5 NFL TRADES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE DRAFT

BY ADAM GREENE

With the NFL Draft still nearly three months away and the incoming quarterback class less than stellar, it’s the perfect time for some teams to swing for the fences with splash trades.

You need to look no further than Matthew Stafford hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy while standing next to Von Miller in Los Angeles Rams jerseys to see the value of the right trade for a franchise, regardless of how expensive it might have been. Stafford and Miller combined to cost the Rams two first rounders, a second rounder, two third rounders and former quarterback Jared Goff. Today, getting fitted for rings, no one in LA is quibbling about the price.

Of course, not every big trade has to be for a quarterback. Teams’ fortunes have changed by adding a high value skill player. Whether it’s DeAndre Hopkins helping the Arizona Cardinals become a contender or Marshall Faulk, for the price of a 2^nd and 5^th back in 1999, landing the then St. Louis Rams a Super Bowl title and himself a spot in Canton.

So, with so much at stake and so many franchise altering players on the block, here’s five trades that should happen before April’s NFL Draft.

1. JIMMY GAROPPOLO TO THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS FOR A 2^ND ROUND PICK

There should be a robust market for Jimmy G. this offseason as he and the San Francisco 49ers have both decided to consciously uncouple. He’s going somewhere and the Steelers make a lot of sense. They’re loaded at their offensive skill positions, but still need some help up front. A second for Garoppolo would leave them with the draft capital to address the holes on their team by adding a guy that will immediately put them in the playoff hunt.

San Fran gave up a lot for Trey Lance and won’t get any of it back for Garoppolo, but a mid-round second rounder should be a day one starter for the NFC runners up.

2. RUSSELL WILSON TO THE INDIANAPOLITS COLTS FOR TWO 1^st ROUND PICKS, TWO 2^ND ROUND PICKS AND CARSON WENTZ

I’m not one for prognosticating based on a player’s social media activity, but Wilson purging all mention of the Seattle Seahawks from his cringey IG and Twitter got some attention and this time it had nothing to do with Future’s kid.

While his numbers last season weren’t there, Wilson can still be one of the league’s top quarterbacks and the Colts are a quarterback away from being a legitimate contender. They lost a first round pick taking a chance on Wentz a year ago and it didn’t work out. Wilson’s addition would turn Indy into a 12-win team.

As for Wentz in Seattle? He’s not a complete bum and, at stretches, showed why he was taken No. 2 overall back in 2016. He’d be a fine bridge QB for the Seahawks while they go through a soft rebuild and make their squad significantly younger.

3. MATT RYAN TO THE TENNESSEE TITANS FOR RYAN TANNEHILL AND A 1^ST ROUND PICK

Here’s a trade I’ve not seen anyone talking about, but to me, it makes almost too much sense. Ryan is coming off a down season on a team that’s been down now for four consecutive seasons. They’ve bled off and traded away offensive talent and plan to continue to do so, putting wide receiver Calvin Ridley on the block according to reports. With Ryan, Atlanta is probably a 6-7 win team next season.

But put him on the Titans, with their skill position players and offensive line and he could experience a resurgence. It might not lead to a Stafford like ending, but the Titans would have to be in the AFC title game conversation.

As for Tannehill, like Wentz in Seattle, he can bridge Atlanta to their next QB and still pick up six to seven victories with that roster in the NFC South. Falcons head coach Arthur Smith had Tannehill putting up Patrick Mahomes numbers as the Tennessee offensive coordinator.

4. AARON RODGERS TO THE DENVER BRONCOS FOR THREE 1^ST ROUND PICKS, TWO 2^nd ROUND PICKS AND A 3^RD ROUND PICK

Here’s the trade everyone’s been talking about since last offseason. Is it a lot? Yes, but here’s the deal. The Broncos got a second and a third from the aforementioned Rams for the aforementioned Von Miller at the trade deadline this past season. If they split the second rounders up for 2022 and 2023, that would leave them with a second and third still this year to add starters. Or they could go ahead and take all the damage at once and just be out first rounders in 2023 and 2024 for adding a guy that immediately puts them in AFC title contention.

For the Green Bay Packers, this is a easily a team-building extravaganza. The high value picks will come this season, with Denver’s No. 9 overall selection and No. 40 and possibly No. 64. With so many unknowns about this QB class, they could grab one of the rookies at any of those spots and get key starters with the rest. No other legitimate trade partner for the Pack can offer them a Top 10 pick.

5. MICHAEL THOMAS TO THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS FOR A 2^ND ROUND PICK AND A 4^TH ROUND PICK

Thanks to some recent contract work, the Saints have dropped their cap number from more than $74 million over the 2022 cap to $49.9 million over the cap. So that’s something. New Orleans is still a good team and they’ve been a good team with no help from Thomas, who hasn’t been a real factor since his record breaking 2019 season when he was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year after catching 149 passes for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns. Getting the Nos. 33 and 97 overall picks isn’t a bad deal for a guy you’ve not counted on in two years.

New Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson knows that if he’s going to get Trevor Lawrence to the next level, he needs next level weapons. It’s no secret that Joe Burrow’s second year bump that led to a Super Bowl appearance was in large part thanks to the addition of Ja’Marr Chase.

Hopkins did the same for Kyler Murray in Arizona. Thomas, as long as he’s finally healthy after sitting out a year, could make the Jaguars a Wild Card contender in Pederson’s first season without giving away their upcoming draft.

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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