NFL Trade Rumors: The Pros and Cons of Each Top Rumor Coming True

By now, you are familiar with most of the NFL's top rumors. Where will Peyton Manning go? Will the Pittsburgh Steelers lose Mike Wallace? Who is going to pay the price for Robert Griffin III? 

Let's take a look at each of these top rumors—and a few more—and look at the best- and worst-case scenarios for the teams and players involved. 

Peyton Manning Leaving the Indianapolis Colts

Pros:

Andrew Luck is as good as they say. He comes right in and has the Indianapolis Colts competing for the AFC South crown. Luck approaches elite status with every passing season, and soon becomes a top-tier NFL quarterback.

The Colts enjoy another decade of elite play from the quarterback position and continue to compete year-in and year-out for a Super Bowl.  

Cons:

Andrew Luck just isn't that good. He cannot take the heat of following up Manning and constantly being compared to Robert Griffin III, one of the most intriguing draft prospects in NFL history. The Colts regress to where they were before drafting Peyton, swamped in mediocrity with a host of 3-13 seasons along the way. 

Cincinnati Bengals Letting Cedric Benson Walk

In a surprising move, the indication is that Cedric Benson and the Cincinnati Bengals are headed toward a "mutual parting of the way," as tweeted by Bengals' beat writer Joe Reedy.

Pros:

The Cincinnati Bengals find a suitable replacement for Benson via the draft or free agency to continue to rack up 1,100-yard seasons.

The Bengals use one of their two first-round picks on Lamar Miller, the second-best running back prospect. The explosive Miller adds another element to a young Bengals' offense, as opposed to the plodding but powerful Benson.   

Cons: 

The Bengals do not find a solid back, and their offense struggles as a result. The Bengals become too dependent on Andy Dalton, who is not yet ready to carry the offense without a solid running game. A promising season for the Bengals spirals out of control due to an inconsistent offense. 

Chad Henne to New York Jets

Pros:

The addition of a 26-year-old starting quarterback lights a fire under Mark Sanchez. The New York Jets' fourth-year starter works like he never has before, and fully displays the talent that made him the fifth overall pick in the 2009 draft. A proficient passing attack helps the talented Jets fulfill their potential and represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Sanchez struggles early and the team finally pulls the plug on "The Sanchize." Henne's familiarity with new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, plus more talent than he ever had in Miami, helps Henne's career take off, and the Jets never look back. 

Cons: 

Sanchez struggles in the early going, and the unforgiving New York fans and media clamor for Henne. Henne, too, is mediocre and the team endures a season-crippling quarterback controversy.

The Jets miss the playoffs again, Rex Ryan and Sanchez are dismissed and it is back to the drawing board for a team that was recently considered a sure-fire Super Bowl contender. 

Plaxico Burress to the Philadelphia Eagles

Pros: 

The 6'5" Plaxico Burress adds a new element to the Philadelphia Eagles' passing game. The lanky wideout complements the Eagles' small-but-speedy receivers perfectly, and is a game-changer for the Eagles in the red zone.

Michael Vick and Burress' long-time friendship provides perfect harmony and they are a devastating duo. Just for fun, they inspire many ex-con-related jokes along the way.   

Cons: 

Burress' personality does not mesh well with DeSean Jackson and company, and the Eagles have another season ruined by chemistry issues. Burress' disappointing season in New York was not a result of shaking off rust, but rather an indication that he is done. Burress had about the same impact as Chad Ochocinco had with the New England Patriots. 

Teams Moving Up for Robert Griffin III

Pro:

Robert Griffin III is as good as his college stats and combine workout would indicate. He has a Cam Newton-like rookie season and is one of the game's great quarterbacks for the next decade.

Whichever team trades up for him (most likely the Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, or Cleveland Browns) never looks back at the king's ransom paid to select the Heisman Trophy winner.

A similar trade worked out pretty well for the New York Giants eight years ago, didn't it?  

Con: 

One of the aforementioned teams—or the supposed mystery team— sells the farm for RG3, and then he proves to be the Ryan Leaf to Andrew Luck's Peyton Manning. The franchise is set back for the next five years. 

Pittsburgh Steelers Losing Mike Wallace

Pro:

The Pittsburgh Steelers have enough on the roster to continue with a proficient passing game. Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Jerricho Cotchery and Heath Miller prove to be more than enough to replace the production of the explosive Mike Wallace.

The Steelers use the extra first-round pick to replace one of their many aging veterans and come back stronger than ever. For the third time in his career, Ben Roethlisberger responds to losing his top big-play threat by leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl.  

Con: 

The Steelers cannot replace Wallace's production, and the offense struggles. Their additional pick is not an instant contributor, and the Steelers' aging roster gets the best of them. Pittsburgh misses the playoffs for just the third time in the Ben Roethlisberger era. 

Alexander is a featured columnist for bleacherreport.com You can follow Alexander on twitter @thesportsdude7 or become a fan on his bleacher report profile.