football-player football-score football-helmet football-ball Accuracy Arm-Strength Balance Ball-Security Ball-Skills Big-Play-Ability Block-Deconstruction Competitive-Toughness Core-Functional-Strength Decision-Making Discipline Durability Effort-Motor Elusivness Explosiveness Football-IQ Footwork Functional-Athleticism Hand-Counters Hand-Power Hand-Technique Hands Lateral-Mobility Leadership Length Mechanics Mobility Pass-Coverage-Ability Pass-Protection Pass-Sets Passing-Down-Skills Pocket-Manipulation Poise Power-at-POA Progressions RAC-Ability Range Release-Package Release Route-Running Run-Defending Separation Special-Teams-Ability-1 Versatility Vision Zone-Coverage-Skills Anchor-Ability Contact-Balance Man-Coverage-Skills Tackling Lifted Logic Web Design in Kansas City clock location phone email play chevron-down chevron-left chevron-right chevron-up facebook tiktok checkbox checkbox-checked radio radio-selected instagram google plus pinterest twitter youtube send linkedin search arrow-circle bell left-arrow right-arrow tdn-mark filled-play-circle yellow-arrow-circle dark-arrow-circle star cloudy snowy rainy sunny plus minus triangle-down link close drag minus-circle plus-circle pencil premium trash lock simple-trash simple-pencil eye cart
NFL Draft

NFL Trade Deadline Primer: Trades That Should, Could, We Want To Happen

  • The Draft Network
  • November 2, 2020
  • Share

As a draft site, we’re all about speculation. But we like to have an objective or avenue with our speculation so it’s not just doing backflips off the furniture in the living room before mom gets home from work. 

Outside of the draft itself, the two biggest speculation spots in the NFL calendar are the opening of free agency and the in-season trade deadline.

This year the trade deadline is Nov. 3 (don’t forget to vote!), and with less parity around the league—meaning the good teams are really good, and the bad teams are really bad—there are more potential buyers and sellers on both sides of the market. This could make for an active few days.

Here are a handful of potential trades I’ve thought about which I’ve categorized into relative likelihood. 

3 Trades That Should Happen

1. Will Fuller to Packers

This one makes too much sense. The Packers should have been targeting receivers with their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but opted to go with a player who, best-case scenario, won’t touch the field until 2022-2023. Not what I would’ve done, but hey, I’m just a guy sitting at a computer.

The Texans are bad. It’s not as easy of a, “let’s just blow it all up and totally rebuild” as it is for other teams, but there’s reason to believe they would move on from any of their top wide receivers—if Hopkins wasn’t untouchable, none of the remaining guys should be.

Fuller is a veteran vertical threat who has been known to be a touchdown specialist when he’s healthy. Give this guy to Aaron Rodgers and that offense will stay cooking. 

2. David Njoku to Cardinals 

It has been rumored that Njoku has wanted out of Cleveland for a bit now, given how many tight end options they’ve brought in around him. There was a report on the matter near the start of the season, and those rumors and reports once again popped up as we approached the deadline.

The Cardinals have reliable weapons at receiver and running back, but tight end isn’t a position they’ve been able to emphasize. Dan Arnold leads the tight end room in receiving with just 11 catches on 15 targets, but his 14 yards-per-catch average is encouraging. Imagine the explosive Njoku in such a role. 

3. A.J. Green to Colts

I’m not so sure this one would happen, but I think it should. T.Y. Hilton once again leads the Colts in receiving. Behind him, Indy has the now reliable Zach Pascal, but with Parris Campbell on IR, they could use another veteran target down the stretch. The reason why I like Green for the Colts is because they drafted Michael Pittman Jr. early in the second round for his size. But he has just 12 targets in three games played. 

I am not sure what the cost would be for Green, but if he can be had for a reasonable price, I think he fits what the 5-2 Colts could use for a playoff run. 

3 Trades That Could Happen

1. Anthony Harris to Browns

The Browns’ biggest need on defense looks to be on the back end of their secondary. The Vikings might be less likely to fire-sale their good players after their victory over the Packers this week, but if they are willing to part ways with Harris, his former coach in Kevin Stefanski should be one of the first and most bold coaches to make an offer.

2. Takkarist McKinley to Seahawks

McKinley has not been what the Falcons hoped they were getting when they drafted him in the first round back in 2017. Atlanta declined the fifth-year option on the pass-rusher’s rookie contract before the season, which means he’ll be a free agent this spring.

The Seahawks have a legit shot at a Super Bowl this year with how well their offense is firing on all cylinders, but their defense isn’t holding up their end of the bargain. They recently added veteran pass-rusher Carlos Dunlap, but they also inquired about Aldon Smith from Dallas. That makes me believe they’re still in the market if the price is right. Perhaps a change of scenery could bring McKinley some much-needed life. 

