NFL trades that should happen this offseason
By: Jake Rajala
The 2022 NFL offseason is on the horizon. NFL fans will enjoy the Super Bowl on Sunday and then the focus on next season will officially be underway on Monday. The 2022 NFL offseason is guaranteed to bring lots of excitement and surprise to the NFL base.
The 2022 NFL draft and free agency period will bring lots of change and deliver entertaining headlines. Still, there will be other dynamic shifts amid NFL rosters that take place this offseason. NFL players and big-name profiles will be traded this offseason, which is a common theme in each NFL/sports offseason. Well, which trades could NFL followers see take place in this offseason? Here are many trades that I believe would be attractive and would make a ton of sense.
Las Vegas Raiders trade for Brandin Cooks
It would be smart for Josh McDaniels, who was an offensive coordinator for Brandin Cooks in New England, to bring the speed demon WR back into his system. Cooks is in a rebuilding situation and he could take charge of getting a ticket out of Houston. The former first-rounder has back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and six touchdowns in each of the past two seasons.
There is plenty of speculation about Davante Adams being a trade target for Las Vegas, but I see Aaron Rodgers and Tae staying together in Green Bay for another season. I don’t believe the Fresno State connection can override the QB-WR duo residing in Green Bay. A-rod seems happier than the last offseason and I would assume Adams stays with his legendary QB. Still, the Raiders should target a deep threat, who can help Carr and Darren Waller torch defenses. The Desean Jackson experiment was cute, but it’s not a long-term plan.
Pittsburgh Steelers trade for Gardner Minshew
Ben Roethlisberger, also known as “Big Ben”, didn’t help the Steelers QB situation by choosing to retire in the 2022 offseason. Mike Tomlin won’t have a grand list of options to properly replace Big Ben. The free agent QB group is close to being referred to as “the walking dead”. They could make a push for Marcus Mariota, but I’d like to see them get more creative and trade for a QB like Gardner Minshew. Tomlin has stated that Dwayne Haskins and Mason Rudolph will have the opportunity to compete for the starting gig, but the two QBs will surely welcome some type of competition. It feels safe acquiring Mariota, but the Steelers need a QB that can utilize the talented WRs as much as possible. T.J. Watt is in his prime and they need to realize they can actually improve the QB performance from 2021 or even 2020 with the acquisition of Minshew Mania. The former Jags QB showed that he was a special rookie and he still has plenty of potential. Minshew, who is 25 years old, is also a year younger than Rudolph (26 years old).
Buffalo Bills trade for Christian McCaffrey
The Buffalo Bills had the number one defense and they still were outdueled by Patrick Mahomes. The dust has settled and it’s clear Bills mafia needs to load up on more firepower on offense and come out guns blazing in 2022. Christian McCaffrey, who has taken a slight step back and has been heavily involved in trade rumors, should pack his bags and join a Bills team that has its sights set on winning a Super Bowl. Devin Singletary came onto the scene in 2021 with 870 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns, but he’s not a Top 10 back and the Bills could really control the game and impose their will with an elite RB in the backfield. It would be hard for defenses to cover Stefon Diggs deep down the field, while accounting for McCaffrey out of the backfield. Joe Mixon did wonders for his QB Joe Burrow. It’s time for a RB in Buffalo to help his QB and offense open up and fire on all cylinders.
New Orleans Saints trade for Russell Wilson
This might be an overly popular trade prediction, but I still see the Saints targeting Russell Wilson. Whether or not Sean Payton is in the building, I feel like Wilson has to be comfortable with the talent surrounding the QB spot in New Orleans. The Saints have a Top 5 defense led by Cameron Jordan, Marshon Lattimore, and Demario Davis. On offense, the Saints will get 2019 Offensive Player of The Year Michael Thomas back on the field. I expect Kamara to miss time in 2022, but still be a member of the Saints long-term. Wilson can really bring the Saints an NFC South title with Brady out of the division and potentially bring the Saints back to the Super Bowl in his first year in the Black and Gold. Wilson could potentially even help Payton come out of retirement in 2023.
