NFL Trade Scenarios: Donovan McNabb and 10 Offensive Players Who May Be Moving

It's an interesting year for NFL free agency and especially the NFL draft.  Normally, free agency begins on March 1 every year, and the draft is focused solely on filling the holes that free agency didn't fill for NFL teams.  

This season, it's quite the opposite.  

It's a dangerous time for all in the NFL, and the CBA could take months to finally be sorted out.

Until then, let's have some fun and talk about hypothetical scenarios with offensive players who might get traded prior to the 2011 NFL season.  

10. Alge Crumpler

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Alge Crumpler #82 of the New England Patriots celebrates during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Imag

Alge Crumpler, who just underwent serious shoulder surgery in late January, is probably going to be dealt by the Patriots before the beginning of next season.  

Crumpler had just six total receptions for 52 yards for the Patriots last year.   

With Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski both under contract for multiple years to come, the veteran Crumpler will likely be traded for a draft pick to a team looking for veteran leadership at tight end.    

Crumpler is due $2.4 million in 2011. 

9. Anthony Gonzalez

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INDIANAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 02: Anthony Gonzalez #11 of the Indianapolis Colts catches a pass before the NFL preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 2, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Anthony Gonzalez, who started out his career with a bang in Indianapolis, has had some nagging injuries over the last couple seasons that made us forget what kind of weapon he can be for a quarterback.

Gonzalez, in his only full season with the Colts, had 57 receptions for 664 yards and four touchdowns as a number three receiver.  He's productive, and Peyton Manning loves a guy like Gonzalez, who is trustworthy and knows how to get open.

However, Indy is likely to draft a couple of receivers or look to sign a free agent like Sidney Rice or Mike Sims-Walker, who would complement Reggie Wayne nicely.  

This may mean the injury-prone Gonzalez, who's due $1.1 million in 2011, may be traded.

8. Ryan Fitzpatrick

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 26: Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Buffalo Bills readies to pass against the New England Patriots at Ralph Wilson Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

If Buffalo is going to keep Fitzpatrick, it would have to pay him $3.195 million.

Fitzpatrick threw for 3,000 yards and had 23 touchdowns, which resulted in an 81.8 quarterback rating. He's proved to be a gamer, but with the third overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, the Bills might end up investing in the future of their franchise by drafting an elite quarterback.  

The Bills have not shown a lot of their cards yet as far as future personnel moves in free agency and the draft.

As for Fitzpatrick, his trade value is high, and there are a lot of teams that would want him.  Could be a wise move for Buffalo.

7. Devery Henderson

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 27: Devery Henderson #19 of the New Orleans Saints against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on December 27, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Devery Henderson has been asked to possibly restructure his current four-year, $12 million contract. Whether he elects to take less money for the better of another championship is entirely up to him.

If he does not comply, however, the Saints may go in a different direction and trade him away.

Henderson was targeted significantly less this year and moved down the depth chart as the season went on.  He's been looked at as the Saints' deep threat, and could be used for teams with quarterbacks who have a lot of arm strength under their belts.

Can anyone say, the city of brotherly love?

6. Steve Slaton

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HOUSTON - OCTOBER 10: Steve Slaton #20 of the Houston Texans in action during the game against the New York Giants at Reliant Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Last season, Steve Slaton got the feeling a car driver gets when a motorcycle swoops by them in 6:00 p.m. traffic.  

Arian Foster did what?  

Slaton went from 268 carries his rookie season in 2008, to 131 carries in 2009, to 19 total carries in 2010. 

Slaton is in his prime and has one year left for $1.25 million on his current contract. Houston might do away with Slaton before next season begins due to Arian Foster's productivity.

5. Kyle Orton

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 12: Quarterback Kyle Orton #8 of the Denver Broncos runs out onto the field before the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 12, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated

Although most people don't see it coming, Kyle Orton may be on his way out the front door in Denver.  Orton started the majority of the 2010 season for the Broncos and failed to get his team even close to contention by midseason even though put up impressive stats.

John Elway is going to be a very interesting vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos. 

I still believe Denver is going to draft Cam Newton and put Cam and Tim Tebow in the same shotgun formation. That's right, two quarterbacks in the same shotgun.  

I'll let that fester for a moment...

Bye bye, Kyle Orton.  

4. Kevin Kolb

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 02: Kevin Kolb #4 of the Philadelphia Eagles throws a pass against the Dallas Cowboys on January 2, 2011 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Kevin Kolb has had a series of unfortunate events happen to him ever since he was drafted 36th overall by Philadelphia in 2007.  

He's gotten to see the field, which is nice, but pretty much lost any chance at being the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles in the near future when Michael Vick took over.

On the flip side, Kevin is only 26 years old and shows a tremendous amount of promise. Don't be shocked if the Eagles try and market him once the CBA is signed.  

3. Steve Smith

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SEATTLE - DECEMBER 05: Wide receiver Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on December 5, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won, 31-14. (Photo by Otto Greule

Steve Smith is in the middle of a contract that's going to pay him $7 million in 2011 and $7.75 million in 2012. He's worth a lot to the team, and parting ways with him would be difficult. 

Smith has expressed his frustration over the last couple seasons in Carolina, and with a championship as a number one goal, he feels he needs to play for a contender.

The Panthers, who are in a transitional phase with new head coach Ron Rivera, may turn into a defense-first team that's in turn flipping the entire complexity of the team around.

Carolina should do the right thing to get better on defense and trade Smith for a highly-touted defensive specialist.  

Who knows, maybe Steve Smith will end up with his former college teammate, Chad Ochocinco.

2. Donovan McNabb

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 05: Donovan McNabb #5 of the Washington Redskins looks to throw a pass against the New York Giants on December 5, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants defeated the Redskins 31-7. (

Donovan McNabb has made it pretty clear that he is not happy with his short stay in our nation's capital.  After all, jumping ship in the NFC East is a tough pill to swallow for anybody in the four-team division.

With all of the money McNabb is due (thank you Dan Snyder) in 2011, the Redskins will likely trade McNabb to a team that believes he can bring it a Super Bowl.  

In Brett Favre years, McNabb is just hitting his stride.  

1. Carson Palmer

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CINCINNATI - DECEMBER 26: Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws a pass during the NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at Paul Brown Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals 34-20. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Carson Palmer wants out.  Period.  The former USC Trojan is sick and tired of losing in Cincinnati. The 31-year-old has also gone on record saying that if he is not traded by the Bengals, he will retire.  If Palmer's career-leading wide receiver and long-time teammate Chad Ochocinco believes he will retire, then he must be somewhat serious.

Right now, the Bengals' upper management is being stubborn about the idea. 

However, the ironic part is that Palmer may not be the only person off the field next season due to the NFL lockout.

We still have a long way before anything is figured out in the NFL, especially with this situation.  All we know is that Palmer has made it pretty clear that playing football in Ohio is no fun.