Albert Haynesworth: Top 5 NFL Teams To Seek Trade For Him

Former VP of football operations Vinny Cerrato's final gift to the Washington Redskins was a $100 million headache.

Sure, it was Daniel Snyder's hand that signed the check, and there's no doubt that he wanted to make a big splash by bringing in Haynesworth, but it was Cerrato who made the deal happen.

Two years and $34 million dollars later, Albert Haynesworth and the Redskins are stuck in a standoff. 

On one side of the battle, you've got a disgruntled, underperforming player who's very picky about the style of defense he plays in and how he's used.  On the other side, you've got a stubborn, power-hungry coach who is still trying to prove a point from last summer.

One person doesn't think he needs a boss.  The other thinks he's it.

The relationship between Albert Haynesworth and Mike Shanahan has been a hot topic since the new coach arrived at Redskins Park last year.  Whether it was forcing him to take a fitness test over and over again during the 2010 training camp or suspending him for the final four games of the season because Haynesworth refused to speak with him, it's pretty clear Mike Shanahan has had about all he can handle.

Current general manager Bruce Allen said a few months ago that he hopes the Redskins and Haynesworth can work out a happy solution heading into 2011, but most people around the NFL can read between the lines.  There's no way this player and this team can coexist.

He wants out.  And virtually everyone connected with the Redskins wants him out too.

The two assault charges he's facing only add salt to the wound.

So where do they go from here?  Mike Shanahan reportedly had a chance to trade him early in the 2010 season but declined.  Could he still get the same deal?  It seems pretty doubtful.

Then again, if a team determines that they have a significant hole on the defensive line, they might get more desperate.  Haynesworth was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 for goodness sake.

Assuming Haynesworth can still be productive on the field, and I think he absolutely can, who might be interested?

I've narrowed it down to five potential landing spots for this very large man.

None of the teams use a 3-4 defense so that takes away one of the multiple potential problems for whichever team acquires him.

No. 5: Tennessee Titans

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 1: Chad Pennington #10 of the New York Jets is sacked by Albert Haynesworth #92 of the Tennesee Titans in the second quarter during their game at Giants Stadium on December 1, 2003 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by

This is probably the most obvious choice.

Albert Haynesworth went to the University of Tennessee and still has ties to the school.  He played for the Titans for seven seasons, including his DPOY campaign, and he still owns a home in Nashville.

Although both his defensive coordinator (Jim Schwartz) and defensive line coach (Jim Washburn) have moved on, the Titans still use the same defensive scheme, and I'm sure Haynesworth would fit right in.

This is also a move that Haynesworth would probably be pretty happy with so the Titans and their fans wouldn't be receiving an overly-disgruntled player.

No. 4: Detroit Lions

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DETROIT - NOVEMBER 25: Ndamukong Suh #90 of the Detroit Lions celebrates a first quarter sack next to Kyle Vanden Bosch #93 while playing the New England Patriots on November 25, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Im

Speaking of Jim Schwartz, Haynesworth's former defensive coordinator in Tennessee. 

Schwartz is now the head coach in Detroit and his defense is actually on the rise.  They run a 4-3, and one of Haynesworth's old buddies, Kyle Vanden Bosch, lines up at defensive end.

Not to mention the up and coming Ndomukong Suh who tore through offensive lines (especially that of the Redskins) in 2010.

Could you imagine Suh and Haynesworth playing next to each other?

Yes, Lions fans, I know you have some other young, developing players along the defensive line who played well last year, but I'm sure Schwartz could find a place for Big Al.

No. 3: Minnesota Vikings

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MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 21: Pat Williams #94 and Kevin Williams #93 of the Minnesota Vikings look on against the Carolina Panthers during their NFL game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on September 21, 2008 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defe

With half of the Williams Wall (Pat) not coming back to Minnesota in 2011, they might be able to use another veteran defensive tackle.

The Vikings are always considered (mostly by people in Minnesota) to be Super Bowl contenders, only missing one or two pieces.  Maybe Haynesworth could be one of the new pieces they need to get over the hump.

Jared Allen would definitely benefit from having another dominant force inside and Haynesworth could help their run defense get back to where it once was.

No. 2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 02: Head coach Raheem Morris of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers watches a play during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on January 2, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Buccaneers defeated the Saints

The Bucs are a team on the rise.

They made a lot of strides in 2009 and were competitive in the NFC South for the first time in quite a while.

Raheem Morris was a contender for Coach of the Year, and he also doubles as the defensive coordinator.  I'm sure he would love to add another dominant big bodied guy to his defensive line.

Let's not forget that the Bucs were the "other team" in the Albert Haynesworth sweepstakes a couple of years ago.  They, like many teams over the last decade, simply got outbid by Daniel Snyder.

Haynesworth would be a great fit in their 4-3, Tampa two-style defense.

No. 1: Philadelphia Eagles

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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 11: Albert Haynesworth #92 of Washington Redskins watches a drop of sweat as he waits on the bench against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Leck

This possibility should make Redskins fans at least a little nervous.

The last thing they need is having to face a vengeful, rejuvenated Albert Haynesworth twice a year.

But it could definitely happen.  The Eagles run a very similar 4-3 defensive scheme that Haynesworth was part of in Tennessee.  And as I said before, Tennessee's former defensive line coach, Jim Washburn, is now in Philadelphia.

Don't the Redskins and Eagles have a recent history of making big trades with each other?