What is a key trade piece? It's complicated. For a
contending team, it might be a high-quality backup who could start elsewhere
and fetch a player who could fill another hole.
A key trade piece for a rebuilding team might be an aging
veteran who would be more highly valued by a contender and could fetch an extra
draft pick or two.
For a team flush with cap space, it could be cheap player
who could be swapped for a better, more expensive one.
And a key trade piece for a team low on cap space could be
an expensive player the franchise could swap for someone cheaper and less
established with more upside or an extra draft pick or two.
Generally speaking, we're looking at players who are
expendable to one team but valuable to another.
With that in mind, here are the top trade pieces on
every NFL roster as we
approach the start of the new league year March 13.
Here are more than half a dozen teams that could do exactly that.
PITTSBURGH
STEELERS: WR ANTONIO BROWN
Trading superstar wide receiver Antonio Brown won't
be easy for the Pittsburgh Steelers, at least from a financial perspective.
They'd probably be best-served to wait until June 1 to do so, since that'd
enable them to spread out a dead cap hit in excess of $20 million over a
two-year span. But that could limit the market with the heart of free agency
and all of the draft over with.
Still, it's clear the two parties are interested in a
divorce, and that does make a lot of sense on paper. Brown has obviously become
a nuisance within that organization, and 22-year-old JuJu Smith-Schuster
might already be leapfrogging the 30-year-old Brown to become the team's best
receiver.
But a lot of teams will likely be in on Brown, who has gone
over 1,200 yards in a ridiculous six consecutive seasons. And those with enough
money and enough of a need will either wait until June 1, make room at that
point in time or find a way to convince the Steelers to pull the trigger
earlier.
ARIZONA CARDINALS:
WR LARRY FITZGERALD
Following a 3-13 season, the rebuilding Arizona Cardinals
probably aren't on the verge of competing in the strong NFC West. That makes
any player in his late 30s an obvious trade candidate, and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald will
be 36 before he suits up for another regular-season game.
Fitzgerald is no longer the player he once was, but he's
still a top-notch possession receiver who could help a wide variety of
contending teams in search of wisdom off the field and a safety valve on the
field.
Arizona is on the hook for the 11-time Pro Bowler's entire
$11 million 2019 salary following a recent extension, but you'd think that a
cap-rich, receiver-starved competitor would be willing to give the Cards a
premium draft pick in exchange for Fitzgerald's services. The Indianapolis
Colts immediately come to mind.
Still, there have been no indications the Cardinals or
Fitzgerald wants a divorce. If a trade goes down, it's more likely to happen in
the fall, when it's clear Arizona is out of contention and a team needs him for
a playoff run.
ATLANTA FALCONS:
WR MOHAMED SANU
Julio Jones remains
the big receiver on campus for the Atlanta Falcons, while 2018 first-round pick
Calvin Ridley looks as though he's due for a tremendous sophomore campaign
following a 10-touchdown season.
That could make veteran wideout Mohamed Sanu
expendable, especially with slot specialists Golden Tate, Adam Humphries,
Jamison Crowder and Cole Beasley slated to hit the free-agent market.
The 29-year-old Sanu has been a consistent, reliable and
productive No. 2 receiver the last three years in Atlanta, but the Falcons can
save nearly $5 million by trading him.
Doing so could eventually be viewed as an act of selling
high, and there'd be plenty of interest from teams looking for short-term
solutions in the slot.
BALTIMORE RAVENS:
CB BRANDON CARR
The Baltimore Ravens have four talented cornerbacks, and
only one—third-year first-round pick Marlon Humphrey—is an obvious keeper.
Among the remaining three, Baltimore would probably prefer to deal the
declining Jimmy Smith in order to save $9.5 million. But nobody wants that
walk-year cap hit for a 30-year-old who struggled in 2018.
Instead, veteran Brandon Carr might present more
opportunities for a trade that works for both sides.
The Ravens can save $5 million by dealing Carr before March
17, while his new team would be on the hook for just $5 million in 2019. And
while the 32-year-old is older than Smith, he's coming off a stronger season,
and he's potentially controllable at a decent rate in 2020 as well.
