Seven blockbuster trades we’d like to see before the NFL season opener-ZoomTech News

That is the second when NFL groups need to get actual about who and what they do not have.

Each crew lower its roster all the way down to 53 gamers on Tuesday. With Week 1 approaching, groups have began constructing their sport plans with their personnel. And which means chopping away the ideas and concepts that their personnel cannot execute. 

However what in the event that they did not need to?

Would not it’s enjoyable if — of their second of epiphany — these groups went out and acquired precisely what they wanted?

I made a decision to look by way of the celebrities who’re both discontented or misfitted of their present locale. And I looked for a touchdown spot (and compensation bundle) that will make everybody blissful. Now, I acknowledge that a few of these ideas could be far-fetched. However that is the enjoyable of this exploration: to discover what these gamers can be value on the open market and which groups could be prepared to pay that exorbitant worth.

These are the seven blockbuster trades that we would like to see forward of the 2024 season.

The Brandon Aiyuk Blockbuster

Pittsburgh Steelers get: Aiyuk
San Francisco 49ers get: Steelers’ 2025 first-rounder, 2026 third-rounder

There have been sufficient chapters within the e book of Aiyuk — at the least on the subject of this potential commerce. Let’s simply get it performed. The Steelers had been all the time going to have to surrender a first-rounder, however they’re additionally throwing in a 3rd for good measure. 

Now, this would possibly not clear up the actual drawback for Pittsburgh. Their offensive line is more likely to be an abomination. However the Steelers aren’t going to seek out an elite proper sort out on the commerce market. In order that they’ll as an alternative pair Aiyuk with George Pickens to assist out their quarterbacks. Everyone knows that each Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are going to play this yr. The starter — whoever will get the primary crack at it — will wrestle. Then the opposite QB will, too. And it will cycle like that for a lot of the season.

The Cooper Kupp Blockbuster

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs get: Kupp
Los Angeles Rams get: Chiefs’ 2025 second-rounder

Why do Tua Tagovailoa and Joe Burrow get to have all of the enjoyable with their elite receiver tandems?

Why cannot Patrick Mahomes have good issues at wideout?

Sure, I do know that the Chiefs simply drafted Xavier Worthy, who set a mix document within the 40-yard sprint. I do know that Rashee Rice emerged within the playoffs. And I do know that free-agent addition Marquise Brown slot in properly in Kansas Metropolis throughout coaching camp. However with each single a kind of choices, there is a query mark. 

With Worthy, it is that he is a rookie — there are not any assurances that he can produce within the NFL. With Rice, it is that he has a looming suspension for his felony expenses stemming from a multi-car accident. With Brown, it is his harm historical past, together with the sternoclavicular harm that is more likely to maintain him out of Week 1.

These guys can nonetheless get loads of time in an offense that focuses on Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Kupp. With a purpose to get the deal performed, the Chiefs must need to finagle their wage cap to suit the veteran receiver. However man, this offense would completely hum with this group of threats.

As for the Rams, who boast a gaggle of younger, rising wideouts headlined by Puka Nacua, they do not actually need Kupp anymore. They could as properly promote on the 31-year-old receiver whereas they’ll get terrific worth.

The Haason Reddick Blockbuster

Arizona Cardinals get: Reddick
New York Jets get: Cardinals’ 2025 fourth-round decide

This is able to be a comical and tragic final result for the Jets. In March, they traded a conditional third-round decide to the Eagles for Reddick, one of many NFL’s premier pass-rushers. However some kind of miscommunication occurred. The Jets thought he’d present up and play and not using a new contract. Reddick, who’s getting into the ultimate yr of a three-year deal he signed with Philadelphia in 2022, needs to see the cash earlier than he performs. And so it is a unusual standstill that looks as if it might solely occur to Gang Inexperienced.

The answer is to ship Reddick again to the place his profession began. Arizona drafted him thirteenth general in 2017, and he performed 4 years there. The Cardinals have a serious want for a prolific pass-rusher — and a considerable amount of cap area to offer Reddick the contract he needs. Plus, Reddick can be low-cost by way of commerce compensation.

The Micah Parsons Blockbuster

New England Patriots get: Parsons, Cowboys’ 2025 first-round decide
Dallas Cowboys get: Patriots’ 2025 first- and fourth-round picks, 2026 first-rounder, DE Keion White

OK, here is a loopy one. The Patriots badly want firepower on offense, so this may look like a bizarre deal for them. However bear in mind: First-year head coach Jerod Mayo is a defensive coach. Why not convey Parsons into the fold to offer Mayo the defensive firepower that he wants?

