10 Trades That Should Happen Before the NFL Trade Deadline
The NFL trade deadline is less than a month away and we're looking at 10 trades that absolutely should happen before the deadline. Who will get moved?
Sep 9, 2018; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) celebrates his touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. The touchdown was the first of his NFL career. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Week 6 of the 2021 NFL season is about to kickoff, meaning we’re almost to the NFL trade deadline in early November. Contenders are emerging and that has left two categories of teams. Either expectations are being met and it’s time to reinforce the roster, or there’s panic setting in as the on-field results haven’t been as positive.
Last year, we saw several quality veterans swap teams for reasonable draft pick compensation. Oftentimes it’s the salary cap limitations that make teams shy about acquiring impactful talent. But the risk of swapping a Day 2 or Day 3 draft pick for immediate help has much higher upside for a playoff run than what could happen in several years.
We’ve identified 10 playmakers who should be dealt and the perfect team for each trade target. Some trades are more about bolstering a positional group and others could be the difference between missing the playoffs or being a real Super Bowl threat.
Let’s dive in and break down the best players on the market and where they could land.
Marcus Maye to Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have already devoted a lot of assets to the secondary within the last two years. They drafted safety Jeremy Chinn in the second-round in the 2020 draft, then reinforced the group by acquiring Stephon Gilmore, Jaycee Horn, C.J. Henderson, and A.J. Bouye this year. Their defense is incredibly versatile and athletic all of a sudden.
There’s one area where we could see an uptick in production and overall talent. Their strong safety position is manned by Sean Chandler now that Juston Burris is on injured reserve. Chandler is nice but not someone who does anything but make tackles. Adding a special talent like Marcus Maye adds a ton of value.
Maye is playing out his last season with the Jets after not receiving a contract extension. At 28, Maye is a quality coverage player who is more than comfortable in the box. Essentially, the Panthers would have two versatile safeties in their prime without long-term commitment.
This is the type of move that could solidify their standing in the Wild Card race. Of course, Maye is dealing with DUI charges from February, which could suppress his value and availability.
Marlon Mack to Buffalo Bills
There’s no question the Colts and Marlon Mack are ready to go their separate ways after the back re-signed this past off-season. He’s healthy enough to contribute to a contender after suffering a ruptured Achilles’ Tendon last year. Thus far, he’s rushed 20 times for 85 yards and six first downs.
Mack is an explosive back capable of handling RB1 duties. He’s a slasher who gets upfield quickly and has excellent burst. With few teams needing an actual starter, a contender wanting depth and a home-run threat could nab him. The Bills immediately stand out.
Starter Devin Singletary has been better than last year but the team was hoping Zack Moss would take over the role. Moss has been more of a plodder and inefficient. Mack could eventually become a true compliment to Singletary if given the opportunity.
Xavien Howard to Arizona Cardinals
The NFL’s most surprising team must keep the positivity going. The Cardinals have an MVP candidate in Kyler Murray and a defense out-performing their individual talent. Losing Maxx Williams for the season was notable, but the Cardinals only have the cap flexibility to add one major piece who is not on a rookie deal.
Their best possible acquisition is cornerback Xavien Howard. The Dolphins’ star cornerback is one of the most dangerous secondary weapons with his tremendous ball skills. He was the primary reason Miami produced one of the stingiest defenses in the NFL last year.
This season has been a huge disappointment for Miami and Howard has seen his play dip a little as the entire team has seen a disconnection from each other. Arizona should take advantage of the dysfunction to acquire Howard and upgrade their young cornerback group. The current group has relied far too much on the aging Robert Alford, who turns 33 at the end of October, for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Whitney Mercilus to Kansas City Chiefs
The options are limited for Kansas City due to the lack of impactful safeties, edge rushers, and linebackers on the market. Also factoring in the Chiefs’ financial limitations, they’ll be bargain shopping. They’d either need a player to take less to join the 2-3 Chiefs, the trading team to eat some salary, or acquire a cheaper and likely less talented name.
The right blend of value, filling a need, and on-field fit is Whitney Mercilus. The lifetime Texans’ edge-rusher won’t fix all of the problems Kansas City is facing but he can give the team a legitimate other option than the flailing Frank Clark. Mercilus already has three sacks on the year and is a physical force in the run game.
Mercilus’ price tag is drastically lower than Xavien Howard and Marcus Maye’s large contracts. Both would be more helpful short-term and long-term, but the Chiefs have invested heavily into some of the wrong players and are now paying the price for those decisions.
Zach Ertz to Cincinnati Bengals
There might be a few tight ends on the market this trade deadline, a rarity considering the dearth of talent at the position league-wide. The top names include Zach Ertz, Evan Engram, and Eric Ebron. Ertz is by far the most reliable but also the most expensive of the group.
