any team in the NFL,” Rotman wrote. “They drafted Jeremiyah Love and signed Tyler Allgeier in free agency, adding those backs to a room that already had James Conner and Trey Benson in it. Benson has always had a good amount of upside if healthy, and while the Cardinals don’t have room for him, several NFL teams do.”
Jacobs remains the clear lead back for the Packers, yet concerns persist. He has dealt with physical issues during camp and faces unresolved matters away from the field that could affect his availability.
Behind Jacobs sits MarShawn Lloyd, a former draft pick who has logged just six carries across two NFL seasons. Both of those campaigns ended early because of injuries. Lloyd is healthy now and saw action in the opening preseason contest, but coaches and personnel staff may hesitate to lean on him heavily if Jacobs is sidelined for any stretch.
Chris Brooks occupies the next spot on the depth chart. Over the past two years he has carried the ball 63 times for Green Bay. Last season he averaged only 3.9 yards per attempt, and he has been limited by injuries during the current training camp.
Pierre Strong handled some snaps after Lloyd in the first exhibition game. Strong’s most recent regular-season carry came in 2024. Undrafted or late-round additions Damien Martinez and Jaden Nixon have yet to record a regular-season rush, leaving the Packers thin if they are forced to turn to the bottom of the list.
Benson, selected in the third round of the 2024 draft 22 spots ahead of Lloyd, brings more experience than several of Green Bay’s backups. As a rookie he rushed 63 times for 291 yards before an injury cut his season short. In 2025 a knee problem limited him to four games and 29 carries for 160 yards. Across those two seasons he has averaged 4.9 yards per attempt on 92 total rushes.
Injuries have slowed Benson’s development, yet his efficiency remains higher than what Brooks has shown recently. The Cardinals’ decision to add Love through the draft and Allgeier in free agency ties those players more closely to the current coaching staff. Benson, by comparison, is a holdover whose role has diminished.
That situation has led to speculation that Arizona could move him for modest compensation. Green Bay’s need and Benson’s prior production make the Packers a logical destination in the eyes of some evaluators.
Family ties add another layer of intrigue. Mike LaFleur serves on the Packers’ staff while his brother, Matt, coaches the Cardinals. A low-cost swap involving Benson could benefit both clubs without disrupting either side’s long-term plans.
Whether Green Bay pursues such a move remains to be seen. The team still has time to evaluate its current group through the remaining preseason games. Still, the combination of Jacobs’ uncertainty and limited proven depth has kept trade discussions alive among observers who follow both franchises closely.
Any acquisition would need to fit under the salary cap and roster rules, but Benson’s contract and production profile suggest the price would not be steep.
For a Packers squad aiming to stay competitive in a tough division, adding a back with his upside could provide needed insurance heading into September.