Another option could be to try to trade Tavon Young ahead of
the final year of the 24-year-old's rookie contract. But Young is inexpensive
anyway, and he wouldn't yield much considering his recent struggles with
injuries.
BUFFALO BILLS: DE
JERRY HUGHES
Nobody's trading for Star Lotulelei's bloated contract
or LeSean McCoy's worn-down body, but the Buffalo Bills might be able to get
back something for defensive end Jerry Hughes.
Hughes is one of the highest-paid players on the team, but
they can save $7.5 million by releasing a pass-rusher who has probably peaked.
And that's a reasonable price to pay Hughes for one season if you're a contending
team in need of experience and talent on the edge.
Potential landing spots include the Atlanta, Indianapolis
and Seattle, all of whom fit that profile and can afford that $7.5 million for
the 30-year-old.
Moving Hughes would of course hurt the Bills defense a bit
in 2019. But the team isn't likely a prime contender and it could lose him
after this season regardless.
CAROLINA PANTHERS:
DE MARIO ADDISON
Mario Addison is the Carolina Panthers' best edge-rusher, so
they'd probably prefer not to trade him. But Addison is also 31 years old and
probably best suited as a complementary pass-rusher.
If the Panthers believe they won't retain him following his
walk year in 2019, they could consider making a deal, which would clear $7.3
million of Addison's $9.9 million cap hit off the books.
That probably won't happen anytime soon because the Panthers
don't know what lies ahead in March and April. But if they wind up with a new
pass-rusher or two after free agency and the draft, Addison could be dangled in
the summer and fall.
A lot of teams would be fired up about the prospect of
bringing in a veteran who has recorded at least nine sacks in each of his last
three seasons.
CHICAGO BEARS: LB
DANNY TREVATHAN
This one was a toss-up between linebacker Danny Trevathan
and running back Jordan Howard, both of whom are entering contract years.
Howard is more expendable because of the rise of Tarik Cohen
in the Chicago backfield, but he's also coming off a mediocre season at a
position that isn't highly valued.
Coming off a much stronger season, Trevathan simply has more
value on the trade market. His $7.7 million 2019 cap hit is far from an
albatross, but the Bears are low on cap space at a projected $5.9 million and
hoping to retain key defensive backs Adrian Amos and Bryce Callahan. They
can save $6.4 million by trading Trevathan now, which isn't a bad deal
considering they risk losing him next year anyway.
Besides, it's not as though the Bears are lacking talent in
the defensive front seven.
CINCINNATI
BENGALS: QB ANDY DALTON
This could have just as easily gone to A.J. Green, who is
entering a walk year as the Cincinnati Bengals' top receiver. But Green is coming
off a major injury, and few teams would probably want to inherit a $12.2
million cap hit for one year with a potentially declining 30-year-old
wideout.
Quarterback Andy Dalton might
also be declining based on a couple of years' worth of regression, but he's
still an experienced quarterback in a league that loves experienced
quarterbacks. He also represents more savings for Cincinnati (he's due
$16.2 million, none of it guaranteed). And if you're a team in desperate need
of one, that $16.2 million cap hit isn't bad for a starting
signal-caller.
If the Bengals decide Dalton isn't the guy for new head
coach Zac Taylor and a competitor is willing to take him off their hands now,
they'd be silly not to strongly consider making a deal and starting fresh under
center.
CLEVELAND BROWNS:
LB JAMIE COLLINS
With Kareem Hunt joining Nick Chubb in the Cleveland Browns
backfield, a lot of folks are looking for a Duke Johnson trade this offseason.
But Johnson is a different type of back who signed a relatively lucrative
contract extension last offseason (three years, $15.6 million). There's no
telling what Hunt will be able to bring to the table, and the cap-rich Browns
would save less than $1 million by parting ways with the pass-catching back out
of Miami.
Instead, the Browns could look to capitalize on the fact
that they have four formidable linebackers in Jamie Collins, Christian
Kirksey, Joe Schobert and Genard Avery. And Collins, 29, has the least
tread on his tires among that otherwise young group, which makes him an ideal
trade candidate.
