April 28, 2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers are eyeing a backfield boost, with a proposed trade sending wide receiver Romeo Doubs and a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Washington Commanders for running back Austin Ekeler, sources told Bleacher Report Tuesday.
Green Bay Packers Receive: Austin Ekeler
Washington Commanders Receive: Romeo Doubs, 2026 Fifth-Round Pick
Ekeler, 30, signed a two-year, $8 million deal with Washington in 2024, posting 628 rushing yards and 436 receiving yards (NFL.com). His $4.2 million cap hit in 2025 fits Green Bay’s $47 million cap space, offering a pass-catching complement to Josh Jacobs (Spotrac).
Jacobs, with 1,329 yards in 2024, anchors the Packers’ run game, but MarShawn Lloyd’s injury history raises depth concerns (Packers Wire). “We need insurance,” GM Brian Gutekunst said. Ekeler’s 51 catches in 2024 make him ideal for Matt LaFleur’s scheme.
Doubs, 25, tallied 700 yards but faced a 2024 suspension, making him expendable with Matthew Golden’s draft arrival (ESPN). Washington, seeking receiver depth behind Terry McLaurin, gains Doubs’ 11.4 yards per catch and a 2026 pick (The Athletic).
Ekeler’s 1,064 scrimmage yards in 2024 bolster Green Bay’s 11th-ranked passing attack. Paired with Jacobs’ power, his 8.5 yards per catch diversifies an offense reliant on Jordan Love’s 3,947 yards and Jayden Reed’s slot routes (Pro Football Reference).
The Commanders, with Brian Robinson Jr. and Chris Rodriguez Jr., can afford to move Ekeler. Doubs fills a need for Jayden Daniels, whose 2024 rookie campaign lacked consistent targets. The pick aids Washington’s 2026 rebuild (CBS Sports).
The Packers’ 11-6 wild-card exit exposed backfield vulnerabilities. Ekeler’s veteran savvy, with 69 career touchdowns, ensures depth, though his 3.7 yards per carry raises questions. Will this $8 million weapon ignite Titletown’s Super Bowl push in 2025?
