NFL Trade Speculation: 14 Rookies Who Could Be on the Trading Block by 2014

So what if they haven't signed a contract or run a drill with their new coaches yet?  There are some players in every draft class who just don't end up meshing with their first team, and the 2011 draft class won't be an exception.

Some of these players will be traded, while I'd expect at least one team (cough cough Carolina) to have a player with too big of a contract and too little production to validate another team absorbing the financial obligation to acquire his services.

The new collective bargaining agreement should implement a rookie wage scale that might save teams from huge contracts for players who aren't producing.  This could also make it easier to trade players who  aren't fitting in with their original clubs.  

14. Brandon Harris, CB: Houston Texans

Texans fans...and the team...were excited about being able to pick up Harris late in the second round. Some analysts were pegging him as a possible first-round selection.  

The Texans can't get any worse in pass defense.  They were dead last in passing yards surrendered in 2010, so Wade Phillips was hired to turn the unit around.

The concern with Harris has been his ability to play zone in the NFL.  He has great physical skills, and has shown well in man coverage against some receivers.  But the mental aspect of his game was lost at times and he could be a liability in zone coverage.

Phillips has commented on how the Texans first-round pick from last year, CB Kareem Jackson, has issues that need to be addressed.

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“I think technique-wise, he needs a lot of work.  I guess he was able to play at Alabama without a lot of technique without worrying about staying low enough or moving his feet, those kinds of things.  I think that caught up with him.  I think we can coach him.  We’ll drill him enough that we’ll go over and over and over.”

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Perhaps since they already need to work with Jackson on these deficiencies, it isn't that much of an issue to draft another CB with similar concerns.

Harris will show enough at times to not be a bust, but at some point the Texans will need to look for a CB with a little more polish in zone coverage.  That means either Jackson or Harris turns things around or one of them gets traded.

13. Danny Watkins, G: Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles likely will receive what they thought they would have when they drafted Watkins.  The 27-year-old will be a solid interior lineman with a limited NFL window.  

Andy Reid will be facing a dilemma after Watkins' third season...do I get a final year from him and let him walk (Reid rarely will sign a lineman after the age of 30) or do I work a sign-and-trade deal with another club?

I'm gambling on the latter and Watkins gets moved to a team that needs an OG to get them over the hump.

12. Casey Matthews, LB: Philadelphia Eagles

As long as we are talking about the Eagles, let's double-dip and look at a draftee who was difficult to peg in the 2011 draft.

Matthews will likely see playing time this season in Philadelphia because their LB corps is depleted.  He might get hidden enough to look better than he is, making a few teams wonder if lightning did hit twice in the Matthews family.

The main reason I'm putting Matthews here is if Reid can make teams, analysts and fans believe that Kevin Kolb, with just one year remaining on his contract, is worth a first-round pick, imagine what he can do if he makes Matthews look solid as a rookie!

11. Nick Fairley, DT: Detroit Lions

Keep in mind...this article is about players who "could" get traded.

Fairley could turn out to be a steal if he continues to play like he did last season.  However, when he cashes his first check, he might just check out and balloon up like a Macy's float.

If the latter happens, some team will believe they can rehab Fairley into the player he used to be, similar to what Mike Williams did when given a fourth chance.

10. Cortez Allen, CB: Pittsburgh Steelers

Allen looks like he could be a great sleeper pick for the Steelers.  

Not really a surprise that they orchestrated yet another great draft, but the net effect could create a surplus at the CB position as they also grabbed Curtis Brown.

Look for the Steelers to cash in on their fortune and pick up some value for Allen that surpasses the fourth-round pick they used on him.

8-9. Shane Vereen, RB or Stevan Ridley, RB: New England Patriots

Here I go double-dipping on the same slide now!

I need someone to help me understand what Bill Belichick was doing on draft weekend.  Known for being a genius on the field and in the war room, I just can't make sense of his 2011 draft.

He figures to get production next year from one of these two draft picks and Ras-I Dowling (I did love that pick, as I thought Dowling should have been considered a late first-round talent).  

Nate Solder is a project that needs time to grow and develop.  Ryan Mallett is a project, too, and Marcus Cannon's health issues will likely keep him sidelined.

Adding two more RBs to their six free-agent RBs and the other three RBs on the roster seems to be a luxury the team doesn't have, as they are still a few players short of making a championship run.

One of these RBs will hit and the other will show enough promise to be trade bait.

7. Blaine Gabbert, QB: Jacksonville Jaguars

I've been questioning Gabbert's viability as a first-round draft pick and successful NFL QB since March. While I don't consider myself a "hater" as some have said, I am certainly not a fan.

I could be off base with Gabbert and he could find the passing success in the NFL that evaded him in college (completing a lot of short passes in a spread offense is not what I consider success).

