Five NFL Trades That Should Happen This Offseason

Todd McGee by Contributor Written on January 07, 2009

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This year, perhaps more than ever, several marquee names in the NFL are in a position to be moved in the offseason—for a variety of reasons.

Terrell Owens has worn out his welcome in Dallas; Nnamdi Asomugha simply deserves a better fate than languishing in Oakland for another year; Matt Cassel has earned a shot at a starting job somewhere; Reggie Bush may need a fresh start.

Here are five trades I'd like to see this offseason.

T.O. Must Go

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Terrell Owens, Terrence Newman, and a truckload of cash for Nnamdi Asomugha.

The Cowboys need a shutdown corner in the worst way, and Asomugha would fit the bill nicely. He is a free agent this offseason, although Oakland can slap the franchise tag on him to keep him for at least one more year.

He is about the only marketable player on the Raiders’ roster, and they would be better served trading him and getting something in return. Dallas has an excess of highly paid talent and could free up some cap room by getting rid of T.O. and Newman.

They would likely have to part with a first-round pick in 2010 as well.

A New Castle for Matt

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Matt Cassel for LenDale White.

The Titans have assembled all the pieces they need to be a perennial power in the AFC for years to come, except for one – a franchise quarterback. Kerry Collins is too old; Vince Young is too fragile.

Patriots wunderkind backup Matt Cassel would solve the need, and assuming Tom Brady is back to full health in New England next fall, there is no use to let Cassel rot on the Patriots’ bench.

New England’s running game needs a boost. Laurence Maroney has been given three years to develop and has not lived up to his first-round draft status. White has only one year left on his Titans’ contract, and he probably would like to sign with a team that will give him more carries.

The Titans would probably have to throw in a first-round pick as well, but considering they will be picking very late in the draft this year, that's probably not an impediment.

Oh No, Not Ocho

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Roy Williams for Chad Ocho Cinco and a second-round draft pick.

Ocho Cinco wants to go to Dallas, and the Cowboys need to find some way to get out of the disastrous Roy Williams trade; getting a draft pick in the deal would at least give them something.

The Bengals get rid of an expensive, under-performing, over-the-hill headache and receive an expensive, over-rated headache in return. Sounds like a match made in heaven.

Bush Needs a New Home

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Reggie Bush for Anquan Boldin.

Bush’s career has not exactly panned out as planned in New Orleans, and Boldin has frequently stated his unhappiness in Arizona. The Cardinals need a running back to provide some balance on offense, and Bush would make a great target out of the backfield as well.

Plus, he would be reunited with Matt Leinart, and Steve Breaston appears like a reliable target who would not chafe at playing second fiddle to Larry Fitzgerald.

In the Big Easy, Boldin could team with Marques Colston to give the Saints one of the best wide receiver tandems in the league and give quarterback Drew Brees the legitimate options he would need to make another run at Dan Marino’s single-season passing record in 2009.

There's No Place Like KC for Derek Anderson

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Derek Anderson for Larry Johnson.

The Chiefs need to trade their former Pro Bowl running back, who was better known for assaulting women than opposing defenses in 2008, and the Chiefs need an upgrade at quarterback.

Plus, reports out of KC are that the Chiefs are intrigued with the potential shown by rookie running back Jamaal Charles (5.3 YPC), especially in a spread offense.

The Browns need to get rid of Anderson’s unbelievably rich contract for the next two years and get a replacement for aging veteran Jamal Lewis.

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written on January 07, 2009 Rankings/List

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