26 NFL Stars Who Could Be on the Trading Block in 2013

Trades are not the most common occurrence in the NFL.  Unlike MLB or the NBA, trading high-profile players is particularly rare and often is at the detriment of one team (does Herschel Walker ring a bell, Vikings fans?).

This is a trend that could start to change, though.  There has been more pressure on new coaches to win and win immediately.  This could induce a coach with some control over player personnel to gamble on a veteran in exchange for future draft choices.  

Anticipated changes to the league's collective bargaining agreement could also provide a bump in player trades.

It is expected that players will become unrestricted free agents after four years, with few options of "tagging" individuals to protect a team's interest in that player.  This could prompt a team to work a trade for a player instead of simply losing him during free agency.

An offshoot of trading players prior to the end of their contract could be a growing trend of sign-and-trade agreements.  After two clubs agree to terms of the trade, the final transaction could be contingent or conditional based on the new franchise being able to agree to a long-term deal with their new player.  

With the potential for players to move via trade as opposed to free agency, here are a few players whose contracts and short-term value could see them on the move.

Jimmy Clausen or Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

I'm starting with the Panthers QB position because neither player is a star, but they both have the potential to be.

This position could get very crowded in the next two years, and if both players progress it will be hard to validate keeping one as a backup QB.  There are always teams looking for help at the QB position.

Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

Let me start by saying I don't expect this to happen.  Tom Brady will most likely retire after the 2014 season as a Patriot (he would be 38 at the start of the 2015 season).

However, there is that very, very small chance that Ryan Mallett blows the coaching staff away with his ability to be an elite NFL QB.  

The question that would face Bill Belichick: Is it better to add depth and talent by trading Brady, setting the Patriots up for a few more drafts, or keep two elite QBs on the roster and pay Brady $15 million per season in salary that could be spent elsewhere?

Given this scenario is contingent on Mallett becoming a star in the next two years, Patriots fans should be able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders

This is another dark-horse selection.  The Raiders drafted a RB in 2011 in Taiwan Jones that could surprise the NFL.  

Then again, Jones could be too undersized and lack the durability needed in the NFL.

Should Jones develop, the Raiders may find they are best served pairing him with Michael Bush and getting some value in return for McFadden before his contract expires in 2013.  This is not likely to happen, but nothing is out of the realm of possibility with Al Davis.

Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons

I understand...I'm a decent-sized guy and am on a pretty thin limb here, too.  

However, the Falcons just traded away the top of their 2012 draft and other draft capital to get a complement and quite likely a transition plan for Roddy White.  They are built to win in 2011 and '12.  As for 2013...that is yet to be seen.

White will turn 33 during the 2013 season, with his contract running through 2014.  If the Falcons are seeing their Super Bowl window close, trading White could help push it back open.

His contract is favorable in the final two seasons, making him an attractive trade option.

Aaron Curry, OLB, Seattle Seahawks

Curry's contract with Seattle runs through 2014, so a trade prior to the 2013 season would still provide two years of service from the under-performing LB.  

While Curry hasn't been bad in Seattle, he is yet to live up to his draft hype.  He is playing in a 4-3 system that doesn't suit him as well as it could, particularly with all the different sets and adjustments coach Pete Carroll throws in.  Curry has struggled to pick up some of the intricacies to say the least.  

If he doesn't show marked improvement, look for the Seahawks to look for a trade partner and send him off to a different defensive scheme. 

Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Washington Redskins

Orakpo has made a great transition from DE to LB in the NFL.  The question several 4-3 teams are asking, though, is how good would he be as a pass-rushing DE?

The Redskins seem to lack focus and need to build a franchise that can compete for the long-haul, not just rebuild the team every offseason.  They may decide that Orakpo should be part of that plan.  

Then again, they may be able to pick up two players in return for Orakpo and take a gamble on a player like Aaron Curry...or even send Orakpo west and pick up Curry and a draft pick.

Ike Taylor, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Granted, Taylor has to re-sign with the Steelers prior to them being able to trade him in the future.  Should that happen...

The Steelers have built some depth in their secondary, but need time for their youth to mature.  By signing Taylor to a four-year deal, they would have the luxury of working a trade for his services if and when Curtis Brown, Cortez Brown, et al. are ready to take over the starting duties.

Bryant McKinnie, OT, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings offensive line needs a complete overhaul.  When healthy, McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson gave them a formidable left side.  But age and miles are catching up with the Vikings (and perhaps a little Karma in Hutchinson's case).

The Vikings have a very limited window left to make a playoff run, and it could very well be closed if they are not able to attract a veteran QB that can run their new offense.  By the end of the 2012 season it will be clear that they need to add youth, and a lot of it.

McKinnie will have one year remaining on his contract and the Vikings would be wise to get what they can in return for him after the 2012 campaign. 

Jared Allen, DE, Minnesota Vikings

Allen is a stud and will still be a stud when he is 31.  However, when he is 32, 33 and 34, the chances are the Vikings won't be that good.

Similar to the rationale for moving McKinnie, trading Allen should provide some valuable draft stock.  Any team needing help at the DE position would consider Allen.

Richie Incognito, OG, Miami Dolphins

Incognito will have eight years under his belt after the 2012 season.  The Dolphins will continue to build a young OL while they find a franchise QB and prepare to be competitive in 2014 and beyond.

Incognito will be more able to meet another team's needs in the final year of his contract than in Miami.

Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers

Crabtree was a gift that was personally wrapped for the 49ers by their Bay Area neighbor, Al Davis.

