NFL Players Who Could Still Be Traded This Offseason
The NFL has seen several trades this offseason, some of the blockbuster variety. Now that we're past the draft, however, all that should stop, right?
Not so fast.
Even if the NFL isn't quite MLB or the NBA—two leagues that see flurries of trades several times a year—there is still action to be had between now and the regular season. There may even be a trade or two go down mid-year.
Just ask Percy Harvin.
With all that said, who are some players that could be traded in the coming months? These guys might be pushed out of regular roles due to free agency or the draft, or perhaps they might be disgruntled in their current contractual situations.
Whatever the case might be, at least one or two of these names could be changing teams soon.
Mike Glennon, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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How much can be said about Mike Glennon's situation in Tampa Bay?
It's simple, really. The Bucs drafted him before Lovie Smith became head coach, and now they have Jameis Winston wearing the crown after selecting him No. 1 overall in the draft.
About the only reason Glennon hasn't been traded or released yet is the fact Tampa Bay has few viable alternatives to back Winston up. That doesn't mean Glennon cannot be moved, however—there are plenty of teams who could use a replacement-level quarterback.
Evan Mathis, OG, Philadelphia Eagles
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At this point, we shouldn't be surprised by anything Eagles head coach Chip Kelly might do with the roster. We saw him cut Philadelphia's 2013 leading receiver a year ago, let last season's leading wideout walk, trade away his star running back, move one starting quarterback for an oft-injured replacement and more.
Hence, all that smoke about offensive guard Evan Mathis possibly being traded should point to a fire somewhere. Kelly himself said that Mathis has been available for two years with no takers, as tweeted by Dave Weinberg of the Press of Atlantic City, something Mathis didn't seem too pleased about.
This is probably why Mathis has quietly skipped out on OTA practices to date, per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Perhaps if Mathis wasn't among the league's best guards—according to Pro Football Focus—he might already be gone. But Kelly is no fool—if he can't trade Mathis, he may as well slot him in to start. There has to be some team willing to pony something up for Mathis, however, even if he is a 33-year-old interior offensive lineman.
Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, New York Jets
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Much like the Adrian Peterson saga in Minnesota, the New York Jets have publicly stated they aren't going to trade Muhammad Wilkerson.
Aside from the real possibility he will be leaving next offseason—assuming the Jets don't slap him with the franchise tag—why would they? The draft is in the rear-view mirror, and any returns won't meet any immediate needs.
Still, you never know what the big defensive end might do to force a trade. Any team could come out of nowhere with an offer the Jets can't pass up, too.
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EJ Manuel, QB, Buffalo Bills
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Could EJ Manuel go from potential starter to traded in a matter of weeks?
The current regime in Buffalo has zero reason to stick with the mistakes of yesteryear, even if we haven't fully seen what Manual is capable of at this level. That might explain why the Bills traded for Matt Cassel this offseason, or why Tyrod Taylor is being bandied about as a potential starter.
At least Taylor thinks he can win the job, per David Steele of Sporting News:
"He [Bills head coach Rex Ryan] was telling me how excited he was to have a chance to have me there and to have me compete for the job. Throughout the process, I thought this opportunity was the best for an open competition. That’s what I’d always felt throughout the offseason, and I had confidence in what I could do when I got that chance.
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Then there was the rumor that Manuel might be cut, a notion new offensive coordinator Greg Roman tried to dispel, as tweeted by Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News.
If Manuel is on the outside, however, why not try to trade him and get something in return?
Dion Jordan, OLB, Miami Dolphins
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Considering Dion Jordan has zero value right now, this might be the most far-fetched option we discuss today. Still, a man with his combination of size and athleticism could still be coveted.
Aside from his run-ins with league discipline, Jordan has simply never stepped up with the Dolphins. A big reason for that, however, has been Miami's inability to deploy him where he would be most effective on defense.
Jordan would have a chance to thrive in the right situation, assuming he can get his head on straight off the field. Of course, that whole suspension thing might make him permanently untradeable, but who knows what might lie in the minds of some executives across the league.
