Blockbuster Deals That Would Blow Up the NFL Trade Deadline
The 2019 NFL trade deadline is upon us. At 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, the market will close, and teams will be prohibited from making deals until the start of the new league year.
While the NFL's deadline hasn't traditionally come with the same fanfare as that of Major League Baseball, teams have been willing to make significant deals in recent years. With players like Jalen Ramsey, Mohamed Sanu and Michael Bennett already changing locations, this year's trade market is shaping up to be even more significant than usual.
What sort of deadline moves would make this year's trade market truly memorable? We'll examine some potential blockbusters that would do exactly that.
Some of these are based on rumors, while others are based on pure conjecture. We'll be staying in the realm of possibility, though, so we're not doing anything like sending Tom Brady to the Chicago Bears.
Melvin Gordon III to the Lions for a 3rd-Round Pick
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Sunday's win might not have saved the season for the Detroit Lions, but it did prevent them from falling out of contention in the NFC North. As a result, they may be buyers at the deadline.
One position that makes sense for Detroit is running back, as the team recently placed Kerryon Johnson on injured reserve following knee surgery. Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon III could be an option. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the market for Gordon will "be active."
With Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson on the roster, the Chargers could view him as expendable.
Though Gordon hasn't been particularly productive since ending his holdout—he came into Week 8 averaging just 2.3 yards per carry—he's been a high-level starter for most of his career. He would be a quality addition for a Lions attack that produced just 59 rushing yards Sunday.
The Lions might be able to pry Gordon away for a third-round pick. While that may seem like a steep price for what could be a nine-game rental—Gordon is in the final year of his contract—that's what they got for Golden Tate in the same situation last year.
Robby Anderson to the Eagles for a 2nd-Round Pick
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According to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, the Philadelphia Eagles are among teams still looking for receiver help ahead of the deadline. New York Jets receiver Robby Anderson could be a target.
"Receiver remains a position of heavy focus ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, with Jets speedster Robby Anderson almost certain to be traded, league sources said," La Canfora wrote.
Anderson would be a great fit in the Eagles offense, as he has the speed to stretch the field and eat up yards after the catch. That's an element of the passing attack Philadelphia has been missing ever since DeSean Jackson went out in Week 2 with an abdominal tear.
While Anderson is playing on a one-year deal, a second-round pick is a good starting point in trade value—provided a contract extension is part of the agreement. That's what the New England Patriots gave up for Sanu. Anderson, however, is four years younger than Sanu and could be a key piece of the Philadelphia offense for the long term.
Antonio Callaway to the Eagles for Halapoulivaati Vaitai
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If the Eagles are indeed in the market for a speedy deep threat, they may give the Cleveland Browns a call. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Cleveland could deal a receiver, "but they'd only trade the back-end guys."
Second-year wideout Antonio Callway might just fit that description. He hasn't been a major factor since returning from a four-game suspension for a violation of the league's substance-abuse policy, but he was electric in stretches as a rookie. Last year, he caught 43 passes for 586 yards and five touchdowns.
In return, the Eagles could ship backup tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai to the Browns. Vaitai started at left tackle during Philadelphia's 2017 postseason run and would likely be an upgrade for Cleveland, which hasn't been quiet about its search for an offensive tackle.
According to Rapoport, "several teams" have been watching Vaitai, so the Browns might have to sweeten the deal with a late-round draft pick.
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Patrick Peterson to the Chiefs for a 1st-Round Pick, More
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Any deal involving Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson would certainly blow up the deadline. The Cardinals haven't shown any interest in moving the eight-time Pro Bowler, and they have turned down significant offers, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
"At least one of the rejected offers consisted of a first-round pick, and possibly more," Florio wrote.
It's entirely possible, though, that the Cardinals receive a deadline offer they cannot refuse. The Kansas City Chiefs might be able to make it.
Draft picks would obviously be part of the deal—possibly a first- and a second-rounder—but the Chiefs may be able to sweeten the pot with an offensive lineman such as Cam Erving. He has been starting in place of left tackle Eric Fisher, but he could be expendable with Fisher close to returning from sports hernia surgery.
Erving could help bolster a line that has given up 27 sacks this season. Peterson, meanwhile, would give the Chiefs a premier cover corner to partner with their fearsome pass rush.
C.J. Beathard to the Bears for Taylor Gabriel
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According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the San Francisco 49ers have been getting inquiries about backup quarterback C.J. Beathard. If they were to ship him to the Chicago Bears, the move would definitely blow up the deadline.
It would be a drastic decision for Chicago, but the team hasn't been getting acceptable play from 2017 first-round pick Mitchell Trubisky, and it's putting pressure on head coach Matt Nagy.
"If the Bears don't make a trade for a quarterback, Nagy will lose his job within a year, and the team will never reach its full potential," The Athletic's Michael Lombardi wrote. "That is not a mere guess, but a statement that has been backed up by NFL history and the experience of being in the NFL for so long."
While Beathard may not immediately push Trubisky for the starting job, he would give Chicago another option to go with Chase Daniel. In return, the Bears could send the 49ers a talented but underutilized wideout: Taylor Gabriel.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan previously coached Gabriel when the two were with the Atlanta Falcons.
O.J. Howard to the Patriots for a 1st-Round Pick
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The Patriots strengthened their receiving corps by dealing for Sanu, but they're still missing a big-play threat at the tight end position. New England could remedy that by dealing for Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard.
According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, New England has already expressed interest in Howard.
With the Buccaneers falling to 2-5 on Sunday, they may be more receptive to dealing him, though he would not come cheaply. Howard has up to two years remaining on his rookie deal, including the fifth-year option, so a high draft pick would likely be necessary to pry him away.
The Patriots already dealt their 2020 second-rounder for Sanu, so they would probably have to part with their first-round pick. Though it would likely be a low first-rounder, that's still a high price.
Of course, the Patriots appear ready to go all-in for a Super Bowl run this season.
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