Carolina Panthers trade for Baker Mayfield
The divorce between Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns seems imminent. A logical, but not sexy trade destination for the Browns has to be the Carolina Panthers. The NFC South squad carry an ascending defense and scary pass rush. Meanwhile, the WRs on the outside like Robby Anderson and DJ Moore can make splash plays. Mayfield can be exactly what the Panthers expected Sam Darnold to be. Mayfield can clean his play and utilize the weapons in CAR and resurrect his career in a similar way that Jameis Winston did with the Saints through several games in 2021. Mayfield could have a better defense and consistent weaponry with the Panthers in this point in his career.
Atlanta Falcons trade for Brandon Aiyuk
The Atlanta Falcons needed to replace Julio Jones and now it seems that Calvin Ridley is the next man out. The Falcons are aching for an offensive weapon next to rookie TE Kyle Pitts. The former Gator TE had 1,026 receiving yards in 2021, but he can’t be the lone ranger in terms of offensive explosion for Matt Ryan. Brandon Aiyuk has truly hit a slump and he’s going into an offseason where the passing game will be retooled. The 49ers will still have All-Pro WR Deebo Samuel and the elite George Kittle to catch passes from the expected second-year QB Trey Lance. The Falcons could target the 49ers second-year WR and try to recreate the magic he yielded in his rookie season. Aiyuk and Pitts could be a fine duo for Matt Ryan in the wild west NFC South division.
Green Bay Packers trade for Tim Patrick
The Green Bay Packers have been avoiding the addition of a WR across from Davante Adams since Deadpool 2 hit the theaters. They have desperately needed a stud to take the pressure off of Tae and help elevate Aaron Rodgers’s game to even new heights. The days of Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, and Donald Drivers are long gone.
The Pack needs to relax and realize that they don’t need to strike big with a player like OBJ or Calvin Ridley, but they can really get a value pickup at WR in the league. Rodgers really needs more firepower against stiff competition and that’s shown in each of the last two postseasons. I believe Tim Patrick would fit in perfectly for A-Rod. The Bronocs carry Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and KJ Hamler. The Broncos also don’t rely heavily on their passing game. It would be wise for the Broncos to capitalize off of Patrick’s value at this early stage in his career by shipping him out for a fourth-round pick.
Chicago Bears trade for Calvin Ridley
The Chicago Bears will really need WR help this offseason. It’s clear that Allen Robinson will not be in the building when training camp starts, as he’s a soon-to-be free agent. The Bears haven’t utilized his talent close to its full ability for quite some time. Jimmy Graham is also a 35-year-old free agent this offseason and Graham could retire or head to a more proven organization. Darnell Mooney is a building block in Chi-town, but there are massive concerns outside of the young buck.
The Bears have to help former Ohio State magician Justin Fields, who has a plethora of talent, succeed in the post-Matt Nagy era. Calvin Ridley can be the franchise WR for Fields for many years to come. Ridley seems burnt out with the Falcons and it should be obvious that he will have a fresh start elsewhere. Ridley or JuJu would be smart, youthful additions for Fields this offseason.
Cincinnati Bengals trade for Andrus Peat
The Cincinnati Bengals were dominated by Aaron Donald on the biggest stage. Donald had two sacks and a vital pressure against Joe Burrow on the last play of the game. There is no secret that the Bengals need more robust pass protection. The Saints offensive guard/offensive tackle Andrus Peat would be a perfect fit for Cincy. Peat has been a slight disappointment because he hasn’t played up to the standard of his five-year, $57 million dollar deal, in the 2020 offseason. Nonetheless, Peat is a very athletic guard and he can be an upgrade in pass protection over Quinton Spain. The Saints are also in cap hell (32nd in NFL), so it would be ideal that the Saints cut ties with a couple of expensive profiles this offseason. The Bengals could send the Saints a third-round pick for the veteran guard. The Bengals made the right choice for taking Ja’Marr Chase over Penei Sewell, but they still need OL talent and this move would be a creative answer for their aching OL.
