NFL Trade Speculation: Kolb for Cromartie and 5 Trades to Watch Post-Lockout

With all signs pointing to the lockout ending this week, we take a minute to look at the trades expected to go down once the new collective bargaining agreement is signed.

That excitement you hear across the US today is the fact that the NFL lockout is getting so much closer to being resolved.

And it's about damn time.

Will the Arizona Cardinals meet the asking price of the Eagles and move Kevin Kolb? Will Pro Bowl receivers Steve Smith and Vincent Jackson get moved?

Let's take a look at the top five trades we expect to go down this weekend.

Carson Palmer to the Seattle Seahawks

Carson Palmer requested a trade from the Bengals early this offseason, adding in the threat of retiring if the team would not move him.

While Mike Brown may talk tough, he won't allow potential draft picks in compensation retire. Brown, at the end of the day, will cave and trade Palmer to the highest bidder.

And that high bidder will be a familiar face for Palmer, as it will be his old college coach, Pete Carroll, welcoming him to his new team—the Seattle Seahawks.

Seattle would be wise to offer a second-round pick in exchange for Palmer, who would easily start ahead of Charlie Whitehurst and JP Losman. With the NFC West up for grabs a move like this would make the Seahawks the early favorite to win the division.

Steve Slaton to the Cincinnati Bengals

The Houston Texans found a diamond in the rough last season with Arian Foster, who would go on to lead the league in rushing with over 1,600 yards.

The Texans also have Ben Tate, who was drafted in the second-round of the 2010 draft before missing the season due to injury—which opened the door for Foster to take over.

With both Foster and Tate on the board the Texans will be free to move former 1,000 yard rusher Steve Slaton.

It just so happens that Cincinnati may be looking for a starter after free agent Cedric Benson was arrested earlier this week in Austin, Texas.

Benson, who many expected to re-sign, may not be welcome back in Cincinnati now. Slaton, whose best asset is his speed, would be a great fit in Jay Gruden's spread offense.

Vincent Jackson to the New England Patriots

Vincent Jackson has been in the NFL for seven years, and not once has he been a free agent thanks to some clever use of the franchise tag in San Diego.

Jackson is once again designated as the Chargers' franchise player, but that doesn't mean Jackson will play in San Diego this fall. Jackson held out for the first nine weeks of the 2010 season and may be prepared to do so again.

Jackson and Chargers general manager A.J. Smith are far from friendly and the chances of Jackson being moved for a first-round pick are becoming more likely.

Thankfully, New England has two first round picks due to a trade with the New Orleans Saints. Moving one of their first-rounders for an All-Pro level receiver is a no-brainer.

Steve Smith to the Baltimore Ravens

Steve Smith has not gone the route of Carson Palmer and requested a trade, or threatened to retire, but he has asked the team to either compete for a title or move him to a team that can.

Smith will likely be on his way out in Carolina, where a rebuilding movement is under way.

Smith will have many suitors, but he will also be able to pick and choose his spots to some degree.

We expect him to look at the Bears, Patriots and Ravens as potential landing spots. In the end, with New England picking up Vincent Jackson, Baltimore makes the most sense.

Sure, the Ravens drafted Torrey Smith, but Steve Smith will be a legitimate No. 2 opposite Anquan Boldin immediately.

Kevin Kolb for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

NFL.com writer Pat Kirwan believes that many NFL deals are already in place, just waiting for the lockout to end. We agree.

One such deal that makes too much sense to not happen is a trade that would send Kevin Kolb to Arizona for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

The Eagles have Michael Vick, so Kolb is expendable. They also lost Ellis Hobbs to retirement and would love to replace him without signing a free agent.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is also expendable in Arizona after the Cardinals used the No. 5 overall pick on Patrick Peterson.

The deal makes sense for both teams. Let's see it happen.