BIG Hypothetical NFL Trades That Make Sense

Trade #1 – Eagles Make A Blockbuster

Philadelphia Eagles —> Deshawn Watson, 3rd round pick 

Trade with

Houston Texans —> #16, #17 overall selections, 2022 2nd round, 2023 2nd round pick, and Jalen Hurts 

Philadelphia gets a top-five quarterback in the NFL. Philadelphia first wanted to get Aaron Rodgers or a Russell Wilson but those two teams were not budging at all. Then they had to go to a third option which is Deshawn Watson. While the Texans get more ammo to use in the draft. 

Trade #2 – Panthers create a LEAGUE CHANGING move

Carolina Panthers —>Deshaun Watson, Laremy Tunsil

Houston Texans —> #6 overall, 1st and 2nd round pick in 2023, 1st round in 2024, Jeremy Chinn, Christian McCaffrey, and Sam Darnold. 

The Panthers have been struggling to get that quarterback since Cam Newton, who expected a little bit more durability out of him, Newton was the starting quarterback for nine years after being drafted number one overall in 2011. Panthers have tried Will Grier who was drafted in the third round in 2019, Teddy Bridgewater who they signed as a free agent, PJ Walker who was an XFL QB, and Sam Darnold.

The Panthers give up a ton to get Watson and Laremy Tunsil. However, when Deshaun Watson plays he’s a top 5 QB. The Panthers do give up a lot here, however, six overall picks two first-round picks in both 2023 and 2024, and a second-round pick in 2023. 

They also gave up Jeremy Chinn and will be a second-round pick in 2020 and also Christian McCaffrey who has had injury concerns over the past two years. Darnold is just a little throw-in piece, to get the cap figured out.

The Texans have picks three and six and they will have lots of pick-sixes if they start Sam Darnold. Not only do the Texans right now have two top 10 picks but they also get a young up-and-coming player in Jeremy Chinn. They also do get a trade piece in Christian McCaffery who they can trade somewhere else. This trade is a great way to start off a long-term rebuild.

Trade #3 – Patriots get an up and coming SUPERSTAR

Atlanta Falcons —>#21 overall pick

New England Patriots —> Calvin Ridley

Ridley has had some off-the-field complications and the Atlanta Falcons have sent him to the New England Patriots.

This trade reminds me of what the Buffalo Bills did in 2020 when they traded with the Minnesota Vikings to get Stefon Diggs. The Patriots struggled with their Wide Receiver core consisting of Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers, and Nelson Agholor, which is an underwhelming group to say the least.

In 2020, Ridley ranked fifth in the NFL in receiving yards with 1,374, tied for 12th in catches with 90, and tied for 10th in touchdown catches with nine, while demonstrating genuine No. 1 receiver skills. The Atlanta Falcons are in salary-cap trouble so clearing the salary out, with the Falcons getting a first-round pick back, would be a win for both sides.

Trade #4 – Tampa Bay has found their next quarterback.

Green Bay Packers —> #27 overall pick

Tampa Bay Buccaneers —> Jordan Love

Jordan Love is traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from the Green Bay Packers for a 1st round pick.

With Tom Brady‘s retirement, and also Aaron Rodgers most likely coming back to the Packers, I think Jordan Love for a first-round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers makes perfect sense.

Jordan has had 2 years of development under a top 5 coaching staff in the league and also learning under back-to-back MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers as well. 2021 second-round draft pick, Kyle Trask is ultimately neglected out of this, as he does not have the upside as Jordan Love does for the future.

The Buccaneers do have the 27th overall pick in the 2022 draft, but this QB class doesn’t have that “Alpha” quality that we have seen over the past couple of years. I also doubt that the Buccaneers want to develop a young QB when the roster is a top-10 roster in the league.

Love also goes to a great situation to learn under “Quarterback Whisperer” Bruce Arians, and also “future head coach” Byron Leftwich. The Packers get a first-round pick back, where they can use that to fill out the roster, as they are also salary cap strangled currently. 

Trade #5 – Raiders Get a New WR to play with

Las Vegas Raiders—> Brandin Cooks

Houston Texans—>2022 2nd round pick

The Las Vegas Raiders are trying to lure Davante Adams to come to play for them. Adams and Derek Carr are great friends and went to college together at Fresno State. Both of them were in the 2014 draft and selected in the second round. Unfortunately, the Packers will most likely use the franchise tag on Davante Adams to keep him around in Green Bay.

The Raiders have no choice but to trade for Brandin Cooks of the Houston Texans. Cooks and Carr are no strangers to one other — or at least they don’t appear to be on social media. It’s also no secret that the Houston Texans’ entire roster wishes to be somewhere else.

Cooks is under contract with the Texans for three more years, but his deal is movable, and trading him will save Texans $8.7 million in salary space. The Raiders ultimately struck out on free-agent deals at the wide receiver position.

They went to the trade market and got a consistent wide receiver, Brandin Cooks. New head coach Josh McDaniels did end up trading for Cooks when McDaniels was in New England in 2017.

What are your thoughts on these trades? Who would you add or replace in these trades?

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