NFL Trade Rumors: 10 Trades That Need to Happen Right Now

The entire future of the NFL hangs in the balance as we wait for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement to be signed. Without a new CBA, there will be no free agency, which will severely limit teams' ability to get better this offseason.

Even with a new CBA, which we are optimistically awaiting, teams will be joining free agency later than in years past and will be left scrambling to fill needs they were not able to address in the NFL draft.

How can teams like the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons add the one or two missing pieces they need to compete for the Super Bowl in 2011? And does a team like the Cincinnati Bengals grant the request of Carson Palmer to be traded?

Here is a look at 10 trades that need to happen before the 2011 regular season kicks off. 

Cincinnati Bengals Trade Carson Palmer to Miami Dolphins

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BALTIMORE, MD - JANUARY 2: Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals fumbles the ball with less than two minutes to go in the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Benga

The Trade: Miami sends picks No. 79 and No. 174 to Cincinnati for QB Carson Palmer.

Why does Miami give up two draft picks, especially when they do not have a second-round pick, for a quarterback? The easy answer is because Chad Henne has regressed every year he has been in the NFL. At this point Henne does not look like a franchise quarterback, something Palmer is.

Palmer has the talent to lead the Dolphins to the playoffs if they can build a running game behind him. Miami has to decide if they will re-sign Ronnie Brown and/or Ricky Williams this offseason. With Davone Bess and Brandon Marshall in place at receiver, Palmer could step into a winning situation for the Dolphins.

Denver Broncos Trade Kyle Orton to Arizona Cardinals

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 12: Quarterbacks Derek Anderson #3 of the Arizona Cardinals talks with Kyle Orton #8 of the Denver Broncos before the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 12, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated

The Trade: Arizona sends pick No.102 to Denver Broncos for QB Kyle Orton.

A fourth-round pick in exchange for a potential Pro Bowler at quarterback? That is a pretty dang good deal for the Cardinals but also for the Broncos. Denver does not need Orton now that Tim Tebow is starting.

What the Broncos do need are draft picks to re-stock the cupboard on defense. Adding one more fourth-round pick in a deep draft is a smart play.

Orton has been up-and-down in his career, but he is light years ahead of every quarterback on the Cardinals roster today. He is also the smart game manager at quarterback Ken Whisenhunt needs to keep Larry Fitzgerald happy and to win in a weak NFC West.

Philadelphia Eagles Trade Kevin Kolb to San Francisco

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 02: Kevin Kolb #4 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on against the Dallas Cowboys on January 2, 2011 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Trade: 49ers send 2011 second-round (No. 45 ) and 2012 first-round pick to Philadelphia for QB Kevin Kolb

The 49ers are closer to a playoff run than many people will admit. They have Pro Bowl talent at running back, wide receiver and tight end, and four young, talented offensive linemen who are ready to step in to the limelight.

The defense is good, with Patrick Willis and Justin Smith leading a group of aggressive defenders. All that is missing here is a quarterback.

Kolb has asked to start in 2011 or be traded. With Philadelphia assigning Michael Vick as their franchise player, Kolb will be moved. The Eagles have asked for a first- and third-round pick in exchange, but would happily accept a second-round pick this year with a first-round pick in 2012.

Tennessee Titans Trade Vince Young to Cincinnati Bengals

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NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 21: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Tennessee Titans scrambles away from H.B. Blades #54 of the Washington Redskins at LP Field on November 21, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Redskins won 19-16 in overtime. (Photo by Grant

The Trade: Cincinnati trades pick No. 174 to Tennessee Titans for QB Vince Young

As part of our predicted trade of Carson Palmer to Miami, Cincinnati turns around and uses the fifth-round pick received to pick up Vince Young.

The Titans are likely to cut Young if no one trades for him, which does seem like a stretch right now. So why would anyone trade for Young? 

Trading for Young guarantees his services in 2011. If he is simply cut by the Titans, he is free to sign anywhere, something the now quarterback-needy Bengals cannot afford.

The Bengals are going young in 2011, and Vince Young is ready for a second chance in the NFL.

Washington Redskins Trade Donovan McNabb to Minnesota Vikings

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LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 12: Donovan McNabb #5 of the Washington Redskins passes against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FedExField on December 12, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. The Buccaneers defeated the Redskins 17-16. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

The Trade: Minnesota trades pick No. 167 to Washington Redskins for QB Donovan McNabb.

