One Trade Every NFL Team Should Make Before the Season Starts

Welcome to the calm before the storm as NFL training camp is right around the corner. Finally, football is almost back.

Even though massive trades have gone down and the majority of big-name free agents have signed, there’s still plenty of ways for franchises to improve their ever-evolving rosters.

There are veterans around the league who could shine in a new opportunity or bring more value elsewhere. Sometimes a chance is all that’s needed for success.

We’ve identified one trade for all 32 teams. These players have the upside and immediate talent level to serve as a key acquisition. We’ll delve into each mock trade and break down the benefits for each team.

There’s no question the Cardinals are all-in this year. Both head coach Kliff Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim are on the hot seat after spending significant assets over the last few years to reshape this roster. There hasn’t been much to show outside of the development of Kyler Murray and Budda Baker in that timeframe.

Adding edge rusher JJ Watt was a nice start. However, this roster desperately needs a star at the corner position. Aging veterans Robert Alford and Malcolm Butler are bad starters, but would be solidified if defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has Xavien Howard to lock down one side of the field.

Howard’s contract situation and past knee issues are concerns for Miami. He’ll want more guaranteed money following a 10 interception season in 2020. Miami must be swayed with a first-rounder or else a deal is highly unlikely.

Atlanta’s entire offseason strategy was bizarre. Rumors they’d draft a quarterback made more sense than their actual plan. Walking away from this offseason losing Julio Jones and adding only Kyle Pitts as a major acquisition is a tough sell after an abysmal 2020 season.

Alas, they might as well look for cheap upgrades to help win as much as they can with Matt Ryan on the roster. The defense is severely lacking depth and impact players alike. A solid starter who can walk in and eat snaps for a late-round pick is right in their wheelhouse.

Buffalo may be motivated to save some cap room and open up snaps for their young trio of edge rushers if given the chance. Veteran Mario Addison is the logical choice due to his bloated salary and mediocre stats in 2020. Getting any type of compensation for him would be a win, and Atlanta can benefit from his presence as well.

The Ravens have time and time again shown they don’t value great edge talent, but it’s the one glaring weakness on the roster. Defensive coordinator Don Martindale is a phenomenal schemer. Giving him one of the better pass rush specialists in the league would allow Martindale to maximize this defense.

Baltimore routinely finds veterans still with gas in the tank. The best veteran edge who could be on the move is Brandon Graham. The longtime Eagles’ playmaker has notched at least eight sacks in three of the last four seasons.

The Ravens’ unique cornerback depth can be leveraged in a trade. Moving a nice, young corner who isn’t a starter and a late-round pick for Graham would clear cap space for a rebuilding Eagles team and give them assets.

It’s surprising we haven’t already seen Zach Ertz traded or released to this point. His big $8.5 million base salary would be a welcomed subtraction off the Eagles’ cap sheet, and the franchise is ready to reboot without the veteran. There’s also a major need for tight ends around the league.

Philadelphia won’t get much in return for Ertz after injuries slowed the star in 2020. Teams may feel he’ll be cut if they wait, so getting a flier pick in return is the best they can expect. They may even give Ertz some power as to where he’ll end up.

Buffalo has been the obvious fit since rumors of Ertz’s exit first circulated. General manager Brandon Beane has been clear they want more from the position, and they’ve shrewdly added veteran talent in the past to fill holes. They can afford to lose a pick and gamble on Ertz’s upside.

The Panthers have a sneaky-good roster as long as the quarterback swap of Teddy Bridgewater for Sam Darnold pays off. The offense is loaded with young, explosive playmakers. Adding Christian McCaffrey back to the mix can propel this unit into a scary group any given week.

The defense has a good base of talent as well. However, it’s clear where they’re lacking. There’s not a versatile middle linebacker who can play all three downs with Shaq Thompson as a roaming presence.

Arizona now has an expensive backup in Jordan Hicks. The 29-year-old is a quality starter who has range in coverage and holds his own in the trenches. Carolina should be willing to pay to lock-in a higher upside starter than Denzel Perryman.

The Bears’ offseason was one of extremes. On one hand, landing Justin Fields and keeping Allen Robinson were big wins. On the other hand, losing Kyle Fuller was a big blow to a great defense.

Head coach Matt Nagy should be able to build a productive and fun offense with the pieces on the roster currently. It’s not perfect, but the bigger concern is on the defensive side. The secondary has journeymen Artie Burns and Desmond Trufant fighting for playing time.