The Bengals have a dire need to upgrade from Drew Sample at tight end. Sample often looks lost as a receiver and blocker, and Joe Burrow wants to keep him involved in their air assault. Upgrading to Ertz would bring stability and reliability to one of the league’s finest passing games.
Philadelphia must also be motivated to cut costs. Ertz has been shopped since the end of last season to no avail. The 31-year-old has been a nice presence for Jalen Hurts but is clearly not part of the plan beyond 2021.
Fletcher Cox to Los Angeles Chargers
Another longtime Eagles stalwart should be on the move is Fletcher Cox. The star defensive linemen has a large $12.9 million cap hit this year but only a $1.1 million base salary. His deal was built to trade more than cut because of the prorated bonus structure.
At 30 years old, Cox has been less effective than in years past. His role has changed with Javon Hargrave emerging as the next star for Philadelphia, and Cox is clearly expendable. But that doesn’t mean he couldn’t feast elsewhere on a contender.
The Chargers have been linked to Bears’ defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, but Hicks is more expensive. Cox offers similar interior explosiveness and versatility at a more affordable rate. Combining Cox with Joey Bosa would help unlock the rest of the defensive line.
Saquon Barkley to the Baltimore Ravens
We’ve seen a revolving door of running backs for the Ravens since they lost tailbacks JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards for the year. They’re relying on the dead legs of LAtavius Murray, Devonta Freeman, and Le’Veon Bell, and have seemingly given up on Ty’Son Williams after fumble concerns. Adding a legitimate talent at the position would help Lamar Jackson tremendously.
Midway through his fourth season in New York and suffering a freak ankle injury in Week 5, Saquon Barkley seems closer to the end of his time with the Giants than ever before. He’s averaging just 39 yards a game and 3.6 yards per-carry in the Giants’ broken offense. It’s hard to imagine the capped-out Giants doling out a fat contract to Barkley after 2021.
The Ravens can offer a much healthier situation for Barkley to flourish in as a receiver and rusher. This is Jackson’s offense now and the team has prioritized his improved passing. That will create easy opportunities for Barkley to create big plays as he’s fighting for a big deal next offseason.
Trey Flowers to Seattle Seahawks
No one is shocked the Trey Flowers signing in Detroit has fallen a bit flat. Flowers was productive in his first season with the team, but injuries have left him more of a run defender and less explosive when chasing quarterbacks. Just 28 years old, a fresh start off a rebuilding team could do wonders for Flowers.
The issue is money. Flowers has a whopping $14.37 base salary for 2021. He can be cut for solid savings after the year, but a team like Kansas City can’t afford him this year without concessions being made. Detroit should offer to eat some of his salary for a bigger market to unfold for the versatile defensive lineman.
Seattle is one of the best fits possible. Flowers can split time between defensive tackle and end, providing a snap-eating presence who holds his own at the line of scrimmage much more consistently than their current rotation of linemen.
Joe Haden to Dallas Cowboys
Sitting in last place in the AFC North and little reason to believe the team can ascend into playoff contention, the Steelers need to start their rebuilding efforts. Shedding some salary for future assets makes the most sense. Trading Joe Haden, Eric Ebron, and any other veteran not a part of their core must be a priority.
Haden should be easy to move. He’s 32 years old and in the last year of his deal with a $7 million base salary for new teams to acquire. He’s still playing at a solid level but he’s more of a zone corner than an option for man-heavy defenses.
Dallas is the perfect landing spot because of their varied defense, status as a contender, and desperate need to upgrade on Anthony Brown across from Trevon Diggs. Haden’s physicality in coverage and against the run would bolster their immediate upside. The 31st-ranked pass defense couldn’t do much better than a short-term commitment to Haden.
Brandin Cooks to Green Bay Packers
After a rough start to the season with an alarming blowout loss to the Saints, the Packers have recovered to a 4-1 record. Their record is good, but the drop in offensive efficiency is cause for concern. The Packers have the 16th-ranked passing game and 21st rushing attack.
It’s not a new statement to say the Packers need another playmaker at receiver other than the incredible Davante Adams. Not a single receiver besides him presents even a small threat for defenses. The Packers need a reliable and explosive threat.
Going back to Houston to nab Brandin Cooks after acquiring Randall Cobb would be ideal. Cooks has said in the past he doesn’t want to be dealt again but the thought of competing for a Super Bowl with Rodgers must be more attractive than wasting away in Houston. The 28-year-old has been relegated to a possession receiver with Davis Mills and Tyrod Taylor targeting him.
With just $2.5 base salary owed to him, Cooks is the most valuable offensive playmaker Green Bay could reasonably acquire. He’s played with Tom Brady and Drew Brees already in his career, so it’s easy to imagine he’d fit in with Aaron Rodgers just fine. The Packers could get an asset back for him in the offseason if they decide to tear things down or that he was just a rental.