Then again, Gabbert could show his club enough in practices and pre-season games to make it clear he isn't the future of the team.  They might get some attention from a West Coast Offense that needs a QB.

I doubt the Jaguars will be anywhere close to an early pick in the 2012 draft, but after the '12 season, they may be ready to look in a new direction and salvage what they can for Gabbert.

6. Phil Taylor, DT: Cleveland Browns

Taylor should prove to be a solid run-stopper in the NFL.  However, the Browns are going to want someone who can generate a pass rush up the middle and that just isn't Taylor (he had 2.5 sacks in two seasons at Baylor).

There was a lot of need for 3-4 NTs in the 2011 draft, but not enough to go around.  4-3 DTs were plentiful, so it was surprising to see the Browns trade up to get Taylor when they could have stood pat or moved back to grab someone like Marvin Austin.

With the number of teams trading between 4-3 and 3-4 schemes this year, it won't be surprising to see someone with an established 4-3 DT make a play for Taylor.

5. Von Miller, OLB: Denver Broncos

Before anyone opts to write a comment with the over-blown term "hater" included, let it be known that I'm a fan of Miller.  I also have nothing against the Denver Broncos.  I also know that John Elway knows more about the NFL than I do.

However, I still don't see Miller fitting in well with John Fox's defense.  GM's overlook specific skills and focus on overall ability all the time and grab players that aren't good system fits, thinking they will be able to make the transition.  Just look at Vernon Gholston and Albert Haynesworth if you'd like an example.

Redskins fans may point to Brian Orakpo as the yin to Haynesworth's yang, but just because a player can make it work doesn't mean he is living up to his true potential if placed in a better situation.

I hope Miller finds his NFL legs and proves me wrong.  I just don't think he will maximize his abilities and at some point a 3-4 team is going to make the Broncos an offer they can't refuse.

3-4. Ryan Kerrigan, DE or Jarvis Jenkins, DT: Washington Redskins

I am going to place a caveat on Kerrigan or Jenkins being traded, and that is that the Redskins might be quietly preparing to switch to a 4-3 defense.  I know...it sounds crazy.  However, when commenting on the prior slide, the pieces started to fall together.  

Orakpo is ideally a 4-3 end instead of a LB, as is Kerrigan.  Haynesworth has shown he needs a little more flexibility to move along the line.  

Anthony Bryant can take up a whole bunch of room in the middle for a few weeks while Jenkins prepares to take over.  That could be one formidable front-four if Haynesworth turned his attitude around.

If that pipe dream doesn't come to fruition, Haynesworth will be cut and one of these two rookies won't make the transition to their new position.  A team will be willing to roll the dice that he can break out in a system that is better suited to his talent.

2. Andy Dalton, QB: Cincinnati Bengals

This is not an indictment against Andy Dalton.  I believe he has the skills to be a very good QB in the NFL.

However, I have no faith in the Bengals being able to put together a solid season in 2011.  They have an issue at starting QB, a WR that is a distraction, and a defense that under-performed in 2010.

They also have a daunting list of free agent talent, but the front office issues will make it difficult to sign quality players without over-spending.

I am anticipating a tumultuous upcoming season for the Bengals.  This will leave them with a very, very, very, very, very high draft pick next season. 

The Bengals will have A.J. Green ready to open up the field and could have Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley and/or Landry Jones available.  Will they be able to resist the temptation to draft a franchise QB and then work a deal for Dalton? 

1. Colin Kaepernick, QB: San Francisco 49ers

For a few years, NFC West fans have been hearing how the 49ers have the best overall talent in the division and are poised for a breakout season.  The problem is the team lacks talent in too many key positions.

Their offensive line has struggled, and there is a chance that doesn't change in 2011.  Anthony Davis hasn't matured as some expected.

The 49ers are intent on re-signing David Baas (G/C), there is a chance he is offered a ridiculous contract elsewhere and he walks.  Without those two playing well, the offense will continue to sputter.

The team isn't likely to get quality play from the QB position in 2011, and the addition of Ronald Johnson isn't going to be enough to get their receiving corps over the hump.

The 49ers have issues in the secondary and could be losing Abroyo Franklin in free agency.  They have a new coaching staff and the players won't have much time to prepare for the season.  Similar to the prior slide, this could turn into an ugly season for the 49ers.

San Francisco has many of their more "winnable" games early in the season (home vs. Seattle and Dallas and then at Cincinnati and Philadelphia).  If the 49ers don't come out of the gates well, their season will be over with teams like the Steelers, Ravens and Giants waiting for them later.  

A 1-3 start might be too tempting for Harbaugh to sandbag his way to winning the "Suck for Luck" sweepstakes.

Reunited with his Stanford QB, the 49ers would then look to get some value from Kaepernick.

In the interest of full disclosure, I did steal the "Suck for Luck" tagline from one of my fans, R.J.