Getting a higher-upside corner on the roster is a must. Tavon Young, who has suffered two season-ending injuries in a row, was a stellar slot corner who could move outside in a pinch during his first two years. Baltimore is loaded at the position and getting off Young’s $6 million cap hit would be worth taking back a late-round pick.

There’s not a more exciting young offense in the league than what the Bengals boast. Joe Burrow had a fun rookie season that was cut short due to a horrible offensive line. He’s surrounded by Joe Mixon, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd.

More blocking help is needed, though. Rookie second-round pick Jackson Carman is in line to compete for one of the starting guard jobs. It’s unacceptable for a positional convert who struggled with leverage at tackle in college would start for a recovering franchise quarterback.

Grabbing a veteran who is expensive but talented would be a wise move. Brandon Brooks is 32 and has his own injury troubles, but is one of the best blockers in the league when healthy. Cincinnati could do a lot worse than moving a decent asset for a high-upside veteran who can contribute for a couple of years.

The Browns have one of the best rosters in the league. They own the right blend of youth and veterans, and this offseason helped a ton. They were shrewd with spending in free agency and then nailed the draft.

With few needs on the roster, we’re looking for a higher-upside gamble for the defense. One young veteran possible on the move is Cowboys’ linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. Vander Esch is entering the final year of his contract after missing time in both of the last two years. The former Boise State star is still a productive player whenever he’s on the field, though.

Cleveland could unleash the rangy and athletic linebacker corps of Vander Esch and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and stagger their snaps to keep both healthy. The risk is little with Cleveland moving a late third-rounder and a reserve cornerback. Best case is Vander Esch proves to be a long-term answer at the position, and the worst is he’s a part-time contributor on a revamped unit.

The writing seems to be on the wall that Michael Gallup’s time in Dallas is coming to an end. His role diminished in 2020 with CeeDee Lamb taking over as the No. 2 receiver. As nice as it would be to have Gallup as a third option for Dak Prescott in 2021, he’s a luxury and the Cowboys surely won’t be able to afford him beyond this year.

Getting a standout safety to continue rebuilding the defense is more valuable than Gallup for Dallas. They’d have no shortage of interested parties since Gallup is on a cheap one-year, $2.6 million deal and he is a well-rounded receiver. He has low-end No. 1 receiver potential.

Malcolm Jenkins would change the way Dallas plays defense. He’s older (33 years old) but only $5 million in 2021. He’ll make more of a one-year impact than Gallup for this roster, and Jenkins could continue to defy Father Time if his recent years are any indication.

As nice as it would be for the Broncos to land Aaron Rodgers or Deshaun Watson, we’ve already rehashed those possibilities for months. It’s unlikely the Broncos get either superstar barring an unforeseen development.

The Broncos can take advantage of their insane receiver depth by unloading someone who could start elsewhere. Tim Patrick has been lurking as a productive player in limited opportunities in his first three seasons. Set to be a free-agent at 28 years old after this year, he needs a bigger role to prove himself.

Chicago would be a great landing spot. In return, the Broncos would ensure they get another asset for a trade later if a franchise-changing trade presents itself during the season or next year.

A key free-agent signing two years ago after displaying versatility as a pass rusher and run stopper, Trey Flowers was good in 2019 and then had injury setbacks in 2020. The Lions are getting decent value from veteran, but a new regime means change. Unloading his monstrous cap hit would be a tough task and open a roster hole.

The timing might be right, though. The Chiefs already lacked a pass-rusher before the Frank Clark incident, and now may rely on a quartet of unproven youngsters to contribute. That’s not acceptable after their offseason.

Flowers is only attainable due to certain circumstances. Detroit will benefit more long-term from moving him now, and the Chiefs need him in the short-term more than a mid-round pick.

Cooks stated he doesn’t want to be traded beyond the three times he’s already been moved, but he’s been a great asset for numerous reasons. He’s super-talented and productive regardless of his team. He’s failed to crack at least 1,082 yards just twice in his career.

Quietly one of the best speedsters in the league, Cooks is often overlooked despite being more than a vertical threat. His route running is stellar for someone of his stature and speed. Plugging him into a higher-octane offense would be seamless and fruitful.

The Packers can make a loud statement to Aaron Rodgers with this deal. He’d immediately slot in next to Davante Adams as a big-play threat. Immediately, the Packers would have one of the most explosive playmaking duos with Adams and Cooks.