Bruce Irvin, OLB, Seattle Seahawaks
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The writing is on the wall for Bruce Irvin.
Seattle's oft-maligned outside linebacker was put on notice when the Seahawks declined to pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. Perhaps they have had enough of his antics, though rumors of a trade were quashed before the draft, per 710 ESPN Seattle's Danny O'Neil.
Irvin certainly has a role on the team right now, but the Seahawks haven't been shy about dealing malcontents in the past. They did trade Percy Harvin away just a year after trading a first-round pick for him and inking a big extension.
There are certainly teams that could use a pass-rusher of Irvin's ilk.
Darrin Walls, CB, New York Jets
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The Jets went into the offseason with a major need to overhaul the secondary. Boy did they address that need.
New York lured star cornerback Darrelle Revis back into the fold, bringing Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine with him. Suddenly that depth chart is full, when taking former first-round pick Dee Milliner into account.
Depending on how many cornerbacks the Jets plan to keep, that could mean one or two spots remain on the 53-man roster, leaving Darrin Walls, Dexter McDougle and Marcus Williams fighting just to stay on the roster.
But why cut one of them when the Jets might find some value in a trade? In that scenario, Walls seems the likeliest candidate to be moved.
Walls was a starter last season, and he did a decent job on the boundary. That should be worth something to a team in need of depth at the position, and it would make New York's decision a bit easier.
Mychal Kendricks, LB, Philadelphia Eagles
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As with Evan Mathis, we just don't know what the Eagles might do with Mychal Kendricks.
Also similar to the Mathis situation, Kendricks' name has been bandied about in trade rumors over the past few months. It's not nearly the vitriolic circumstances for his teammate, but Kendricks could easily be on his way out as well.
The Eagles traded for Kiko Alonso, signed Brad Jones and extended DeMeco Ryans, marginalizing Kendricks a bit in the process. He could certainly be a valuable contributor in a reserve role, but he could be even more valuable as a trade chip. Pun intended.
Hence, the Eagles tried to trade Kendricks during the draft, per Mark Eckel of NJ.com. It was a move that didn't pan out. However, it wouldn't be surprising to see Kelly finally pull the trigger sometime before the new season.
Zach Mettenberger, QB, Tennessee Titans
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The moment Marcus Mariota's name was announced at the draft, the jig was up for Zach Mettenberger.
Last year's sixth-round pick is a starter no longer in Tennessee. No wonder news broke he was demanding a trade soon after Mariota was selected, though Mettenberger's agent, Joe Linta, quickly denied that report, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t NFL.com's Kevin Patra). Perhaps it was an just an unguarded moment.
At any rate, the Titans still have backup quarterback extraordinaire Charlie Whitehurst, and Clipboard Jesus should be just fine behind Mariota. With a little upside and some starting experience under his belt, Mettenberger might entice some team to make a move for him sooner rather than later.
Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
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Will he stay or will he go?
This year's biggest trade drama emanates from Minnesota, where the Vikings and Adrian Peterson seem to be at an impasse about his future with the club. Rumors about Peterson's future with the team have swirled for months. Fallout from his suspension, coupled with a massive contract, has no guarantees left.
Who blinks first?
The Vikings certainly seem prepared to move forward with or without their former MVP—head coach Mike Zimmer flatly said, "He can either play for us or not play," according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. After all, they spent last season without him, and the combination of wear and tear, age and money owed might not be conducive to writing up a new deal.
Rumblings about Peterson being traded have begun anew, though he says it's purely business that he forfeited $250,000 by skipping out on OTAs, per ESPN's Josina Anderson:
"The reason I'm not attending OTAs has nothing to do with wanting to be traded. It's about securing my future with the Vikings. It's business, not personal and I understand that firsthand. Go Vikings."
As Zimmer noted, Minnesota doesn't plan to trade him. But the Vikings could tire of this spectacle and trade him any day. There would certainly be interest from around the league if he was truly on the block, it would just be a matter of fair compensation.
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