NFL Trades That Could Still Happen Before Start of 2016 Season

The 2016 NFL offseason is winding down at a rapid pace. Training camps are right around the corner, and the preseason will kick off in two months.

Free agency and the 2016 draft are things of the past.

However, this doesn't mean NFL teams are done finalizing their rosters. Players are going to be sent to the unemployment line as position groups are trimmed in the preseason, and teams will be adding new players as they become available. Some of those additions could come via trade.

Late-offseason swaps aren't common, but they do occur. Last offseason, for example, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers dealt tight end Tim Wright to the Detroit Lions at the tail end of August.

As such, we're going to look at some trades that could transpire before the start of the 2016 regular season. We'll try to have a little fun with our choices and examine some potential high-profile moves, but we'll also be keeping them grounded in the realm of reality—no "Tom Brady to the Cleveland Browns" fantasies here.

Since it's difficult to predict training-camp injuries and surprises, our choices are based on current team needs. Other factors include coaching and scheme fit, salary and roster depth.

Denver Deals a Running Back

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Could Ronnie Hillman and his one-year contract be traded this offseason?

The Denver Broncos retained running back C.J. Anderson this offseason by matching his restricted free-agent offer sheet. The Broncos then re-signed Ronnie Hillman to a one-year deal, thus retaining their 2015 Super Bowl backfield.

However, one of last year's backs could be in danger of losing significant playing time to rookie fourth-round pick Devontae Booker. If the Broncos fall in love with Booker during training camp and the preseason, Anderson or Hillman could wind up on the trading block.

Hillman is likely the easier back to deal. There is a lot for teams to like about his game—he ran for 863 yards, 4.2 yards per carry and seven touchdowns in 2015—and he doesn't come with a long-term commitment. However, Anderson could bring Denver more value if he can spark interest from the right team.

Remember, it was the Miami Dolphins who signed Anderson to his four-year offer sheet. Miami might have interest in revisiting that deal if its backfield looks shaky over the next couple of months.

Meanwhile, Denver may already have someone in mind to replace any traded rusher. According to Cecil Lammey of 104.3 The Fan, the Broncos have reached out to former Gary Kubiak favorite Arian Foster this offseason. 

Redskins Trade a Wide Receiver

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DeSean Jackson is entering the final year of his current contract.

The Washington Redskins find themselves deep at the wideout position after drafting former TCU receiver Josh Doctson in the first round this year. Washington also has DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and Jamison Crowder on the roster.

If the Redskins feel Doctson is ready to make an immediate impact, either Jackson or Garcon could wind up as trade bait. Both receivers will likely be gone after the 2016 season.

Of the two, Jackson makes the most sense as a trade option. As a boom-or-bust big-play receiver, he has a skill set similar to Doctson's. Though he has 2017 club option on his contract, the option only exists to prorate bonus money and voids after this season. The Redskins might want to get something in return while they can.

Though he battled through injuries last year, Jackson provides the type of deep threat that can transform an offense. He produced 528 yards receiving and four touchdowns in nine games in 2015.

Garcon, who had 72 receptions and 777 yards this past season, could bring even more in a trade to the right team. He hasn't missed a game since 2012.

Either player could provide a boost to a contending team like the New England Patriots. They could also draw interest from any receiver-needy team—just don't expect Jackson to reunite with San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly.

Of course, moving Garcon or Jackson only makes sense if Doctson is healthy and ready to contribute immediately. Doctson has been out with a foot injury but is expected to return to the practice field later this month, according to John Keim of ESPN.com.

49ers Trade Colin Kaepernick

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Could teams revisit the idea of trading for Colin Kaepernick?

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick requested a trade earlier this offseason, but it never appeared that the 49ers were close to moving him then. With his 2016 base salary of nearly $12 million fully guaranteed, teams aren't likely to trade for him now unless one of two things happen.

If a contending franchise loses its starting quarterback in training camp or the preseason, Kaepernick could again become a commodity. Remember, the Denver Broncos showed interest in the Nevada product early in the offseason, as reported by Mindi Bach of CSNBayArea.com, among others.

Kaepernick could also begin to draw interest if he can flash some of his skills in the preseason. Of course, he will have to first show he is healthy after undergoing a number of offseason surgeries.

If the right situation occurs, though, Kaepernick could wind up with a new team before the start of the 2016 season. Though many have speculated Kaepernick and Chip Kelly can provide an ideal quarterback-coach tandem in San Francisco, there's no clear indication Kelly is tied to either Kaepernick or fellow signal-caller Blaine Gabbert.

Kelly recently described the quarterback duo during an appearance on 95.7 FM's The Damon Bruce Show:

"

I think they're similar. They have a similar skill set. They're both 6'4"-plus. They both can really run, which will help keep plays alive. Obviously, we're not a quarterback-run offense, but if the quarterback can run, you can use a little of that to your advantage. And they both have extremely strong arms. So, from a skill set standpoint, the two of them are kind of cut out of the same mold.

"

If the 49ers do view Kaepernick and Gabbert equally—and the team can get something of value for Kaepernick—don't be surprised if Gabbert is the only one of the two on San Francisco's roster when the regular season opens.

Browns Trade Josh Gordon

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Josh Gordon is a major suspension risk but would look good on a contending team.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon is eligible to apply for reinstatement again on August 1. If reinstated, he could wind up on the trading block for Cleveland.

Gordon isn't likely to bring much in return, considering he represents a massive suspension risk. He spent the past year on indefinite suspension for violation of the league's substance-abuse policy. The NFL also suspended him 10 games in 2014 and two games in 2013.