The Browns probably shouldn't expect too much in return for
a six-year veteran who would cost his new team $9.3 million in 2019, but an
opportunity could arise for Cleveland to dump most of his $11.8 million cap hit
on a team in search of a one-time Pro Bowler with plenty of wisdom and
experience.
They'd probably get more in return for the
25-year-old Schobert, who's coming off a second consecutive strong season,
but the Browns might not be willing to move a cheap ($2.2 million) and
promising young player like that.
DALLAS COWBOYS: CB
ANTHONY BROWN
Nobody's spending $7 million to bring in old, injury-prone
Sean Lee for a walk year, so the Dallas Cowboys will have to either keep or cut
the soon-to-be 33-year-old two-time Pro Bowl linebacker.
Instead, Dallas could look to explore the trade market for
nickel cornerback Anthony Brown.
Brown is also entering a contract year, but the Cowboys can
basically part ways free of charge, while his next team would only be on the
hook for a little more than $2 million. Not bad for a 25-year-old with 30
career starts under his belt and a ceiling that remains relatively high.
And with Dallas already possessing Byron Jones,
Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis at that position, the Cowboys can afford
to cut ties and venture into the free-agent market and/or draft with plenty of
money to spend.
DENVER BRONCOS: QB
CASE KEENUM
This one's a little obvious now that the Denver Broncos have
agreed to trade for longtime Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, per NFL
Network's Ian Rapoport. It would be rather ridiculous for Denver to
devote $39.5 million to Flacco and 2018 starting signal-caller Case Keenum in
2019, and Rapoport is already reporting that Denver will shop
Keenum before either releasing him or asking him to take a pay cut.
Regardless, the soon-to-be 31-year-old is now riding a
quarterback carousel that might be picking up speed. He'll likely land
elsewhere as a backup, but let's not forget that he had immense success as the
league's seventh-highest-rated passer with the Minnesota Vikings in 2017.
It's possible somebody will give the Broncos a late-round
pick in order to take Keenum and his contract off their hands, and that could
even give the intriguing journeyman another shot to start.
DETROIT LIONS: S
TAVON WILSON
The Detroit Lions have three safeties who are talented
enough to play significant roles.
There's Quandre Diggs, whose contract is virtually
untradeable because of the amount of dead money. There's Glover Quin, who
probably wouldn't yield much entering an age-33 contract year with a cap hit in
excess of $6 million. And then there's Tavon Wilson, who is still relatively
young (28) and very affordable.
Wilson can be had for less than $3 million in the final year
of his current deal, and it'd cost the Lions less than $1 million in dead-cap
money to unload that contract. So if the Lions opt to use Diggs and Quin
prominently, as they did last year, they should try to shop Wilson for a
late-round draft pick and enjoy the cap savings.
It's possible the New England Patriots would want him back
at that low cost, especially if they take our advice and part ways with the expensive Devin McCourty.
GREEN BAY PACKERS:
TE JIMMY GRAHAM
Just in 2017, tight end Jimmy Graham was a
Pro Bowler with a double-digit touchdown total as a member of the Seattle
Seahawks. He then signed with the Green Bay Packers, and his maiden season in
Wisconsin wasn't pretty. Graham was supposed to become a red-zone weapon for
quarterback Aaron Rodgers,
but he scored just two touchdowns in 16 games.
The Packers might consider cutting the 32-year-old in order
to save $5.3 million in cap space, but it's also possible somebody will be
willing to pay that and give up a non-premium draft pick in hopes that the five-time
Pro Bowler has a bounce-back season in him.
The New York Jets, for example, could use Graham's skill and
experience at that position as they look to add weapons for young signal-caller
Sam Darnold, and Gang Green has the money ($95.1 million)
to make it work.
HOUSTON TEXANS:
OLB WHITNEY MERCILUS
The Houston Texans, who are already giving big bucks on
defense to J.J. Watt and Benardrick McKinney, will be looking to re-sign or
replace impending defensive free agents Jadeveon Clowney, Tyrann
Mathieu and Kareem Jackson.
That being the case, they might want to consider sticking a
FOR SALE sign on veteran linebacker Whitney Mercilus.
