Rasul Douglas hung up on Packers GM Brian Gutekunst when learning of trade
The trade sending cornerback Rasul Douglas from Green Bay to Buffalo stunned Packers fans as the veteran received the news at the NFL deadline on Tuesday. The move, which saw the Packers exchange a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick to the Bills, was so surprising to the former third-round draft pick that he initially hung up the phone on general manager Brian Gutekunst.
“[Brian Gutekunst] called me at first, I thought it was like a joke because he wasn’t saying too much,” Douglas said, via Alaina Getzenberg. “He was just like, ‘We’re trading you.’ And then the conversation was over, I just hung up.”
Reality only struck the star defender when Packers president Mark Murphy called to thank him for his part in helping the organization. After sharing the news with running back Aaron Jones, Douglas says the two cried together over the abrupt career move.
Douglas is in his seventh season in the NFL. This was his third year with the Packers, having previous stops with the Philadelphia Eagles (2017-19) and Carolina Panthers (2020). So far this season, he has accounted for 32 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception in seven games with Green Bay.
For his career, Douglas has played in 96 games and made 57 starts. He has accounted for 354 tackles, including 292 solo stops. Douglas has also tallied 66 passes defended and two interceptions.
Packers stunned by Douglas trade to Buffalo
The Packers trading Rasul Douglas to the Bills stunned Green Bay players and the fans. Keisean Nixon, a fellow DB, said he still is at a “loss for words.”
“I understand it’s a business,” Nixon said of his teammate and friend. “But I’m still sick to my stomach, honestly.”
Nixon described Douglas as “somebody who stabilized the locker room. He’s a big part of what we were preaching and approaching as a team, and now he’s gone.”
Douglas would have the chance to become an immediate impact player for Buffalo after the trade. He was a regular starter over the last two-and-a-half seasons in Green Bay. The defensive back appeared in 36 contests, starting in 28.
The Packers have dropped each of their last four games, falling to 2-5 on the season. Buffalo has been on a bit of an up-and-down trend the past few games, sitting at 5-3 on the year.
Green Bay takes on the L.A. Rams on Sunday, while the Bills head to Cincinnati for a Sunday Night Football showdown.
On3’s Suzanne Halliburton contributed to this report.