3. D.J. Hayden to Bills

The Bills are another one of those teams that have a shot at a deep playoff run. When that’s the case, you don’t want one unfortunate injury to completely derail your chances.

With just one win seven games into the season, the Jaguars should be sellers. Hayden is a veteran cornerback who could boost a Bills cornerback room that could use some starter depth beyond Tre’Davious White as their CB1. 

3 Trades That Probably Won’t Happen

1. Stephon Gilmore to Browns

In the latest episode of HGTV-NFL reporting, Gilmore put his New England house up for sale, which of course spiked the interest of NFL rumor mills believing this could be a sign he wants out of the team as well as the area.

Gilmore is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year still playing at a very high level. Though the Patriots are in unfamiliar territory now at 2-5 on the season with four straight losses, I don’t expect Gilmore to be moved. The price would likely be two top-50 picks, maybe even two first-rounders.

If the Browns can manage to bring the price down if Gilmore really wants out, can you imagine Denzel Ward on one side and Gilmore on the other?  

2. Ryan Kerrigan to Saints

Ryan Kerrigan has been one of the most consistent pass-rushers in the NFL over the last decade. He was half-sack in 2015 away from a five-straight double-digit sack streak between 2014 and 2018.

With the Washington Football Team being, well, bad, and with them already having two young pass-rusher studs in the farm with Chase Young and Montez Sweat, there has been word that Kerrigan would like out, likely to a playoff contender. 

The Saints don’t have a huge need for a pass-rusher, but if they make it to where they plan on getting this season, they’ll need all the experienced pass-rushers they can get. 

3. Dwayne Haskins to Steelers

Ah, this is where things could get interesting.

Kerrigan isn’t the only player who could be on the move from Washington. After being benched for Kyle Allen a few weeks ago (and being named the third-string quarterback, not even the immediate backup) Washington is likely done with the former first-round pick. From the way they’ve treated his situation, there’s a chance Haskins’ price tag is all the way in the Day 3 pick range. If that’s the case, why not take a chance on Haskins as the guy to learn behind Ben Roethlisberger for a year or two before he retires? Could be a low-risk, high-reward for Pittsburgh.

Haskins was clearly thrown into action way before he was ready. Haskins studying under a head coach like Mike Tomlin could be the secret to his success.

3 Trades That Won’t Happen (But Would Be Fun)

1. Ryan Fitzpatrick to Cowboys

Now we’re into the category of trades that won’t happen that I really wish would. With quarterback Dak Prescott out for the year, the Cowboys’ offense currently feels like a Lamborghini driving through a school zone. 

Fitzpatrick, as one of the most DGAF gunslingers over the last decade, was just benched by the Miami Dolphins as they made the transition to rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Fitzpatrick won’t be starting again in Miami barring an injury, and he sounded so heartbroken after being benched. Let the man throw out his arm to receivers like Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb. Dallas would be must-watch TV every week. 

2. Julio Jones to 49ers

The Falcons have put to rest any trade rumors of their top offensive weapon Julio Jones. Which is the right decision, even amidst a down year that will usher in a new front office regime. This trade also wouldn’t make any sense because Jones carries a $20 million cap hit this season and a $23 million cap his next season, while the Niners have the second least amount of cap space in the NFL at just over $1 million.

But Kyle Shanahan getting Jones at his disposal again? The last time that happened Jones had his most productive season ever with 1,871 yards on 136 catches with eight touchdowns. Having Jones and Kittle in the same offense with the other weapons would be extremely fun (for anyone not lining up against them).

3. Quinnen Williams to Buccaneers

For a while, there was not only a rumor about the former No. 3 overall pick Quinnen Williams being available for trade, but reason to believe it. Williams didn’t have as much of a breakout year as some hoped. Plus, head coach Adam Gase had already shipped off the likes of Jamal Adams and Le’Veon Bell, so it’s not like anyone was truly “untouchable.”

But the Jets have sort of squashed the rumors that Williams was available. Perhaps that was because of what teams were offering; perhaps it wasn’t. But even if the door was/is at all open for Williams to be moved, the Buccaneers would be a team that could offer a first-round pick on the spot and it makes sense. Why? No Vita Vea for the rest of a season in which they hope to have a Super Bowl run, and the potential to move on from Ndamukong Suh and the money he commands next year while getting Vea back. Plus, the Buccaneers are hoping that first-round pick is as close to No. 32 as possible.

Filed In

Related Articles

Written By

The Draft Network