NFL Trade Speculation: 8 Trades We're Crossing Our Fingers for

Finding the right personnel for your NFL franchise can be tough work, but I've come up with eight trades that would be good for both teams involved in the action.

The players involved are, for the most part, already on their way out whether it be this year or next year, and their teams would be wise to get something of value in return.

Wheeling and dealing in the NFL can be risky business, but these trades are just too logical to pass up.

Jimmy Clausen to the Seattle Seahawks

Jimmy Clausen is going to become an awfully expensive third-string quarterback if the Carolina Panthers decide to keep him. He currently sits behind Cam Newton and Derrick Anderson on the Panthers' roster.

Clausen is scheduled to receive a $923,000 roster bonus on March 27, 2012 to go along with his 2012 salary of $490,000. His contract for 2013 includes an escalator that could end up making his cap number inflate to $2.85 million.

The Panthers need to either trade or release Clausen, and the Seattle Seahawks need to create some legitimate competition behind Tavaris Jackson. It's a perfect fit.

The Seahawks payed good money to lure Charlie Whitehurst up north a couple of years ago in an effort to provide a spark, but Whitehurst was a colossal failure, attempting only 155 passes in two years and throwing only three touchdowns to his four interceptions.

Whitehurst is a free agent in 2012, and he likely won't be back. 

Clausen might not get many more chances to make it in the NFL, but he could find his best opportunity in Seattle, where I wouldn't be surprised to see him compete with Jackson for the starting job.

Shawntae Spencer to the St. Louis Rams

The San Francisco 49ers are in the process of granting cornerback Shawntae Spencer permission to seek a trade. 

Slated to make $3.3 million in 2012, including $100,000 as a workout bonus, Spencer isn't part of the future for the 49ers, as they are getting younger and more athletic at the cornerback position.

Spencer didn't even suit up for the team's two playoff games in 2011, something that didn't sit well with him:

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"It's like dating the same girl all through junior high and high school and then come senior year, she's dating another guy," Spencer said. "I've played right corner since I got here."

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If there was ever a team that needed help at the cornerback position, the St. Louis Rams would be it.

Spencer isn't a bad player. In fact, he's a technician who can cover one-on-one against some of the better receivers in the game. He would become an instant starter for the Rams, who are devastatingly short on talent in their secondary.

Osi Umenyiora to the Seattle Seahawks

Osi Umenyiora and the New York Giants once again find themselves at an impasse regarding his contract. Umenyiora is scheduled to make just under $4 million in 2012, but there is a good chance he will hold out if he doesn't get a new deal before training camp.

Remember, this is the same guy that held out for a few weeks last year and then had surgery after returning to the team, missing seven games in the process. 

Then, right after the Super Bowl before the celebration was even over, Umenyiora had this to say in response to what to expect next year:

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I don't know. You have to ask them that, man. I'm still under contract here, so at the end of the day, they're going to have to make that decision. It's not going to be on me.

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The best thing for all parties involved is to simply trade the man. 

The Seattle Seahawks provide a perfect destination for Osi to land on his feet. Besides defensive end Chris Clemons (11 sacks), the Seahawks struggled to provide pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The next best man on the team was linebacker Leroy Hill, who pitched in four.

Umenyiora would give the Seahawks a much-needed presence on the other side of Clemons, and their defense would be even more imposing in 2012 than it was last year.

Asante Samuel to the Carolina Panthers

Asante Samuel has been one of the most consistent playmaking cornerbacks in the NFL since his breakout year in 2006, when he picked off 10 passes.

His career seasonal average (since 2005) is better than what most players have on their best year: 42 tackles, 15 pass deflections and six interceptions to go along with five career touchdowns.  

He is scheduled to make $8.4 million in 2012 and $10.4 million in 2013, so the Eagles will be looking to find attractive trade offers to unload his heavy contract. Last year, they reportedly almost traded Samuel for two second-day draft picks. Don't be surprised to see them pursue such a deal this year.

Samuel admitted that he doesn't know what his future holds in a recent interview, saying: "They don't tell you those things? I'm hoping to be here. That's all."

It doesn't help Samuel's cause that his style of play (playing off-coverage to capitalize for interceptions on quick reads) is completely different than that of Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who excel at press coverage.

The Carolina Panthers could use the help. Chris Gamble is a solid corner, but outside of his game, they don't have a legit playmaker at the position. Bringing in Samuel would allow Gamble to switch his responsibilities to the No. 2 receiver, making the entire defense stronger as a result.