That 2013 season, though, is why Gordon could still net the Browns something in a trade. He led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards and scored nine touchdowns in just 14 games. Through 35 career games, Gordon has produced 2,754 yards and 14 touchdowns.

However, the Browns could be ready to move on from the 25-year-old. The team selected four wideouts in this year's draft and seems high on quarterback-turned-receiver Terrelle Pryor. If Cleveland can get a player or a late-round pick in return, Gordon could be gone.

Just imagine the potential boost Gordon could provide a contending team like the Carolina Panthers. Imagine pairing him with a young star like the Oakland Raiders' Amari Cooper or the New York Giants' Odell Beckham Jr.—it's scary stuff and worth a late-round pick or backup player.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported earlier this offseason that Cleveland once turned down an offer from the 49ers of running back Kendall Hunter and a second-round pick in return for Gordon. If Gordon is reinstated, the Browns might pull the trigger on a deal and take what they can get.

Cowboys Move Guard Ronald Leary

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Ronald Leary lost his starting job in Dallas but could be a valuable commodity elsewhere.

Guard Ronald Leary was a two-year starter for the Dallas Cowboys before losing his job to then-rookie La'el Collins last season. He isn't likely to regain that job as long as Collins continues his performance, but Leary could solidify a spot for another team.

At least, he believes he can.

NFL Media's Gil Brandt reported last month that Leary requested a trade from Dallas. Seeking a swap makes sense for Leary, who is only under contract for 2016. The former undrafted free agent will have a hard time convincing potential employers he deserves a fat new contract while sitting on the bench.

Keeping Leary makes sense for Dallas in terms of roster depth. However, a trade may be enticing because it could bring draft compensation or depth at another position. After all, Leary has 35 starts under his belt. Teams looking for that kind of experience may be quick to make an offer.

The Cowboys could move Leary immediately, but waiting for a training-camp injury on another squad could give Leary even more trade value.

Jets Trade for a Quarterback

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It doesn't appear the Rams want Nick Foles. Do the Jets?

The Jets still haven't reached a deal with 2015 starter Ryan Fitzpatrick. If the team isn't interested in entering the season with Geno Smith or Bryce Petty at quarterback, a trade has to remain an option.

According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, the Jets are not interested in Fitzpatrick's desired one-year, $12 million deal. If New York can find a cheaper veteran option on the trade market, the team must consider the move.

One possibility is Nick Foles, who has been avoiding offseason workouts with the Los Angeles Rams. Foles has a cap hit of $8.75 million this season with a voidable year remaining on the deal after 2016. Of course, this idea only makes sense if the Jets believe Foles can provide competition for Smith and/or Petty.

According to Bleacher Report NFL Insider Jason Cole, the Rams are looking to trade Foles, but the Jets have yet to inquire.

A better option might be journeyman Josh McCown, who could wind up on the trading block if he can't win the Cleveland Browns' starting gig over Robert Griffin III. McCown has a cap hit of just over $5 million this year.

McCown could provide a quarterback presence equal to or better than the one Fitzpatrick did in 2015. In eight games last season, McCown threw for 2,109 yards with 12 touchdowns and just four interceptions. His passer rating (93.3) was higher than Fitzpatrick's (88.0).

Jets Trade Muhammad Wilkerson

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If the Jets cannot re-sign or trade Muhammad Wilkerson, he will play this season on the franchise tag.

A possible flip side to the Jets' quarterback situation is the fact that dealing defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson could free up more than enough room to sign Ryan Fitzpatrick on the quarterback's terms.

Wilkerson, who amassed 12.0 sacks and 64 tackles in 2015, earned the franchise tag from the Jets before the start of free agency. If the team can't reach a long-term deal or trade him by July 15, Wilkerson will earn $15.7 million this year.

New York has made it clear it would like to retain Wilkerson for the foreseeable future but has admitted the move may not be possible.

"We want to come to an agreement—we want to sign all our good players—but that doesn’t always work out," Jets head coach Todd Bowles said, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. "I’m not saying we are or aren’t. Obviously, you want to keep your good players around, but with the rules these days, they make it very hard after four or five years to keep your own."

If the Jets cannot get a long-term deal done, don't be surprised if the team ramps up its effort to deal Wilkerson. With Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams also on the roster, the Jets are deep along the defensive line. Keeping Wilkerson for one more year at the price of nearly $16 million doesn't make a ton of sense.

Dallas Deals a Running Back

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Darren McFadden rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2015.

The Cowboys made former Ohio State star Ezekiel Elliott the fourth overall pick in this year's draft. Naturally, we can assume he is Dallas' running back of the future.

What, then, do the Cowboys do with 2015 starter Darren McFadden and offseason acquisition Alfred Morris? McFadden rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season, and Morris has three 1,000-yard seasons on his resume.

The Cowboys could keep one as a backup and trade the other.

Morris is the more enticing player. He has appeared in all 16 games in each of his four pro seasons, is just 27 years old and holds a career 4.4 yards-per-carry average. Of course, these are all reasons why he might be the better choice for Dallas' backup to Elliott.

McFadden has an extensive injury history, but there's no denying his talent when healthy. He has rushed for 5,336 yards in his career and holds a 4.2 yards-per-carry average. In 2015, McFadden ran for 1,089 yards and 4.6 yards per rush.

So far, the Cowboys have resisted the urge to deal either McFadden or Morris.

“We got calls during the draft asking to trade for a couple of our running backs, and we just don’t have that interest," Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said, per Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram.

Let's see if the Cowboys change their tune later in the offseason when a running back-needy team decides to up the compensation level in a potential deal.

* All contract information via Spotrac.

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