Jaylon Smith is a good litmus test for numbers versus film. Once known for his range and athleticism, Smith has packed on weight to hold down the middle of the Cowboys’ defense. He’s been a box defender more often than anyone thought as he departed Notre Dame.

His 154 tackles in 2020 were a bit deceiving. He wasn’t an impactful player and often looked sluggish. The Cowboys drafted Micah Parsons in part because of Smith’s limitations and huge contract.

The Texans are at a point in their rebuild where they can take swings on high-upside players. For a fourth-round pick, Dallas can clear off his large cap hit and Houston can rehabilitate his athleticism. The 26-year-old would ideally start defending tight ends and play in space more often than he has over the last two years to maximize his modern-day value.

We saw the Colts and Eagles establish a good trade relationship on the Carson Wentz deal. Could the Colts convince the Eagles to end their run with Darius Slay after one year? It’s worth asking.

The Colts need secondary help after seeing the unit struggle to create big plays as the season progressed in 2020. Rock Ya-Sin hasn’t been the answer thus far, and Xavier Rhodes isn’t getting younger. Grabbing Slay can help plug a major need for the next two years.

Slay had a mediocre first season with the Eagles. He’s better suited for a defense that will allow his eyes to stay on the quarterback instead of worrying about a blitzing front. Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus can help extend Slay’s career at a high-level of play.

Signed back in 2018 as a premier run-blocker from Carolina’s then-punishing offense, Andrew Norwell hasn’t quite seen the success in Jacksonville either party was hoping for. The 30-year-old was thought to be part of the answer for this offense but too many issues plagued the unit. Entering his fourth-year with the Jaguars, it’s possible Urban Meyer and his new regime look for a younger option instead of his former Buckeye.

Finding a new home for Norwell would be relatively easy despite his $12 million salary. He’s still a quality pass blocker and an impactful run blocker able to get to the second-level of the defense. Jacksonville can justify keeping him since he’s been a fine investment and fits their scheme.

However, we’d love to see him on a contending team. The Rams have largely forgotten about their offensive line over the last few years. Norwell would be a plug-and-play monster at right guard over Austin Corbett.

There’s supposed value in keeping an old veteran as a backup, but oftentimes this doesn’t translate to the field. The Chiefs brought Chad Henne back as their primary backup even though he failed to show much competence in his relief of Patrick Mahomes in three games in 2020.

Turning 36 before the season, Henne has no physical value on the field. He’s played in just 10 games since 2014, and was a terrible starter previously. Kansas City can upgrade the position and save money by moving on with Gardner Minshew.

Of course, Minshew would win in a similar way by relying on the scheme. But at least he’s mobile, has some natural accuracy that allows him to win outside of the pocket, and can do more than the bare minimum. The Chiefs are another that simply can’t justify not upgrading the role and tanking what is a promising 2021 campaign if Mahomes gets hurt for a short period of time.

Sometimes the timing is perfect for a trade. Barr has had a good stint with the Vikings in 2014, but the 29-year-old looks ripe for a new situation. Entering the final year of his contract and coming off an injury-shortened season, Minnesota should take this chance to clear future money off their books and get some value for the athletic linebacker.

Las Vegas has the reputation for overpaying veterans, but getting Barr at the right price would significantly help the unit. They lack athleticism and Barr brings steady production along with athletic versatility. He’d give defensive coordinator Gus Bradley someone who thrives in space.

The Raiders can then choose to extend Barr on a reasonable deal or use him as a rental. This regime in Las Vegas is starting to feel the heat from ownership, so sending a fourth-round pick to try to win is reasonable.

The Chargers had a wonderful offseason and could leap into a contending spot if their roster can finally stay healthy. Their offense has playmakers throughout it, but their depth is a concern. Los Angeles cannot afford an injury to Austin Ekeler.

Their lack of depth behind Ekeler showed in 2020. Joshua Kelley was terrible despite volume stats. Sports Info Solutions had Kelley ranked 63rd at hitting the correct rush lane in 2020.

Taking a flier on another big back like Penny makes sense. He’s a low-cost, low-risk option but a fresh start outside of Seattle can help rejuvenate the former first-rounder. At worst, Penny can compete for short-yardage situations with Kelley.

