NFL Trade Rumors: 13 Star Players Who Could Be on the Trading Block in 2012

It happens every year, key players whom no one thought could be traded before the season suddenly become expendable, either due to an expiring contract or simply because they are no longer worth their salary.

Assuming there is a 2011 NFL season, which players will be on the block when the 2012 season begins?

We take a look at 13 star players who could see themselves traded before or during the 2012 season of play.

Robert Meachem, Wide Receiver, New Orleans Saints

The Robin to Marques Colston's Batman, Robert Meachem has been in the limelight during his entire career in New Orleans. He will also face stiff competition from Devery Henderson for playing time and targets in the loaded Saints offense.

The mitigating factor here is that both Colston and Meachem become free agents after the 2011 season in the summer of 2012. The Saints will have to choose one or the other. Colston will win that decision hands down.

New Orleans is in a position to move Meachem in an effort to get replace him with draft picks instead of purely losing him as a free agent.

Bradie James, Linebacker, Dallas Cowboys

A 31-year-old middle linebacker with experience in the 3-4 defense will be a needed commodity in many NFL cities after the 2011 season ends.

At that time, Dallas' Bradie James will be a free agent and is not expected to return to Dallas, as the team has drafted Sean Lee and Bruce Carter to take over at inside linebacker.

It makes more sense for Dallas to trade James than to let him walk away with nothing in return. There will be a market for him with a potential return in the middle rounds of the draft.

Darnell Dockett, Defensive Tackle, Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals have been hit hard by free agency and player defections in the past, getting very little in return while losing starters Anquan Boldin, Calvin Pace, Karlos Dansby and Antrel Rolle. When the time comes to re-sign defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, the team may simply decide to trade him to the highest bidder.

Dockett will be 31 years old when his contract expires, not quite old enough to put out to pasture but still old enough for the Cardinals to worry about a long-term contract.

Trading Dockett for a second-round pick might be a smarter deal than re-signing an aging tackle.

Brian Cushing, Linebacker, Houston Texans

Brian Cushing exceeded expectations in his rookie season, earning a Defensive Rookie of the Year award and gaining recognition as an up-and-comer in the NFL.

And then he was suspended for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy for having above normal levels of hCg in his system.

Cushing was not the same when he returned from suspension in 2011. If he does not bounce back to the player the Texans drafted, it would be easy to see Houston shipping him out before they have to consider paying him more.

David Garrard, Quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars

What would the market be for a 34-year-old quarterback who has never won a big playoff game? Surprisingly good.

David Garrard will find out after the 2011 season as he gives way to 2011 first-rounder Blaine Gabbert as the Jaguars' franchise quarterback.

Garrard will be viewed as an excellent stopgap solution at quarterback for a team who chooses to draft a quarterback early in the 2012 draft, perhaps the Buffalo Bills or Seattle Seahawks?

Kenny Britt, Wide Receiver, Tennessee Titans

When he is not retiring on Facebook or getting arrested, Kenny Britt has the talent to be a top-five wide receiver in the NFL.

The trouble is, he is a handful off the field and may not be worth the headaches he causes his coaches and executives in Nashville.

Much like Vince Young and Adam Jones before him, Britt could find himself traded out of Tennessee if he does not clean up his act.

Knowshon Moreno, Running Back, Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos drafted Knowshon Moreno to be the franchise running back and workhorse the team needed to win the AFC West. Through two seasons he has failed to become the bell-cow the Broncos needed, failing to gain over 1,000 yards in either season.

Moreno is running out of time to show John Elway and John Fox that he has the talent to be the every-down back the team saw when Moreno was running over SEC opponents in college.

If he cannot show the skills he flashed while at Georgia, Moreno could find himself shipped out of town to the highest bidder.

Tony Romo, Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys

It would seem that Tony Romo is firmly entrenched as the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, but is he really?

Romo will be 32 years old after the season, has a career 1-3 record in the playoffs and historically comes up small in big games. Is that the type of quarterback Jerry Jones will continue to wait for? We say no.

Dallas has Stephen McGee, a young player Jones loves and even sniffed around Cam Newton before the 2011 draft. If Jerry Jones has taught us anything it is that no one is ever safe in his locker room if the team is not winning.

Michael Turner, Running Back, Atlanta Falcons

Over the last two seasons Atlanta's Michael Turner has led the NFL in touches from scrimmage. At 29, soon to be 30 years old, there are some questions about whether Turner can continue to hold up without a solid complementary back or serious decline in skills.

Turner's run in Atlanta could be done once the 2011 season ends. NFL running backs have a short shelf life, no matter their success, and it seems that 30 is the new 35 for running backs. Once Turner hits the big 3-0, he could find himself on the trading block as Atlanta shifts to a younger back.

Larry Fitzgerald, Wide Receiver, Arizona Cardinals

What more could be said about Larry Fitzgerald's NFL success? Some would call him the best wide receiver in the game today. His numbers would seem to back that up.

What is perhaps most surprising is that Fitzgerald will become a free agent after the 2011 season. Fitzgerald famously signed a four-year, $40 million contract extension after the 2007 season, making him the highest paid receiver in the NFL at that time.

With Fitzgerald's contract expiring after the 2011 season and his likelihood of returning to Arizona slim, the Cardinals would be wise to shop him for multiple draft picks in the 2012 class.

Eli Manning, Quarterback, New York Giants

Let's ask this question: What has Eli Manning done in his NFL career?

Yes, he has a Super Bowl ring, but so does Trent Dilfer. Does a Super Bowl ring really mean anything at all for an individual when that player had little to do with the win?

Manning led all starting quarterbacks with 25 interceptions in 2010, despite playing with three exceptional receivers (Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham).

The cold, hard truth is that Eli Manning is just not that good, and it's time to realize it.

The Giants would find a trade market for Manning that would allow them to package additional draft picks with their own to draft his replacement early in Round 1.

Jay Cutler, Quarterback, Chicago Bears

While I completely disagree with the idea that Jay Cutler should be traded, it could definitely happen.

The Bears fans, and many fellow NFL players, turned against Cutler after he left the NFC Championship game early when he sprained his knee late in the first half. Once the media, fans and other players turned on Cutler, it became clear that he is on shaky ground with the Bears.

There are Super Bowl expectations in Chicago this season, and should Cutler start slow in 2011 and should the public rise up against Cutler, the Bears may have no choice but to trade their franchise quarterback.

Chris Johnson, Running Back, Tennessee Titans

Chris Johnson has stated he wants a new contract before the season begins, or else he will hold out.

It is that last scenario that leads us to believe that Johnson, a one-time, 2,000-yard rusher, could be traded if a contract cannot be worked out.

Johnson has stated before he expects a "historical" deal, what that means in terms of sheer numbers we are not sure, but it does seem possible that Johnson and the Titans could have a falling out and fail to find a deal that works for both teams.