The 28-year-old is entering a contract year, which means
there's a good chance he gets away next offseason anyway. He's only slated to
count $7.3 million against the cap in 2019. But that could make him attractive
to outsiders, and the Texans can save more than $6 million of that total by
parting ways.
Mercilus hasn't put up strong enough sack numbers to fetch a
huge return, but a fellow contender might be willing to part with a Day 3 draft
pick in exchange for his services in 2019.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS:
TE JACK DOYLE
We had a toss-up between Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack
Doyle and defensive end Jabaal Sheard, both of whom are quality players from
the Ryan Grigson and/or Chuck Pagano days but either already have or will soon
be upgraded on.
The Colts lead the league in projected cap space and are
widely expected to be active on the pass-rushing market this offseason, which
could make Sheard and his reasonable $8 million walk-year cap hit
expendable—especially because the Colts would be on the hook for none of that
in the event of a divorce.
But Indy can't count chickens before they hatch. At the
tight end position, the hatching took place when newbie Eric Ebron supplanted
Doyle and emerged as one of quarterback Andrew Luck's favorite
targets in 2018.
With Ebron on board and finally living up to his first-round
expectations, Doyle and his also-reasonable $5.3 million walk-year cap hit
should be appealing to competitors that desire an experienced, reliable and
productive player at a key position. We're looking at you, Dallas, Denver, New
Orleans, and Jacksonville and maybe even New England.
JACKSONVILLE
JAGUARS: DT MALIK JACKSON
The trade market for Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman
Malik Jackson would be limited by the 29-year-old's $15 million 2019 cap hit,
but it helps that the cap-strapped Jaguars would cover $4 million of that total
in the event of a trade or cut.
As a pass-rushing force inside with a Pro Bowl on his
resume, Jackson could appeal to a cap-rich contender in search of another body
up front for $11 million with no strings attached beyond the 2019 season. The
Browns and Seahawks immediately come to mind.
Meanwhile, Jacksonville would be thrilled to unload $11
million in 2019 cap space, especially because they're already paying defensive
linemen Marcell Dareus and Calais Campbell big money and they also have
standout Yannick Ngakoue and 2018 first-round pick Taven Bryan up
front.
KANSAS CITY
CHIEFS: OLB JUSTIN HOUSTON
There's only one obvious trade candidate with the Kansas
City Chiefs, and he'd be pricey for both parties involved in a deal. But a
trade involving veteran pass-rusher Justin Houston might be worth it for both
the Chiefs and their trade partner.
That's because Kansas City already has two top-notch
pass-rushers in Dee Ford, 27, and Chris Jones, 24. Both are younger than
Houston, and both will soon be due large paydays (Ford next month, Jones next
year). The Chiefs would be smart take the $14 million in cap savings that come
with Houston's departure and spend it elsewhere. They're relatively low on cap
space at $25.5 million, and the defense struggled last season despite the
presence of Ford, Jones and Houston up front.
Meanwhile, if you're in win-now mode and in need of
pass-rushing help, $14 million isn't a bad price to pay for a 30-year-old
four-time Pro Bowler at a premium position, especially with no strings attached
beyond 2019. Might the Colts or Tennessee Titans be willing to give up a draft
pick for Houston's services?
LOS ANGELES
CHARGERS: RB MELVIN GORDON
Running back Melvin Gordon is entering the $5.6 million
option year of his rookie contract, which means that none of that money is
guaranteed and there's a chance the Los Angeles Chargers will lose him next
offseason anyway.
Versatile second-year back Austin Ekeler actually had a
higher yards-per-attempt average (5.2) than Gordon (5.1) in 2018, and he wasn't
significantly less productive as a receiver. Meanwhile, rookie Justin Jackson
showed plenty of promise in relief of an injured Gordon late in the year.
A contender in dire need of help in the backfield might be
willing to make Los Angeles an offer it can't refuse for a player who quite
frankly might not make a large long-term impact in powder blue, gold and white.
Keep an eye on the two teams that call the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
home.