Some fans are wishing he had a return policy.

It is too early to consider Crabtree a bust, and he will have the opportunity to grow in a new offense.  The 49ers also have who they hope will be their future at QB in Colin Kaepernick.

Things should turn around for Crabtree, but if they don't, the expected superstar could be learning to fly elsewhere.

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville drafted the QB they hope will take them into 2020.  Look for them to take a RB in 2012, making Jones-Drew expendable in 2013.

The Jaguars need to get young and build talent and Jones-Drew would be an attractive option for teams needing a go-to RB.

Leigh Bodden, CB, New England Patriots

The best move the Patriots made during the 2011 draft was selecting Ras-I Dowling.  He has the potential to be a great CB in the NFL.

Should he progress as expected, Bodden could become expendable with Devin McCourty set to fill one of the CB positions.  Bodden, provided he can rebound from his shoulder injury, should have trade value with his contract continuing through 2013.

Chris Canty, DT, New York Giants

Canty may not be providing quite as much pressure up the middle as the Giants had hoped for when they signed him from their division rival.

The Giants may decide to look for a trade partner and send Canty back to a 3-4 set and find a better complement to help anchor the middle of their defense.  Someone like Marvin Austin, for example.

Nate Clements, CB, San Francisco 49ers

Clements hasn't lived up to expectations the last few seasons.  He may show enough to be allowed to stay on his current contract, but don't expect him to be allowed to serve it all in San Francisco.

The 49ers need better, more consistent play from their defensive backs.  Perhaps they can find a trade partner that believes they can get Clements back on track.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Oakland Raiders

This pick hasn't worked out for the Raiders and it doesn't figure to turn around anytime soon.  Darrius Heyward-Bey isn't a star in the NFL, but a change of pace and a coach that can incorporate him into a different offense may help him shed the joke moniker.  

The Raiders have already drafted another speedy WR prospect to take over for him...at least this time they waited until Round 5.

Antonio Smith, DE, Houston Texans

The Texans could be thick at the DE position if J.J. Watt progresses as expected.  Mario Williams is working on a conversion to OLB to ease the surplus, but should that experiment fail the Texans will need to make a change.

This would leave Antonio Smith, who will be a free agent after the 2013 season, as the likely odd man out.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Arizona Cardinals

Rodgers-Cromartie signed a six-year deal in 2008 that will make him a free agent after the 2013 season.  The Cardinals will likely be looking for a CB to play second fiddle to Patrick Peterson at that point, which could make Rodgers-Cromartie expendable.

If he lasts that long in Arizona, the 2013 draft would be an ideal time for the Cardinals to move a still-young CB (he'll only be 27 at the time) and get some value in return.

Adrian Wilson, SS, Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals defense has most of the tools they need to be an elite unit.  Wilson is definitely part of that plan, but he could quickly be seen as a player where a transition plan is needed.

Wilson turns 32 during the upcoming season, with a contract running through 2013.  The Cardinals will be best served getting a young SS in the 2012 draft and looking at him to take over for Wilson in '13.  Wilson should have some trade value at that point to help the Cardinals continue to improve.

Andre' Goodman or Brian Dawkins, CB/FS, Denver Broncos

The Broncos starting four in their secondary will be an average of 34 years old this season.  Normally that is where I'd put in an exaggeration to make a point, but when four starters that form a unit are all 33 years old or older, it isn't exactly a laughing matter.

The Broncos will need to do something to bring in some youth.  Goodman's final year on his contract is in 2013, as is Dawkins'.  Goodman will be 35 years old and Dawkins will turn 40 during the season.

I can't see both of them remaining in Denver for the duration of their contracts.  I can see a team with injury issues trading for one of them early in the 2013 season, though.

Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts

I understand the mere suggestion of Peyton Manning playing anywhere other than Indianapolis is a form of blasphemy.

However, the Colts have a defined window that could be closing in the next two seasons.  If they are not able to retool at the WR and RB positions, and if their OL selections this past draft don't pan out, they could be at a crossroads.

Manning is expected to sign an extension with the Colts when free agency begins.  He would likely have two more years under contract in 2013; a team on the verge of a Super Bowl run but with QB issues could very well give up a few attractive draft picks.  

Several teams drafted QBs in 2011 and should one of them not meet expectations, Manning could be the man to round out a team.

David Garrard, QB Jacksonville Jaguars

Garrard is set to be a free agent after the 2013 season.  It isn't likely the Jaguars expect to use him in a starting role, as they just drafted Blaine Gabbert to take over the offense.

So long as most of the NFL scouts and analysts are right about Gabbert, and I somehow turn out to be wrong about him having the skills to be an elite QB in the NFL, Garrard will be shopped.

Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets

While this seems unthinkable on the face, Revis' contract will likely be voided after the 2013 season (this happens if he doesn't hold out of any mandatory offseason workouts or training camp).

To make matters worse, the terms of the contract prohibit the Jets from applying the franchise tag to Revis.  Faced with letting Revis walk after the season or trading him, the Jets could have their hand forced.

Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys

At some point Jerry Jones and the Cowboys fanbase are going to realize that Romo is not a QB upon which championships are built.  It may not be this year, and it may not be next year...well, actually it will be next year.

The Cowboys will enter the 2013 draft knowing that Romo has one year left on his contract.  They will also see that he still hasn't led them to a meaningful playoff victory and realize it is time to let him ride off into another team's sunset.

OK Cowboy fans...you can let me have it now.