The deal that makes the most sense for both the Rams and Jaguars features Norwell. The Rams are slated to start an unproven combination of center Brian Allen and guard Austin Corbett. Getting an impactful guard will benefit the entire group.

Importantly, quarterback Matthew Stafford will reap the rewards, too. Stafford never had an overly effective running game in Detroit. Pairing Norwell with Sean McVay’s elite wide zone run scheme would be a devastating combination.

The Dolphins did their homework and kicked the tires on several running back options this offseason, but had their hopes dashed at each turn. Aaron Jones re-signed in Green Bay and then Najee Harris and Javonte Williams landed in Pittsburgh and Denver, respectively. Miami could still find a helpful back to rotate with Myles Gaskin.

Melvin Gordon is a logical short-term option after Denver jumped over Miami for Williams. The 28-year-old is in the last year of his two-year deal with the Broncos and slated to earn just $4.5 million.

Jordan Howard was already washed at that point, but Gordon has more in the tank. He’d give Miami a solid trio with Gaskin and Malcolm Brown. The running game has to be more of a priority for this young offense in 2021 so having some muscle in the backfield can complete their playmaking overhaul.

From the Vikings’ perspective, having the chance to land an All-Pro-caliber corner in exchange for a receiver who turns 31 in August might be a worthy gamble. Minnesota would be hard-pressed to see Adam Thielen total even half his fluky 14 touchdowns from 2020. They could sell high on their longtime shifty slot receiver now.

Their return would hurt their receiver corps immediately, but there’s more quality receivers on the market than corners. Current projected starting corners Patrick Peterson and Breeland are quality system fits, but limited physical players. Gilmore can lock this position down for the next two years thanks to his style and athleticism.

Taking a swing on Harry may lead to nothing but would be a cheap look at a former first-rounder. A subsequent deal may be necessary, but I’d rather have Gilmore and another receiver over Thielen and a couple of aging corners if I’m the Vikings.

New England’s perspective on the deal is certainly different. Their offense needs a more impactful receiver than anyone on the roster currently. And it helps having JC Jackson, Jalen Mills, and Joejuan Williams already on the roster to ease the loss of Gilmore.

Gilmore’s contract demands loom large over the franchise that continues to churn veteran talent when they want new deals. Flipping him for an asset feels inevitable. It’s just a matter of how good the return will be.

Thielen is a dream fit for an offense that has long found shifty receivers valuable. His deep speed could be more on display with Cam Newton as the starter. He’d lead an overhauled group of playmakers and make them much more respectable.

The Saints should continue to be a competitive team even without Drew Brees. We’ll see how their quarterback battle between Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill plays out, but there’s still a lot of talent leftover from their cap cutdown spree. This regime has done a wonderful job of building with balance through the draft and free agency.

The weakest part of their roster is the receiver position. Michael Thomas is a superstar despite running a lot of slants, and there’s some unlocked talent within Tre’Quan Smith still. This roster could use another freakish athlete to utilize, though.

The Ravens have a slight abundance after adding Sammy Watkins, Rashod Bateman, and Tylan Wallace this offseason. Moving third-year Miles Boykin is far from a requirement, but Boykin has been relegated. The physical specimen may do better with a more aggressive passer in Winston in particular.

Seeing the Giants pass on Justin Fields in order to give Daniel Jones another chance after being terrible in his first two seasons had to give fans a massive pause about this regime. Jones has struggled dearly with turnovers and staying healthy. There’s a lack of natural feeling for the game with Jones, and his status as a developmental talent hasn’t changed.

Relegating Jones to the bench or auctioning him off for a mid-round pick (at best) in order to usher in Rodgers would be well worth the cost. Their trade down to land Kadarius Toney netted them an extra pick in 2022 to use, and their roster is good enough to justify losing some early selections. They can further bolster the offensive line with veterans wanting to join Rodgers in the Big Apple.

The NFC East is open for a team to rise up and take the division. Rodgers would have a fantastic group of playmakers to utilize, a partially-rebuilt offensive line, and sneaky-good defense to work with. They’d become a Super Bowl contender.

Injuries robbed tight end OJ Howard from breaking out with Tom Brady in 2020 and it’s an absolute shame. The athletic 26-year-old hasn’t truly reached his potential despite a solid first two seasons. Some of that is injury-related and also situation-based.

Getting Howard out of Tampa Bay can help determine his success moving forward. Tampa may not want to pay Howard since they still have Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate.