LOS ANGELES RAMS:
DL MICHAEL BROCKERS
With limited cap space and several key impending free agents
to take care of, the Los Angeles Rams could be extremely active on the trade
market this offseason.
In addition to neglected/expensive running back Todd Gurley
(seriously), three particular players who come to mind as
potential trade candidates are defensive end Michael Brockers (they'd save $10
million), cornerback Marcus Peters (they'd save over $9 million) and corner
Aqib Talib (they'd save $8 million).
We'll go with Brockers over Peters and Talib simply because
Los Angeles is thin beyond that at cornerback and might have the depth to part
with Brockers if it brings back Dante Fowler Jr. and Ndamukong Suh in
support of Aaron Donald.
It might be tough to convince a trade partner to take that
on $10 million cap hit for anything more than a late-round pick, but there are
no strings attached beyond 2019, Brockers is still only 28, he plays a premium
position and he might have some Super Bowl gold dust on him.
MIAMI DOLPHINS: QB
RYAN TANNEHILL
Would a team in need of a quarterback be willing to pay
veteran Ryan Tannehill $13.2 million for his services in 2019?
It's arguably a fair price for an experienced player at the
sport's most important position, and it doesn't require a long-term
commitment.
If you're an NFL general manager and this interests you, all
you probably have to do is call Miami Dolphins GM Chris Grier and offer up a
Day 3 draft pick? That's the only way to ensure you don't get caught up in a
bidding war or find yourself forced into a multi-year deal with Tannehill
following what appears to be an inevitable release.
Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reported
last month the Dolphins are "moving on from Tannehill," who has
struggled with injuries and a lack of consistency during his six-year tenure
there. In the event of a trade, Miami would be paying the 30-year-old $13.4
million to go away, but at least it'd save more than $13 million in cap space
and would at least have something—probably a low-end draft pick—to show for it.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS:
CB XAVIER RHODES
Defensive end Everson Griffen is the most predictable
trade candidate for the Minnesota Vikings right now, but the team is unlikely
to find somebody willing to pay the 31-year-old more than $10 million after a
tumultuous and all-around poor 2018 season. Plus, Minnesota doesn't have a
clear-cut No. 3 edge-rusher beyond Griffen and Danielle Hunter.
Instead, the Vikings might want to consider doing something
bold in the secondary by dealing two-time Pro Bowler Xavier Rhodes just two
years after signing him to a monster contract extension.
Rhodes under-performed along with that entire Minnesota defense
in 2018, but the Vikes would still be selling relatively high with the
28-year-old. The reality is the younger Trae Waynes and even
younger Mackensie Alexander outplayed Rhodes in 2018, and both are
entering contract years. Throw in that they also used a first-round pick last
year on corner Mike Hughes and Minnesota has a crowd of talented young cover
men who will soon need paydays and/or increased roles.
Rhodes can be had for just $6.1 million in 2019, and the
Vikings could put those savings into their wretched offensive line. Considering
the dearth of quality corners in this league, finding a suitor might not be
hard. I'd watch for the Jets, Browns, Texans, Colts, Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders,
Eagles, Giants, Falcons, Panthers, 49ers and Seahawks. Yeah, that's nearly half
the league.
NEW ENGLAND
PATRIOTS: S DEVIN MCCOURTY
Nobody knows how to sell high like the New England Patriots,
who have the added benefit of their players currently being covered in magic
Super Bowl pixie dust.
That applies to safety Devin McCourty, who played a major
role on five Super Bowl teams (three winners and two losers) but is now firmly
on the wrong side of 30 and due $13.4 million in a walk year. The Patriots
might lose him next offseason anyway, and they can save $9.5 million by moving
on right now.
You'd expect there to be a large trade market for McCourty,
who has yet to slip on the field and would bring that Patriot experience to a
new locker room at a decent cost with no long-term commitment required.
A potential leader of the Pack? The San Francisco 49ers, who
need a safety, have the money and made a deal with New England 16 months ago
for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
NEW ORLEANS
SAINTS: LB A.J. KLEIN
It wasn't easy to find a trade candidate for the New Orleans
Saints who was both attractive and somewhat realistic. It was either
linebacker A.J. Klein or safety Kurt Coleman, neither of whom inspire much
excitement.
