Packers Pull Off the Trade of the Season Sending Potential TD Hunter to the NFC South in a Move That Shakes the 2026 Draft.QQ

In a move that’s sending shockwaves through the NFC, the Green Bay Packers have pulled off what could be the most intriguing trade deadline deal of the 2025 season. The Packers, sitting pretty at the top of the NFC North with just one loss on the ledger, have shipped out third-year wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks—affectionately known as the “Potential TD Hunter” for his knack for finding the end zone—to the Atlanta Falcons. In return, Green Bay hauls in a pair of fifth-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft and a seventh-rounder in 2027.

The deal, finalized just hours before the NFL trade deadline, underscores the Packers’ depth at wide receiver and their strategic pivot toward future assets rather than immediate reinforcements. While Green Bay’s offense has hummed along without a hitch—boasting the league’s second-highest scoring output at 28.4 points per game—Wicks’ role had dwindled amid a crowded room of talent. For the Falcons, clinging to the fringes of the NFC South playoff race at 4-4, Wicks represents an instant upgrade to a receiving corps that’s been starved for consistent production beyond its star duo

A Crowded Skyline in Green Bay Spells Opportunity Elsewhere

The Packers entered the 2025 season with a receiver group that could charitably be described as “embarrassment of riches.” After drafting speedsters Matthew Golden and Savion Williams in the 2025 NFL Draft, Green Bay suddenly found itself with seven legitimate options at the position: Jordan Love’s primary targets Christian Watson and Jayden Reed, the breakout Romeo Doubs, the versatile Jayden Reed (wait, make that two Reeds? No—Reed’s back and better), plus veterans like Allen Lazard and the rookies. Wicks, a fifth-round steal out of Virginia in 2023, had flashed big-play ability early in his career with 18 touchdowns over his first two seasons. But this year? The shine has faded.

Injuries to Watson (who returned in Week 8 against the Jets) and Reed (expected back post-bye) opened the door for others, but Wicks saw his snap count plummet from 52% in Weeks 1-4 to a measly 27% in his last outing before sitting out Sunday’s 31-20 demolition of Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. His stat line? A paltry 13 catches for 134 yards and zero scores—numbers that scream “trade bait” in a pass-happy scheme under Matt LaFleur.

“Romeo Doubs has been our rock,” LaFleur said in a post-trade presser, his voice carrying the weight of tough decisions. “He’s stepped up huge with 350 yards already, and with Watson and Reed healthy, we’re built to roll. Dontayvion’s a special kid—he’s got that TD hunter instinct—but this gives him a fresh start where he can eat.”

General Manager Brian Gutekunst echoed the sentiment, framing the return as “picks in our wheelhouse.” Two fifth-rounders in 2026 could yield developmental gems, especially with Green Bay’s track record of unearthing talent late in the draft (think: Wicks himself). The 2027 seventh is gravy, a low-risk sweetener in a deal that clears $2.1 million in cap space for the Packers.

Falcons Feast on Fresh Talent: Wicks to the Dirty South

For Atlanta, this is less a luxury addition and more a lifeline. The Falcons’ passing attack has leaned heavily on first-round stud Drake London (482 yards, 4 TDs) and the resurgent Kyle Pitts (344 yards, looking every bit the 2021 No. 4 overall pick). But beyond them? Crickets. Darnell Mooney’s 158 yards feel generous, and running back Bijan Robinson’s 413 receiving yards are a band-aid on a deeper wound. The offense ranks 25th in passing yards per game (198.7), and with quarterback Kirk Cousins nursing a minor ankle tweak, head coach Raheem Morris needed a spark.

Enter Wicks, whose 4.38 speed and red-zone savvy could slot him as an immediate WR3 with WR2 upside. “He’s got that explosive gene we crave,” Morris beamed during the Falcons’ afternoon briefing. “Drake and Kyle are our alphas, but Dontayvion gives us another weapon to stretch defenses. This isn’t just depth—it’s a statement. We’re all in on this season.”

The Falcons, now 4-4 and a game behind the surging Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South, see Wicks as the missing piece for a playoff push. His arrival could unlock more play-action for Robinson and force defenses to respect the middle of the field, where Pitts has feasted lately. Atlanta’s war chest now includes Wicks alongside London, Mooney, and Pitts—a quartet that, on paper, screams top-15 offense if Cousins stays upright.

Ripple Effects: NFC Arms Race Heats Up

This trade isn’t happening in a vacuum. The Packers, fresh off a statement win over Rodgers’ Jets that improved them to 7-1, now turn their gaze to a potential Lombardi encore. Bolstered by draft capital, Gutekunst hinted at “exploring all avenues” for defensive help—perhaps a corner or edge rusher—before the deadline closes. Love’s completion percentage (68.4%) and the run game’s efficiency (led by Josh Jacobs’ 612 yards) suggest they’re not broken, just building a dynasty.

In Atlanta, the pressure ratchets up on Cousins and Morris. A Wicks touchdown in their next tilt against the Carolina Panthers on November 9? That could ignite a six-game heater. But if he fizzles like he did in Green Bay? Fingers will point squarely at the front office.

League insiders are buzzing: Is this the first domino in a wide receiver shuffle? The Lions and Eagles, both receiver-rich, might follow suit. For now, though, Wicks packs his bags for Hotlanta, trading Lambeau’s chill for Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s humidity. The TD Hunter hunts anew—and the NFC just got a whole lot more unpredictable.