GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers have spent the past several seasons building one of the NFL’s youngest and most flexible offenses around quarterback Jordan Love.
In this hypothetical scenario, general manager Brian Gutekunst decides the backfield still needs another explosive dimension.
Green Bay completes a late-training-camp trade for Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson, adding a young runner with rare speed and tackle-breaking potential to a group already led by Josh Jacobs and MarShawn Lloyd.
The imagined deal would immediately become one of the most fascinating moves of the Packers’ offseason.
It would also raise an obvious question.
Why would Green Bay invest additional draft capital in another running back when Jacobs remains the established starter?
The answer would involve more than simply adding depth.
A Benson trade would represent an attempt to protect Jordan Love, preserve the offense’s physical identity and give head coach Matt LaFleur enough backfield variety to attack defenses in several completely different ways.
Benson Has Already Been Connected to Green Bay
The concept did not appear without context.
Several analysts have previously identified Benson as a potential Packers trade target because of his age, athletic upside and uncertain long-term role in Arizona. Green Bay reportedly showed interest in his profile before the 2024 NFL Draft, though the Cardinals selected him with the 66th overall pick before the Packers drafted Lloyd later in the third round. (Lombardi Ave)
Benson remains on his rookie contract, with relatively affordable base salaries through the 2027 season. That financial structure would make him considerably easier to acquire than an established veteran carrying a major cap commitment. (SI)
The hypothetical fit therefore combines two traits Green Bay frequently values.
Youth.
And cost control.
The Packers would not be acquiring a declining player for a short-term rental.
They would be adding a 23-year-old runner whose most productive NFL football could still be ahead of him.
A Rare Combination of Power and Speed
Benson entered the NFL carrying an unusual athletic profile.
At Florida State, he demonstrated the ability to run through contact while also producing explosive gains once he reached open space. His pre-draft testing included a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, exceptional speed for a runner with his size and physical style.
That combination is what makes him intriguing.
Some backs generate power but lack the acceleration to punish a defense after breaking the first tackle.
Others possess elite speed but struggle when rushing lanes become crowded.
Benson has shown traits associated with both styles.
He can lower his pads and finish runs between the tackles.
He can also turn a small crease into a long gain.
In LaFleur’s offense, that versatility could create significant problems for defensive coordinators.
Josh Jacobs Would Remain the Foundation
A Benson trade would not immediately remove Jacobs from the center of Green Bay’s running game.
Jacobs remains the proven veteran and the back most trusted to handle difficult carries, protect the quarterback and close games when the Packers hold a late lead.
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His physical running style gives the offense an identity.
Defenses know Green Bay can continue handing him the football even when everyone in the stadium expects a run.
Benson would not need to replace that responsibility.
He would complement it.
Jacobs could absorb the bruising early carries.
Benson could enter against a defense already becoming tired.
The change in acceleration alone could disrupt tackling angles and force linebackers to adjust their timing.
Rather than one player carrying the entire rushing workload, Green Bay could create a rotation designed to keep each back fresh through December and January.
MarShawn Lloyd Would Still Have a Role
The most complicated part of the hypothetical trade would involve Lloyd.
Green Bay drafted him because of his explosiveness and receiving potential, but injuries have interrupted his opportunity to establish a consistent role.
A Benson acquisition might appear to signal that the organization had lost confidence in him.
That would not necessarily be the case.
LaFleur could use each runner differently.
Jacobs would remain the primary power back.
Benson could handle early-down carries while threatening explosive runs.
Lloyd could operate as a change-of-pace option, receiver and motion player capable of creating favorable matchups in space.
The room would become crowded, but championship rosters frequently carry more quality runners than they can use in one ordinary regular-season game.
Injuries happen.
Workloads accumulate.
One player’s availability can change quickly.
Adding Benson would give Green Bay protection against those uncertainties.
LaFleur Could Build a True Multi-Back Offense
The most exciting possibility would involve using multiple runners together.
LaFleur has consistently valued pre-snap movement, personnel flexibility and formations that force defenses to reveal their intentions.
Benson would expand those options.
Green Bay could align Jacobs and Benson in the same backfield.
One could remain beside Love while the other motions outside.
The Packers could show a heavy rushing formation before shifting into an empty set.
They could run outside-zone concepts with Benson’s speed or attack inside with Jacobs.
Lloyd could be used in orbit motion, screens or routes against linebackers.
The objective would not simply be giving three running backs carries.
It would be forcing the defense to prepare for several distinct identities without changing personnel.
That uncertainty creates an advantage before the football is even snapped.
Protecting Jordan Love Through Balance
Every major offensive decision in Green Bay eventually connects back to Love.
The Packers have invested heavily in his future and surrounded him with young receivers, developing linemen and an increasingly flexible group of skill players.
A dominant running game would protect that investment.
Defenses become more dangerous when they can ignore the run and focus entirely on pressuring the quarterback.
A backfield featuring Jacobs, Benson and Lloyd would make that approach risky.
Linebackers would need to respect play-action.
Safeties could not retreat too early.
Edge defenders would be forced to play with discipline rather than immediately attacking the pocket.
Even if Benson never became a 20-carry player, his presence could influence how opponents defend Love.
That indirect value might be nearly as important as his rushing statistics.
The Cardinals Would Need a Reason to Trade Him
From Arizona’s perspective, moving Benson would only make sense if the organization believed its backfield had become overcrowded or if Green Bay offered meaningful draft compensation.
The Cardinals have been linked to the possibility of reshaping their running back room after adding other options and evaluating how Benson fits their long-term plans. Reports have described him as a possible trade candidate rather than a player Arizona has definitively committed to moving. (Zone Coverage)
That distinction matters.