We went with Klein because he's several years younger than
Coleman at age 27, he's been a solid starter the last couple years and his
contract is extremely tradeable. He's due to make $6 million in 2019, and the
Saints would foot the bill for $2 million of that total in the event of a
trade.
The Saints are low on cap space so they could use that $4
million return, while a competitor with more money to spend would be thrilled
to land an experienced defender in his prime like Klein for that
rate.
NEW YORK GIANTS:
OLB OLIVIER VERNON
We're not under the impression Odell Beckham Jr. is a lost
cause for the New York Giants, or that it would make sense for the Giants to
spend $16 million in dead cap money to trade Beckham less than a year after
signing him to a record-breaking deal.
With that in mind, Big Blue's top trade piece might actually
be the pass-rusher they signed to a record-breaking deal three years ago.
Olivier Vernon has failed to live up to that five-year, $85
million contract, recording just 22 sacks in his first three seasons with the
G-Men. Now the Giants can essentially split his $19.5 million cap hit with a
pass-rush-needy competitor by eating $8 million in dead cap money in a trade. A
lot of win-now teams with money would be willing to spend $12 million for one
year with Vernon, and some might even be willing to give up a draft pick in
order to avoid a bidding war for his services.
Vernon's departure would hurt the Giants on defense, but
there's still some hope for a pass-rush that features the emerging B.J. Hill
along with 2018 third-round pick Lorenzo Carter.
NEW YORK JETS: RB
ISAIAH CROWELL
Thanks to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, the
cats already out of the bag that the New York Jets plan to release veteran
running back Isaiah Crowell once they start wheeling and dealing in March.
But it's entirely possible that an interested team in need
of backfield help will take notice and make Gang Green an offer for an
experienced still-only-26-year-old who is coming off a solid season in which he
averaged 4.8 yards per carry.
Crowell is due $5 million in 2019, but the Jets have to
cover 40 percent of that total regardless of whether they cut or trade him.
It's easy to see Crowell landing in a place like
Philadelphia or New Orleans, where the cap-strapped Eagles and Saints could
find themselves having to replace backs Jay Ajayi and Mark Ingram.
OAKLAND RAIDERS:
OT DONALD PENN
This is hardly financial on the Oakland Raiders' end, since
the team is projected to enter the new league year with nearly $70 million in
salary-cap space. But Donald Penn's reasonable contract situation is what makes
him such an attractive trade target, and Oakland might be a motivated seller
based on circumstances.
The three-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle would cost a new
team just $4.9 million in 2019, and he would be off the books after that
season. That short-term dynamic is also important because Penn will be 36 in
April, but he does play a position in which players often have long shelf lives.
The Raiders would be better off picking up an extra draft
pick for Penn, since they used a first-rounder on Kolton Miller last year and
have plenty of other areas to address.
Meanwhile, it's easy to imagine the experienced Penn playing
a significant role on a contender that is short on cash but in need of help at
the offensive tackle position. Examples include the Vikings and Panthers, while
the Browns, Texans and Buccaneers would also make sense.
PHILADELPHIA
EAGLES: QB NICK FOLES
The Philadelphia Eagles were apparently willing to keep
"backup" quarterback Nick Foles at an
escalated salary of $20 million before the Super Bowl LII MVP voided that
option, so it's entirely possible Philadelphia will also be willing to slap
Foles with a franchise tag worth around $25 million.
If they do that, they'd almost certainly entertain trade
offers for the 30-year-old signal-caller. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on that potential scenario earlier
this month, noting that the Eagles would be looking for a third-round pick in
return.
Two potential problems: First, the Eagles don't have any cap
space, making the tag-and-trade scenario rather risky. Second, Pro Football
Talk's Mike Florio reports that said plan could violate the
collective bargaining agreement.
Regardless, it's a remote possibility for now, and there
aren't a lot of trade candidates at other positions on Philly's roster. Would a
quarterback-starved team like the Jaguars give it a shot?