Lance Briggs to the New England Patriots

Lance Briggs demanded a trade back in September of 2011, a move he made in an attempt to get the Chicago Bears' attention that he wants a new deal. 

Briggs failed to go through with his threats, but there is no chance he's changed his mind since. Don't be surprised if he actually goes through with it this year if he remains on the Bears' roster.

If the Bears don't want to deal with the hassle of another distraction in 2012, they should simply deal Briggs.

New England seems like a perfect landing spot for Briggs. The Patriots could potentially offer the Bears one of their first-round draft picks or package a deal that includes picks and a player or two. 

He could come in and provide the Patriots with another versatile linebacker, of which you can never have too many in Bill Belichick's defense. He can play both inside and outside in both the 4-3 and the 3-4. 

Seeing as how the Patriots were one of the worst defenses in the NFL in 2011, Briggs would be a welcomed addition and a leader for the young linebacking corps of the Pats.

DeSean Jackson to the San Francisco 49ers

Howie Roseman has recently come out in support of DeSean Jackson, saying: "We feel fortunate to have a player of DeSean Jackson’s magnitude on our football team and I think the future is bright for DeSean Jackson."

I'm of the opinion that this is Roseman's attempt to increase the value of his troubled star.

It wasn't long ago that the Philadelphia Inquirer published the report that the Eagles would franchise Jackson, saying: "They will not let their Pro Bowl receiver—whose contract is set to expire—walk without getting something in return."

The only sure thing here is that anything could happen. 

I would love to see the San Francisco 49ers make a strong play for Jackson. I'd support a decision to offer the team's second-round pick straight up for his services, provided the front office believed they could work out a reasonable long-term deal.

Michael Crabtree isn't ever going to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL. He's not fast enough, not strong enough, not quick enough and not steady enough to claim it. That doesn't necessarily discount the possibility he could have a fantastic career, as long as he had someone better on the field to take pressure off of him. 

Jackson's blend of pure speed, quickness and hands would be a deadly combination to Crabtree's possession receiver abilities, and the two of them, combined with Joshua Morgan and Kyle Williams, could turn the 49ers' pathetic wide receiving corps into a darn good group.

Brandon Marshall to the Chicago Bears

This might not be the likeliest of trades, because I'm not sure if the Miami Dolphins are willing to deal, but Brandon Marshall to the Chicago Bears sounds like a marriage made in heaven to me. 

Jay Cutler needs his old buddy back.

Marshall has recently come out and said what we were thinking after he had a magnificent MVP performance in the 2012 Pro Bowl:

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"Quarterbacks make it easier for me. These guys are putting it in the right places and I’m making plays. It’s easy right now. Elite quarterbacks put [the ball] in the right spots," Marshall said.

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Marshall believes everything is in place for the Dolphins to become a winning team, they just lack an elite quarterback.

If the Dolphins somehow strike out in their search for an elite quarterback in the same way they struck out in their search for an elite head coach, don't be surprised to see Marshall decide he's through with Miami.

I'm sure the Bears could find it in their hearts to welcome Marshall with open arms.

Robert Griffin III to the Washington Redskins

Mike Mayock loves RG3. He "loves everything about the kid." I'm betting Mike Shanahan shares his thoughts. 

Todd McShay shares my opinion about Shanahan, and he believes the Washington Redskins could move up to the St. Louis Rams' spot with the second pick of the 2012 NFL draft in order to acquire the talents of this young phenom.

Shanahan has always loved mobile quarterbacks. He loved Jake Plummer, and I'm guessing Griffin might turn out to be better than Jake the Snake.

Griffin is the perfect vehicle to run Shanahan's offense. His ability to see the field and make plays with both his arm and his legs will bring a dynamism and vitality to the Redskins' offense that has been sorely missing. 

Heck, he can't be any worse than Rex Grossman.

This is a deal that the Redskins must make happen.

Peyton Manning looks more and more to be halfway retired, if you believe the latest reports of a secret fourth surgery.

Matt Flynn is just as much of a risk as RG3 or any other untested player, and if you're going to use an untested player, you might as well take the one with the most upside. 

Griffin is the man for Shanahan, and I'll be surprised if Daniel Snyder doesn't do all he can to make a trade happen with the Rams for their pick.