The Vikings know they have a playoff roster, but they have what amounts to a preseason quarterback in Joe Webb. Webb shows promise, but he is not ready for the NFL right now. And the Vikings cannot afford to waste the talent they have assembled on a project at quarterback.

McNabb may not be the All-Pro he once was, but he is still better right now than any quarterback the Vikings could find in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and he comes at a great price of a fifth-round pick.

McNabb has a few good years left in the tank, and the talent assembled in Minnesota will only extend his career.

Washington Redskins Trade Albert Haynesworth to Philadelphia Eagles

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GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 02: Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth #92 of the Washington Redskins stands on the sidelines during preseason NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 2, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona

The Trade: Philadelphia sends pick No. 181 to Washington Redskins for DT Albert Haynesworth.

How sad is it that three years ago Haynesworth was widely considered the best defensive tackle in the NFL, and now he is being traded for a late fifth-round pick?

Some would argue the Eagles are giving up too much for Haynesworth, but the Redskins are likely to hear from at least a few teams once the bidding starts for the former All-Pro.

In Philadelphia, the Eagles will reunite Haynesworth and his former line coach Jim Washburn, who left Tennessee to join the Eagles staff this offseason. If anyone can motivate Haynesworth, it will be Washburn.

A return to a 4-3 defense will also be a big help to Haynesworth, who was playing out of position in Washington's 3-4 scheme.

Dallas Cowboys Trade Marion Barber to New England Patriots

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 25: Runningback Marion Barber #24 of the Dallas Cowboys rushes the football during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 25, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated

The Trade: New England sends pick No. 124 to Dallas Cowboys for RB Marion Barber III.

This trade is one of the more logical rumors we have heard this offseason. Dallas is heavy on running backs. New England badly needs an every-down running back. Barber had a recent brush with the law and needs a change of scenery.

Everyone is happy now, right? 

The Patriots struck gold picking up a disgruntled running back named Corey Dillon before the 2004 season, and Barber is an even better player with younger legs and more big-play ability.

San Diego Chargers Trade Vincent Jackson to New England Patriots

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 16: Wide receiver Vincent Jackson #83 of the San Diego Chargers dives into the endzone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 16, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Pho

The Trade: New England trades pick No. 33 to San Diego Chargers for WR Vincent Jackson.

It is becoming more common for NFL teams to make trades within their same conference and even their same division, if the price is right. For the Patriots, who desperately need an outside receiver, this is a steal.

Jackson is a Pro Bowl talent, but he is unhappy in San Diego and tired of waiting for General Manager A.J. Smith to sign him to the long-term deal he deserves. Bill Belichick and the Patriots know just how good Jackson is, and they will move quickly to secure his rights by trading away the first pick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Green Bay Packers Trade Matt Flynn to Tennessee Titans

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Matt Flynn #10 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after the Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Image

The Trade: Tennessee sends pick No. 39 to Green Bay Packers for QB Matt Flynn and pick No. 160.

With Vince Young shipped to Cincinnati, the Titans are ready to start over. Tennessee badly needs a quarterback, preferably a young one, to rebuild their franchise around. 

If this were Major League Baseball or the National Basketball Association, Flynn would be traded without question this offseason before his contract expires after the 2011 season. The Packers have an interesting predicament regarding Flynn, but his stock is as hot as it will get and they should move him now while they can still get something in return.

Baltimore Ravens Trade T.J. Houshmandzadeh to Atlanta Falcons

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CLEVELAND - DECEMBER 26: Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, #84 of the Baltimore Ravens catches a touchdown pass over defensive back Sheldon Brown, #24 of the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo b

The Trade: Atlanta trades pick No. 187 to Baltimore Ravens for WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh

The Falcons are on the precipice of becoming one of the elite teams in the NFL. With a star in young quarterback Matt Ryan, Atlanta is ready to compete for a Super Bowl title.

To enjoy a spot in the "big game," Atlanta must add options for Ryan in the passing game. Roddy White is terrific, but opposite him is a big hole. Enter Houshmandzadeh.

T.J. had a rough year in Baltimore, with his playing time and targets limited in an offense loaded with talented players. In Atlanta he will have a chance to shine once again.