NFL Trade Speculation: 5 Trades We'd Love to See

The 2012 NFL Draft came and went and left us wanting more... as usual.

If there's one thing the NFL definitely needs more of, it's trades. This year's draft featured eight trades in the first round alone and nearly 30 total trades!

Please sir, may we have some more?

There are more than a few players primed to be shipped away from their current squads, and nothing gets the fans excited quite like a high-profile trade.

Mike Wallace to the Cleveland Browns

This offseason has been a long and frustrating one for Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Mike Wallace.

After racking up over 1,000 yards in his last two campaigns, averaging eight touchdowns a season during his first three years in the league and being one of the most consistent Steelers over the last three seasons, Wallace is seeking elite wide receiver money.

But the Steelers don't seem to agree on what Wallace has earned because they have so far been unable to come to terms with the burner.

Instead, they placed a first-round tender on the unrestricted free agent. Should he sign the tender, the Steelers will owe him only $2.7 million in 2012.

While the organization has expressed a desire to secure Wallace long-term, the receiver may not share their enthusiasm for a continued relationship. It would certainly come as no shock to fans if Wallace came out and said he felt disrespected by the club.

But at the ripe young age of 25, Wallace has many years of productive play in front of him. He is valuable as trade bait.

Should he sign his tender, he would immediately be eligible for the Steelers to move him. One potential suitor sits in their own division—the Cleveland Browns.

It may be difficult for the Steelers to accept, but they might be forced to move Wallace this season. They could receive a fair amount for him, as opposed to watching him walk away as a free agent after the 2012 season.

It may be even more difficult to send him off to a team they face twice a year, but Cleveland needs a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver, and they may be willing to part with valuable future draft picks in order to acquire him.

Of course, Wallace would have to be willing to sign a long-term deal with the Browns for them to pull the trigger on any trade.

Dwight Freeney to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Indianapolis Colts have gone back and forth on Dwight Freeney's status since new management arrived.

There were first rumors that Freeney could get cut due to his $14 million-plus 2012 salary.

Then came the trade rumors where the Colts were hoping to receive at least a second-round draft pick.

Finally, the Colts said it was all a lie and that they plan to keep the best player remaining on their roster.

With the draft come and gone, it's unlikely the Colts will change their mind and offload Freeney for draft picks. It's clear that they aren't going to get the value they were seeking for the veteran.

But with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hurting for help at defensive end and hoping to compete for the NFC South, they just might want to send a few picks to Indy for the former Syracuse star.

After projected starter Da'Quan Bowers went down with an Achilles injury, the Bucs have a huge hole at defensive end. Admittedly, Bowers played left end while Freeney has always been a right D-end. Either he or Adrian Clayborn would have to make the switch to the left, but something tells me elite players like them could do so without major concern.

Wes Welker to the Denver Broncos

Wouldn't this be something else?

Wes Welker has enjoyed a number of ultra-productive years with the New England Patriots, and he has earned himself a big-money contract. However, it's no secret that Bill Belichick and the Pats aren't fond of handing out mega deals.

Randy Moss couldn't get a big deal done with them. Richard Seymour got traded before the Pats would've inevitably faced his demands for a huge contract.

Welker just signed his franchise tag, but what's next? We know players hate to play with that kind of uncertainty. We know Welker's play has earned him a huge sum of money. We know the Patriots clearly don't agree on the number of dollars or years Welker and his agent are seeking.

Trade city.

I don't know what the 31-year-old Welker is worth in draft picks, but I figure it's got to be at least a second-rounder.

And you know Welker wouldn't be that upset. His friendship with Tom Brady has been somewhat publicized so he would undoubtedly miss that and his other friends on the roster, but that comes with any team change.

On the plus-side though, he would be "down-grading" (if you can call it that) from Brady to the Sheriff, Peyton Manning. He would also be joining a better wide receiver corps, including a wideout in Demaryius Thomas who many be pegged as a breakout star in 2012.

With Thomas and Eric Decker occupying the wide positions, Welker could rule the underneath areas of the field, exactly as he did in New England.

All assuming Denver would give him the money the Patriots don't seem to want to.

Jonathan Stewart to the Green Bay Packers

After the Carolina Panthers signed Mike Tolbert, it became exceedingly clear that their running back assets were surplus to requirements. Given that they figure to unleash budding superstar Cam Newton even further next season, they can't possibly supply their three running backs with enough carries to justify keeping the set.

Ipso facto, one must go.

Given the playing styles of the three backs, I would guess the Panthers would like to dump Jonathan Stewart who plays not terribly unlike Tolbert. While he is slightly quicker and more effective between the 20s, Tolbert is every bit as powerful and useful as a receiver. DeAngelo Williams can manage the majority of carries, while Tolbert will likely handle more of the redzone work.

Stewart has proven to be a capable back in his four-year career, averaging 4.8 yards per carry over that time and twice recording double-digit touchdown seasons. His skills are tried and true, and he can help a team that struggled to run the ball last season.

The Green Bay Packers ranked 27th in rushing yards per game last season, averaging less than 100 yards a game. Their 12 rushing touchdowns on the season were middle of the pack, but their running backs weren't exactly active in the scoring.

Projected 2012 starter James Starks scored only one rushing touchdown all season. He was matched by nose tackle B.J. Raji and backup quarterback Matt Flynn.

Ryan Grant, who is no longer with the team, accounted for only two rushing touchdowns.

Of the remaining seven, three were scored by quarterback Aaron Rodgers and four by fullback John Kuhn.

Stewart immediately gives Green Bay a legitimate threat at running back, and he offers just one more way for the Pack to hurt their opponents. Adding him makes the NFL's best offense that much better.

Ben Tate to the Detroit Lions

When Arian Foster started the 2011 season injured, the Houston Texans thought they were in trouble. Instead, their backup running back turned out to be one of the better backs in the league, leading the NFL in rushing until Foster's return.

Now, we are currently in an age where almost every NFL team believes that having multiple "good" backs is better than trying to secure a featured back. Somehow, the Texans have lucked into both. While it sounds nice, it won't last.

Running backs have an incredibly short life span in the NFL, and Tate will want to cash in on his success as much and as soon as possible. Teams will be inquiring about his availability, and with his limited experience, the price tag will be relatively low.

Enter the Detroit Lions, who consistently struggled to run the ball last season. Between injuries to Javhid Best and Mikel Leshoure, it's really no surprise.

But Best has been a constant injury risk since entering the league two seasons ago. Leshoure not only has to deal with his injury, but he has a number of arrests to his name as well.

This is a group that needs a leader that knows how to get the job done. Ben Tate showed that he can be that player last season.

He nearly broke 1,000 yards as the backup to Foster, who had over 100 more carries. Tate averaged 5.4 yards per carry on 175 attempts, virtually identical to backs like DeMarco Murray and Fred Jackson.

This is a guy who can definitely give the Lions rushing attack a boost, taking their offense to the next level. With defenses having to stay honest, it will be a lot harder to double- and even triple-team Calvin Johnson. Stafford may not pass for 5,000 yards again, but the Lions might find themselves competing for a division crown.