Howard would be a big upgrade in New York, though, and clearly a potential fix at a position they’ve struggled to address in the last decade. The Chris Herndon experiment hasn’t panned out. If healthy, Howard can easily give Zach Wilson a young playmaker to grow with.

We have a few financially-motivated deals with the Eagles throughout this piece for good reason. The Eagles aren’t ready to compete right now and shedding some bloated deals for assets should be a priority. The best deal they can make is to get back a third-round asset for an aging blocker.

Brooks has been a star when on the field. His movement ability in the run game and stonewalling hands as a pass-blocker make him arguably the top interior blocker in the NFL. But his career is closer to the end than the middle at this point.

Shedding his future money would be a massive win for the franchise. He restructured his contract, making his dead cap expensive, but the Eagles would see the cap benefits in 2022.

The Steelers are another team with too many receivers for their own good. 25-year-old James Washington is a premier vertical threat but he’s stuck on a roster without a good downfield passer. Ben Roethlisberger is more like Alex Smith than a vertical threat, making Washington a poor fit.

Meanwhile, the Steelers need offensive line help. Finding a current backup elsewhere who could be a starter in Pittsburgh isn’t easy because of the dearth of available talent around the league. Kansas City was so proactive in rebuilding the offensive line that they can flip one of their signings for Washington.

Austin Blythe was a good starter for the Rams, but has thus far been behind rookie Creed Humphrey. Kansas City needs a receiver, and Blythe can compete at guard and center for the Steelers. This is a win-win.

When on the field, Sterling Shepard is one of the most consistent receivers who isn’t a star in the league. He missed six games in 2019 and four games in 2020. Shepard has still produced at least 576 yards in all five years of his career.

His reliability would make him an ideal fit in San Francisco. The Giants have too many bodies at receiver after adding several this offseason. Shepard is on his way out as he’s midway through his four-year, $41 million extension.

The 49ers would slot him into their third-receiver role for stability. His ability to move around formations and win with route-running and great hands make him a perfect complimentary piece to youngsters Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.

Seattle invested a second-round pick into the miniscule but speedy D’Wayne Eskridge this offseason but still lack a refined third receiver on the roster. It’d be great to give Russell Wilson a more polished slot threat to complement DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett while Eskridge develops. The best slot option for them would have been Jamison Crowder.

Crowder is settled in New York for now. He restructured his contract to stay with the team despite the deep depth chart. He would’ve been better off going elsewhere than competing on a rebuilding team with a rookie quarterback throwing the ball.

Houston is another team that should be focused on stripping down their roster of expensive veterans in favor of assets and developing youth. The 30-year-old Whitney Mercilus is in the last year of his deal and can be a productive role player. Tampa Bay has a loaded roster but could stand to bolster their pass-rush rotation for the right price.

Mercilus is stout as a run defender thanks to his great lower body anchor and awareness. His pass rush numbers aren’t the most efficient, but he works hard and can use his strength to wear down blockers. Getting a capable body who can eat snaps and keep teammates healthy is a good strategy.

It’s never a good sign for a player when a team makes multiple acquisitions at their position. Chase Winovich has 5.5 sacks in each of his first two seasons with New England, but the Patriots invested heavily into their defense. Newcomers Matt Judon, Kyle Van Noy, and Ronnie Perkins will eat into his playing time.

We know the Patriots will hoard assets whenever possible. Tennessee can offer a clear path to playing time as a needed third-rusher on their defense. Bud Dupree and Harold Landry would benefit from a rotational presence who can spell either throughout games.

Winovich is a tough-nosed edge player who has good burst off the line and tenacity near the quarterback. He’s not an overly stout run defender or as flexible as the top-tier rushers, making him an ideal subpackage role player.

Derek Carr had his best career season in terms of actual impact in 2020. The Raiders had a competent offense despite lacking a good run game and deep array of receivers. Carr’s ability to play under pressure and to improvise took a clear step forward.

Alas, it wasn’t enough for a bad Las Vegas roster to win. The Raiders should blow it up and start anew. Giving Carr a chance to win as he turned 30 this year can revitalize his career like Ryan Tannehill saw in Tennessee.

WFT is the best landing spot for him. Carr’s efficiency and deep throwing ability would be an incredible fit with Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Logan Thomas, and Kelvin Harmon. They’d vault to one of the premier NFC teams immediately, making the first-round pick cost easily worth it.