NFL Trade Speculation: 3 Rookie-for-Rookie Trades We'd Like to See Happen

Since the NFL has been locked out for over three months now, the draft back in April was the only way fans could be excited over something going on in the league.

Rookies are drafted by a team and then fans immediately argue with their friends as to why that rookie will put his team over the top, or at least make them competitive.

All team personnel rank the draft prospects according to who they feel is the best for their team. When a prospect they planned on taking has already been drafted, they move on to the next available player on their draft list.

What if all teams had gotten their man though? What if it was common to swap rookies after the draft once a team re-evaluates their needs and gets deeper into free agency?

Here are three rookie-for-rookie trades that will never materialize, but would be interesting to see.

Von Miller for Patrick Peterson

Von Miller: LB, 2nd overall pick, Denver Broncos

Patrick Peterson: CB, 5th overall pick, Arizona Cardinals

Von Miller is an outside linebacker from Texas A&M drafted with the second overall pick. The Broncos badly needed better play from their linebackers and their core defense overall. 

Patrick Peterson is a cornerback out of LSU who makes game changing plays. He is an excellent return man and the closest thing to a rookie shutdown corner we have seen in years. His size, strength, and speed allow him to match up favorably against most receivers.

This trade should happen because of the benefits not only for the teams, but for the players as well.

The Broncos can get a young corner who is already expected to be great, to learn his position under two of the greatest secondary players of all-time in Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins.

The Cardinals would get a player that would also benefit from learning behind one of the better players at the outside linebacker position the league has ever seen. Joey Porter is on the down side of his career and could help Miller become leaps and bounds better than he is already expected to be.

Cam Newton for Marcell Dareus

Cam Newton: QB, 1st overall pick, Carolina Panthers

Marcell Dareus: DT, 3rd overall pick, Buffalo Bills

Cam Newton was hands down the best player in college this past season. He single handedly tore defenses apart and willed the Auburn Tigers to victory numerous times.

Marcell Dareus is an NFL ready defensive tackle who has a rare combination of size, power, and speed. At Alabama, he anchored the interior on what was one of the most respected defenses in the country.

This trade should happen for the Panthers because they just spent a second round pick on Jimmy Clausen last year. You don't draft a player that high only to give up on him after one season.

The Panthers were 2-14 last season so their problems extended way past the quarterback position. Furthermore, the Panthers' run defense was ranked just 23rd last season, so they could use a big body like Dareus to plug up the middle of the field.

The Bills have a legitimate starter in Ryan Fitzpatrick, who could perform well enough this season for Newton to be able to sit a year and adjust to the NFL.

The weather gets rough for passers in Buffalo so Newton's ability to scramble would especially benefit both himself and the Bills.

Julio Jones for Prince Amukamara

Julio Jones: WR, 6th overall pick, Atlanta Falcons

Prince Amukamara: CB, 19th overall pick, New York Giants

Julio Jones is an outstanding physical talent at wide receiver. A credit to his toughness, he performed at the NFL Draft Combine with a broken foot and still didn't see his numbers fall.

Prince Amukamara is a speedy and smart cornerback who could start from day one on the right team. He has good ball instincts in zone coverage and can also cover well on an island.

If this trade were to go down, the Giants would get another young receiver to add to their already up and coming receiving core. Eli Manning is terribly inconsistent but is still getting better, and another dynamic wide receiver would only speed up that process.

The Falcons, on the other hand, would get a corner that could come in and immediately produce. They can score the ball pretty well already. However, their pass defense was ranked just 22nd so they could definitely use some help in the secondary—especially because they have to see Josh Freeman and Drew Brees four times a year.

Not to mention, Aaron Rodgers carved the Falcons' defense up in front of the home crowd in this year's NFC Championship game.