NFL Players that Need to Be Traded

This week marks the start of the NFL offseason and the most exciting part is just around the corner. In free agency, players from all over the league suddenly come under focus as potential trade targets, some of whom you’ve probably never heard of. Most top free agents resign with their current teams, like what Le’Veon Bell will probably do, but others look elsewhere for better deals or just lifestyle changes, like Josh Norman. For the sake of making this discussion interesting, let’s turn our focus to the most likely candidates for trades this offseason.

• QB Jimmy Garoppolo (New England Patriots)

The Patriots clearly don’t need Jimmy G. Tom Brady just won his 5th Super Bowl, is signed through 2019, and shows no signs of slowing down (fingers crossed). Jimmy Garoppolo started the first 2 games this past season and led the Patriots to a 2–0 start before going down with an injury. He held his ground in the pocket and played like a veteran quarterback. He is more than qualified for a starting role. So, should Patriots hold onto him and wait for a better deal to come along when teams get more desperate or take what they can get right now? I believe Jimmy can haul in some nice pieces for the team, so if the right offer comes they shouldn’t hesitate. Teams like the Texans, Browns, 49ers, and Bears could all come calling. It’s only a matter of time before someone decides that their team needs a franchise quarterback and is willing to roll the dice with Jimmy (who smells almost as good as Tom Brady).

• QB Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys)

Tony Romo went from good to great to bad (injured) to totally irrelevant in Dallas. It’s really sad to see this happen to him because it’s clear that he can still play. Now that Dak Prescott has proven himself as Dallas’s franchise QB, the Boys don’t need Tony and most likely don’t want to pay him the rest of the $54 million he’s owed. They will look to trade him this offseason and there a few teams that already have their eyes on the veteran QB. The Broncos, Bills, 49ers, Browns, and Jets all appear to be interested. Tony can offer any team some decent QB play for a few more years as well as veteran leadership.

[Check out my fellow writer’s article for an interesting trade in which Dallas sends Tony Romo to the Browns for their first round pick (1st overall) in this year’s draft]

• QB Tyrod Taylor (Buffalo Bills)

The Buffalo Bills are fresh off yet another playoff-less season. At this point they have probably concluded that Tyrod Taylor is not the solution (though he’s certainly not their biggest problem either). He is very inconsistent and doesn’t seem comfortable in the pocket. He does have his upsides, though. He is able to throw deep with accuracy and run with the football, but even Rex Ryan was hesitant to start Tyrod as the season came to a close. Tyrod has a very lucrative contract option offering him $40 million guaranteed for the next two years. He definitely can help a team so the Bills may want to find a QB-less team who would be willing to pay a good price for him. Again, look for the 49ers, Bears, and Browns to be the main players in the Tyrod Taylor market.

• QB Jay Cutler (Chicago Bears)

Let me start by saying that I hate Jay Cutler. He may be the worst QB in the NFL today (and yes, I am including Brock). He is constantly injured and throws interceptions on every other pass attempt. The Bears signed him to a huge extension because it’s clear that nobody in their front office has a clue. He should just return all the money he’s received. The guy flat out can’t play football. It’s gotten so bad that the Bears may just cut him and not even try to trade him. Who would want him when everyone else on the market is a better option? Only the Browns may take him because, well, they’re the Browns. They take everyone’s trash and just constantly shoot themselves in the foot, but I can’t even see them taking him. Unless the Bears decide to cut him and he disappears from the league completely, look for the twice-a-game camera shots of Cutler staring aimlessly into nothing while riding the pine.

• RB Matt Forte (NY Jets)

Forte had a decent season with the Jets. He ran for 813 yards and 7 TD’s, but he was clearly showing signs of aging and wasn’t the main guy down the line for the Jets. He is signed through 2019 and is backed up by Bilal Powell. Bilal has both the running skills and catching skills to be a starting back in the league. Bilal finished the season with 722 yards, but most came at the end of the season when he was getting the majority of the carries. That is very impressive considering Forte started three times the amount of games as Bilal and only finished with 91 more yards. Powell is only 28 and has fresh legs. The Jets need to start rebuilding and trading Forte, who still has the ability to produce and possibly get them back some good value, will be a good start. Playoff teams that need a RB like the Lions, Giants, and Texans would be a good fit for Forte.

• RB Alfred Morris (Dallas Cowboys)

Alfred Morris is in a different situation than Forte. Morris is only 28 and has fallen back in the depth chart in Dallas thanks to the brilliant play of Zeke Elliott. The Cowboys really don’t need Morris as a backup. I fully expect Zeke to get 98% of the carries and stay healthy (fingers crossed). Morris was a starter in Washington before signing with Dallas last offseason and had a solid season as a backup for Zeke. I still believe he can be a starting back. Dallas should try and trade Morris for another piece to bolster their roster as they look to contend for multiple Super Bowls in the next few years.

• WR Brandon Marshall (NY Jets)

The next man the Jets should trade is Brandon Marshall. No question he can still play, but this season was horrific for every Jets player. They need to rebuild and must trade Marshall. He is only 32 and continues to be an explosive receiver. The Jets traded a 5th rounder for Marshall, but they could probably get a third or fourth this season from a team who needs WR help. Both the Seahawks and Lions come to mind. They are playoff teams and wouldn’t mind giving up a middle round pick for a player like Marshall. Seattle would have to give up a big contract if they want to add Brandon, and even then it may not be possible.

• DE Sheldon Richardson (NY Jets)

Now if the Jets really want to rebuild, they should trade Richardson A$AP (Rocky). He is the only hot player that will bring in quite a load for the Jets. Richardson is a young, explosive, and athletic defensive end. The Jets already have a ton of money invested in other top defensive players like Muhammad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams so trading Richardson wouldn’t be the worst thing for their D-Line. The Giants have been linked to Richardson talks lately as have the Broncos and Cowboys. Could a Tony Romo — Sheldon Richardson type deal be on the horizon?

• CB Joe Haden (Cleveland Browns)

The Browns are a mess as usual. It’s time they trade some of their valuable players and acquire some young talent to begin their 10th rebuild in a row. Joe Haden is one of their best players and is signed through 2020. He’s a great cover corner and this past season he recorded 48 tackles and 3 interceptions. Not bad for a defensive back who has been injured a bit. A rebuilding team needs to know when to part ways (maybe they should hire Sam Hinkie?). Now is the time. They need to haul in some draft picks for this guy if they can. Any team would benefit from the addition of Haden, but will they want to take on his huge contract? That remains to be seen. Shutdown CB’s are a rare item in the league, and they are pretty expensive in free agency, so any team with that need would likely try to work out a trade with Cleveland. One team that comes to mind is the Saints.

• RB Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings)

Adrian Peterson’s days in Minnesota are numbered. Everyone wants him to finish his career there, but it is not looking likely. The Vikings don’t want to pay him and A.P doesn’t want to restructure his contract. He is aging and his injury-riddled past provides ample reason for Minnesota to move him. Luckily for A.P, he is a talented RB and many teams need help at that position. He has already mentioned the Lions, Texans, and Giants as teams he would like to play for. All three of these teams make sense. Only time will tell if #AllDay is really on the move.

[Other trade candidates include Joe Thomas, Alfred Blue, Jamaal Charles, Jonathan Stewart, Darren Sproles, and Rob Gronkowski (Maybe… he is injured often and the Patriots just proved that they can win the Super Bowl without him.)]