The Biggest NFL Trades This Offseason and Their Impact

I decided to look at the most recent trades this offseason which involved starting positions.

Obviously the trades which get the biggest media coverage during any offseason always involve a franchise a player. Rarely, if ever, do you see a franchise QB traded. If you do then obviously it’s going to be by-far the most scrutinized trade.

Denver trades Jay Cutler to Chicago for Kyle Orton

This year Denver fired Mike Shanahan and brought in a 32 year old offensive coordinator as their new head coach.

They then gave him the keys to an awesome offense with a franchise QB in Jay Cutler and a franchise WR in Brandon Marshall, who combined with a few other playmakers, and a solid offensive line to make the 2nd best offense in the league.

This new head coach decided instead of being happy with his new franchise QB, he would rather have Matt Cassel and attempted a trade with NE to land him.

Unfortunately for McDaniels, he was too late to the party and KC already made the trade. This obviously ruffled the feathers of his Pro Bowl QB and he asked to get traded because he didn’t want to work with a head coach who preferred someone else.

McDaniels now gets to work with Kyle Orton. Orton is far more likely to be like Jake Plummer than he is to be compared to Tom Brady, and it will be evident with his play this season.

It took Denver several QB’s until they landed a franchise QB with Cutler after Elway retired. How long will it take Denver to land another franchise QB, and how long will McDaniels last in Denver?

As for the players Denver drafted from their trade with Chicago, Denver added DE Robert Ayers, who is expected to play as an OLB in the 3-4. They traded Chicago’s 2010 first round pick in the 2nd round for 5’9” CB Alphonso Smith out of Wake Forest.

The 2009 NFL draft was the weakest combined group of talent in years and there’s going to be a lot of busts. Risking a 1st round pick from next year’s draft for Dre Bly II was an odd move considering the AFC West is going big at WR, and the 2010 NFL draft is expected to be loaded.

If Cutler has a few Pro Bowl seasons with Chicago then Chicago easily wins the trade. If Cutler goes on to have a Hall of Fame career (I highly doubt it) then this trade will go down as the worst ever for Denver.

Several analysts have all pointed out how bad this trade was and how Denver got fleeced.

Kyle Orton isn’t Brady; he’s the snake who’ll bite Denver in the ass for the Colts after they traded Elway to Denver, and Denver’s getting the returned favor for trading Cutler.

Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel traded for KC’s second round pick

Considering they only traded a 2nd round pick for Cassel and Vabrel, it’s a great trade for the Chiefs either way; if Cassel flops or succeeds.

In my opinion he’s the second coming of Scott Mitchell, but he could be like Tommy Maddox great one year and back to the bench the next.

If he does continue to improve and does well then good for him.

Last year, Kansas City gave up 37 sacks. The year prior, when Tom Brady was QB, NE only gave up 21 sacks. The following year, Cassel started and they gave up 47.

Cassel will be playing for a weaker O-line now, and if last year was any indicator, he'll get sacked big time this year.

Boom or bust trade for KC, but well worth that risk considering they traded a 2nd round pick for that risk.

Buffalo trades LT Jason Peters to Philadelphia for Carolina’s first round draft

Jason Peters won’t be confused with other Hall of Fame left tackles, but he will be considered to be a highly solid LT for his career.

Buffalo didn’t want to pay him the big bucks so they traded him to Philadelphia. LT’s are one of the hardest positions on the team to land and this trade goes down as more of grand larceny.

NBA wise, I would compare this trade to the Lakers picking up Pau Gasol.

The Bills ended up with C Eric Wood from their pick. The Bills got fleeced here, but only because they cannot afford the salary they were forced to trade him.

Was this trade as dumb as Cutler going to Chicago? I don’t believe so because of the salary ramifications compared to the trading of a recently disgruntled franchise QB. Cutler didn’t leave because Bowlen wouldn’t pay him, he left because he didn’t like Josh McDaniels.

Oakland trades 6th round draft pick to Miami for Samson Satele

Although Samson Satele isn’t a name that conjures up instant name recognition, this trade will end up being a boon for the Oakland Raiders.

Their previous center Jake Grove signed with Miami because he wanted to play in a man scheme, rather than zone. Miami already had former 2nd round pick Satele on the roster so they traded him to Oakland.

Satele is perfectly built to play C in a zone blocking scheme. He’s very durable, having started every game since being in the league. The only reason Miami traded him is because Satele was initially brought in to play a more zone scheme rather man. Bill Parcells came onboard and switched to man, and thought Satele wasn’t a good fit so he signed Grove.

He’s an instant upgrade over recently departed Grove, and should be a fixture on this line as long as Oakland keeps the zone blocking scheme.

Satele could be a 10-year starter in the zone blocking scheme at center. If he does, and Grove gets injured as he usually does, then the Raiders obviously win the trade.

With the 4th round picks, Miami ended up with WR Brian Hartline out of Ohio State while Oakland ended up with WR Louis Murphy out of Florida.

KC Trades Tony Gonzales to Atlanta for a 2010 2nd round pick

This trade blew my mind away when I realized Atlanta only had to pay up a 2nd rounder in NEXT year’s draft. Gonzo should have at least two more Pro Bowl type years left if not a 3 in on his old frame.

Gonzo feels like the Chiefs did him well by agreeing to his request to get traded. He put in his time and they gave him an opportunity.

Was he worth it for a 2nd round pick in next year’s draft? Honestly I think Atlanta fleeced the Chiefs here because the Chiefs should’ve at least had at least another draft pick. KC’s offense automatically took a nose dive when Gonzo left town.

Seattle trades Julian Peterson to Detroit for Cory Redding

Seattle freed up room in their LB corps to draft the best overall player in the NFL draft, LB Aaron Curry out of Wake Forest. Detroit picked up a LB who already played for the team and is a good fit for their LB corps.

I see this as both a win win. Seattle added depth to their D line and Detroit got a starter.

Analysis

Winners: Philadelphia, Chiefs, Chicago, Detroit, Seattle, and Oakland
Losers: Denver, Buffalo, Miami, and Chiefs because of Gonzo.

New England cut salary knowing Brady was doing very well coming back from surgery, and picked up depth on their D line by drafting DT Ron Brace.

Chicago is the easy winner out of this group by fleecing Denver for a franchise QB. He should be a great fit in Chicago and should be their QB for the next 10 years.

Speaking of Denver trading away their franchise QB, now their franchise WR Brandon Marshall is on the trading block.

McDaniels looks and appears like he's trying to be too hard, and has already alienated his QB and WR within a couple of months.

Will there be a Brandon Marshall trade soon that will be discussed among these trades?

KC was picked for both winner and loser because of Cassel and the unfair trade of Tony Gonzales

For all four trades, 10 years from now, how will these trades actually pan out?