The Cardinals would not give away a young, controllable runner simply because another team expressed interest.
Green Bay would need to offer enough value to justify surrendering a player with genuine upside.
A middle-round draft pick might begin the conversation.
Arizona could seek a conditional selection tied to playing time or production.
The teams might also discuss a player-for-player component if Green Bay possessed depth at another position.
The exact price would determine whether the hypothetical move represented smart roster management or an unnecessary luxury.
Benson’s Injury History Cannot Be Ignored
The athletic upside comes with legitimate risk.
Benson previously suffered a significant knee injury in college, later dealt with an ankle issue as an NFL rookie and experienced a meniscus injury that interrupted his development. (SI)
Those setbacks would require careful medical evaluation.
Green Bay would need confidence that his knee could withstand an NFL workload before surrendering valuable draft capital.
The presence of Jacobs and Lloyd could reduce the immediate burden, allowing the Packers to manage Benson’s snaps.
Still, acquiring another runner with a significant injury history would invite questions, particularly when Lloyd has faced availability concerns of his own.
The Packers would be betting that depth reduces the collective risk rather than multiplying it.
Is Running Back Really the Greatest Need?
Critics of the fictional trade would raise a fair objection.
Green Bay has other roster questions.
The offensive line requires reliable depth.
The defense continues evaluating several young contributors.
Special teams remain an area where one mistake can decide an important game.
Using draft capital on a running back could appear excessive when Jacobs already anchors the position.
That argument becomes even stronger if the Packers would need to surrender a high selection.
Running backs generally carry shorter careers than players at many other positions.
Green Bay must be careful not to overpay for a role that could be filled internally or through a less expensive veteran signing.
The move would only make sense if Gutekunst believed Benson represented significantly more than ordinary depth.
Why Gutekunst Might Still Take the Gamble
Gutekunst has shown he is willing to pursue major additions when he believes the roster is close to championship contention.
The Packers’ recent moves have reflected an aggressive desire to improve rather than patiently waiting for every young player to develop.
A Benson trade would fit that mentality.
Green Bay would be acquiring a player who could contribute immediately while remaining part of the offense for multiple seasons.
The financial cost would be manageable.
The athletic ceiling would be substantial.
And the move would reduce the chance that one injury destroys the running game late in the year.
For a team expecting to play meaningful January football, that insurance carries real value.
The Pressure Would Shift to LaFleur
Acquiring talent is only the beginning.
LaFleur would need to create clear roles and prevent the backfield from becoming an inefficient rotation.
Running backs often perform better when they can establish rhythm.
Constantly changing players after every snap can prevent anyone from settling into the game.
The coaching staff would need to determine which combinations work best.
Who handles short yardage?
Who receives third-down snaps?
Who closes games?
Who becomes the primary alternative if Jacobs is unavailable?
Clear answers would be essential.
A crowded room becomes an advantage only when each player understands his responsibility.
NFC North Defenses Would Face a New Problem
The hypothetical trade would create immediate consequences throughout the division.
NFC North defenses are already preparing for Love’s arm talent and Green Bay’s young group of receivers.
Adding Benson would force them to devote even more preparation time to the running game.
Detroit, Chicago and Minnesota would need answers for both power and speed.
Heavy personnel packages might become vulnerable to play-action.
Lighter defensive groups could struggle against Jacobs between the tackles.
Benson’s acceleration could punish poor pursuit angles.
Lloyd’s receiving ability could create mismatches on passing downs.
No single element would be impossible to defend.
The challenge would be preparing for all of them at once.
A Championship Move or an Expensive Luxury?
That question would define the public debate.
Supporters would see Benson as another explosive piece capable of helping Green Bay pursue a Super Bowl.
Critics would wonder whether the Packers had spent valuable assets on a position that was already strong enough.
Both arguments would carry merit.
The answer would depend on health, usage and postseason performance.
If Benson produced several explosive plays during a playoff run, the trade could look visionary.
If he remained buried on the depth chart or struggled with injuries, the move could become evidence that Green Bay overvalued a luxury addition.
A Hypothetical Move With Real Strategic Logic
No official trade has been completed.
Trey Benson remains associated with Arizona, while the existing reporting has focused on his potential availability and possible fit with Green Bay rather than a confirmed agreement. (Zone Coverage)
Still, the hypothetical scenario is compelling because the football logic is clear.
Benson would give Green Bay another young, explosive runner.
Jacobs would remain the physical foundation.
Lloyd would provide versatility.
LaFleur would gain multiple ways to attack defenses without placing the entire offensive burden on Love.
That does not mean the Packers must make the move.
It means that if the price became reasonable, they would have legitimate reasons to consider it.
Green Bay Would Be Betting on Relentless Pressure
The imagined trade would represent more than acquiring another ball carrier.
It would reflect a broader offensive philosophy.
Never allow the defense to become comfortable.
Attack with power.
Attack with speed.
Force linebackers to hesitate.
Force safeties to respect the run.
Create easier throws for Love.
Keep every running back fresh for the most important games.
If the strategy worked, Green Bay’s backfield could become one of the deepest and most unpredictable groups in the NFL.
The Packers would not simply be adding Trey Benson.
They would be creating another layer of uncertainty for every opponent on the schedule.
And for a team pursuing a championship, making defenses solve one more problem may be exactly the type of advantage worth exploring.
Editor’s note: The following is a hypothetical feature exploring what a Green Bay Packers trade for Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson could mean. Neither Green Bay nor Arizona has officially announced such a transaction.
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