SAN FRANCISCO
49ERS: DE ARIK ARMSTEAD
The San Francisco 49ers have a lot of first-round power up
front on defense and a lot of other needs elsewhere. They can afford to keep
Arik Armstead after somewhat of a breakout season at defensive end, but this
might also be an opportunity for them to sell high and get something back for
the 2015 No. 17 overall pick before he escapes as a free agent in 2020.
The 25-year-old is slated to make just over $9 million in
the fifth-year option of his contract that contains no dead cap money, which
means San Francisco can sell him off to the highest bidder without
consequence.
And while Armstead has experienced an up-and-down career to
date, the dude has plenty of talent at a key position. There'd be a market for
him.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS:
LB BOBBY WAGNER
Bobby Wagner is one of the best non-rushing linebackers in
the NFL, and he's in his prime. Trading him would probably raise ire in
Seattle, especially with Earl Thomas, Frank Clark and K.J. Wright slated to
become free agents. But that doesn't mean the four-time All-Pro isn't the
Seahawks' best trade chip.
Wagner is slated to become a free agent and turn 30 next
offseason, a point at which Seattle will also have to concern itself with
quarterback Russell
Wilson's expiring contract. If the Seahawks fear Wagner will get
away in a year, they can save more than $11 million in cap space by dealing him
now.
They could probably also get at least a Day 2 draft pick
back for Wagner, and they could use those savings and potential extra premium
picks to continue to rebuild the secondary and the offensive line. It would
also become easier to keep Clark and/or Wright.
This is a long shot for good reason, but better players have
been dealt.
TAMPA BAY
BUCCANEERS: DT GERALD MCCOY
Gerald McCoy has been the heart and soul of the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers defense for nearly a decade, but he's on the wrong side of 30,
he's due to make $13 million next season, and he can be traded or released at
no cost to the Bucs.
At the conclusion of his ninth season in Tampa, the six-time
Pro Bowler spoke about his tenure with the Bucs in the past tense,
while ESPN.com's Jenna Laine wrote in January that there's a "real
chance" McCoy's time in Tampa is coming to an end.
It makes even more sense when you consider that the Bucs
invested heavily in new interior defensive linemen Vita Vea and Beau Allen just
last year.
Will anybody trade for a player making eight figures on the
back nine of his career? It's possible, especially since none of that money is
guaranteed and McCoy is controllable for the next three years. I'd look for a
team with plenty of cap space that needs help up front. Indianapolis and
Cleveland come to mind.
TENNESSEE TITANS:
CB LOGAN RYAN
The Tennessee Titans spent a first-round pick on cornerback Adoree'
Jackson in 2017 and then spent over $60 million on corner Malcolm Butler in
2018. Logan Ryan has been a steady presence in the slot for Tennessee, but the
former Patriot has zero interceptions in two seasons with the Titans and now
he's entering a $10.7 million contract year.
The Titans could decide that they're unlikely to retain Ryan
next offseason and cut him loose at practically no cost this spring, and
cap-rich, win-now teams that are in worse shape than Tennessee at corner could
be willing to pounce.
The Colts and Texans both make plenty of sense, but the
Titans might not want to deal Ryan within the division. If that's the case, San
Francisco and Seattle would become logical front-runners.
WASHINGTON
REDSKINS: TE JORDAN REED
If they find themselves having to replace injured
quarterback Alex Smith for the 2019 season, the Washington Redskins will likely
have to become bold on the trade market. That's because they have plenty of
in-house impending free agents, limited cap space and standard draft
capital.
One veteran player they could dangle is tight end Jordan
Reed, who has been good when healthy yet rarely healthy during his six-year run
in D.C. He's yet to turn 29, though, and a change of scenery could do him good.
He certainly has superstar-level ability, his contract is pretty tradeable and
Washington also has Vernon Davis on
the roster.
The Redskins can save over $6 million by dealing him now,
while Washington's trade partner wouldn't owe him a dollar beyond a $6.1
million cap hit in 2019. That could make a Day 3 pick a worthwhile trade-off
for a contending team in need of an offensive playmaker. The Jaguars, Saints,
Cowboys, Seahawks, Texans and Packers should inquire.
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