The three-time Professional Bowl OLB is without doubt one of the finest gamers within the NFL. And New England is a crew completely devoid of star energy. It is a actually good match, notably after the Patriots traded edge Matthew Judon to Atlanta earlier in August.

The haul may look like lots at first look, notably while you take a look at New England flipping picks with Dallas in 2025. The Cowboys are in all probability going to choose round No. 25; the Patriots are in all probability going to choose round No. 1. That leap is value one or two first-rounders. And New England is not going to remain up there anyway. As a result of they’ve their hopeful franchise quarterback in Drake Maye, the Patriots will attempt to commerce down from No. 1.

Why not flip that elite decide now for a identified entity in his prime? Why not keep away from the gamble that’s the NFL Draft?

Dallas, in the meantime, can be fairly loopy to not think about this deal. The Cowboys can in all probability make the cash work to signal Dak Prescott and Parsons to megadeals — even after giving a bag to CeeDee Lamb. However New England might present an answer for Jerry Jones in his contract backlog. The Patriots give Jones a godfather provide that takes a kind of contract disputes off the desk. The Cowboys additionally get White, a 2023 second-round decide. White and Parsons clearly aren’t comparable gamers, however his inclusion within the deal helps nonetheless.

The Pat Freiermuth Blockbuster

Indianapolis Colts get: Freiermuth
Steelers get: Colts’ 2025 conditional fifth-round decide (that turns into a fourth if Freiermuth performs 50% of snaps and a 3rd if he performs 75%)

Freiermuth’s title recognition has exceeded his manufacturing within the NFL. The 6-foot-5, 258-pound tight finish had a strong yr in 2022, when he logged 63 catches for 732 yards and two touchdowns. His rookie yr, he snagged seven touchdowns. The potential continues to be there. It is simply that he has but to actually put all of it collectively. And in Indy, with big-armed QB Anthony Richardson, Friermuth might fall proper into place.

That is why I might see him taking a large position — sufficiently big to remain on the sphere for greater than 75% of the crew’s snaps. 

Nevertheless it’s a threat on just a few ranges for the Colts. Freiermuth is ready to enter free company, so that they need to determine which path to take. They may lengthen him on the time of the commerce for a deal that will not reset the market. Or they’ll wait to see how he pans out, with the hopes that he’ll blow up (and, in flip, they’re going to need to pay him atop the market).

The Steelers can promote Darnell Washington, a 2023 third-rounder. And in the event that they land Aiyuk, they’re going to have extra firepower on offense.

The Davante Adams Blockbuster

New York Jets get: Adams
Las Vegas Raiders get: 2025 first-round decide

The deal that was meant to be. Aaron Rodgers — who usually appears to function New York’s de-facto basic supervisor — would get to work with one among his favourite receivers once more. The Jets are all-in on this season. The 40-year-old Rodgers has indicated he needs to stay round for 2 extra seasons. This deal would in all probability encourage him to remain that lengthy after which some. On paper, there can be no extra gifted crew within the NFL than the Jets. They’d in all probability transfer into the pole place because the Tremendous Bowl favourite — or get someplace near it.

The Raiders, in the meantime, haven’t got a quarterback to throw to Adams. It is a waste of elite expertise to have him on the depth chart. He is not going to develop extra content material as this season weighs on. It might be sensible for the Raiders to maneuver him now, as a result of their commerce leverage will proceed to dissipate.

The Tee Higgins Blockbuster

Washington Commanders get: Higgins
Cincinnati Bengals get: Commanders’ 2025 first-round decide

The Commanders are rebuilding, certain. However they’ve cash to spend and Higgins is value a long-term extension. So he and Terry McLaurin can work collectively as a implausible 1-2 punch for Jayden Daniels within the passing sport. 

And for those who do not suppose Higgins is value what’s more likely to be a top-15 decide, keep in mind that Drake London, Jameson Williams, Jahan Dotson and Treylon Burks had been all first-round receivers in 2022. All of them went between No. 8 and No. 18 general. 

Dotson, specifically, is a well timed caveat. Washington simply traded him for a third-rounder and two seventh-rounders.

Why run that threat once more?

The Commanders can get higher at an accelerated clip. It’s going to value them in cap area, however at the least they’d know — for certain — that they are getting a receiver who’s a confirmed entity within the NFL.

As for the Bengals, in the event that they dealt Higgins, they’d have just one receiver extension to fret about: Ja’Marr Chase’s. And that is gonna be a giant one.

Previous to becoming a member of FOX Sports activities because the AFC East reporter, Henry McKenna spent seven years protecting the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Observe him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.

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