One In-Season Trade Target Each NFL Team Should Mark

Free agency is about wrapped-up, preseason trades are made, and the regular season is about to get underway.  Which teams made the right to decisions, who filled all of their needs and who will be hunting for players a few games into the season?

This slideshow take a brief look at what possible depth problems each team could run into and what voids they may still need to fill once the season begins.  Here you will find one trade target each team should mark for the upcoming season.

St. Louis Rams: Osi Umenyiora, Defensive End

When Giants two-time Pro-Bowler Osi Umenyiora first decided he was going to hold out of training camp, New York pondered the idea of trading him.  But as it turned out, the asking price (a first-round draft pick) for the defensive end was not something many teams showed interest in giving up.

Since then, Umenyiora has decided to return to practice with the team, however without a new contract and rumored to be pretty unhappy.  With two other solid defensive ends on the roster in Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul and the Giants not wanting to give Umenyiora the contract he wants, he may be traded yet.

If this is the case, the Rams, who showed interested in the trade before, may be able to get him for a lower asking price.  St. Louis has a solid team already but this acquisition could take them to another level.

Seattle Seahawks: Brady Quinn, Quarterback

Right now, the Seattle Seahawks' starting quarterback is Tavaris Jackson and is backed up by Charlie Whitehurst.  Whether either one will end up being a reasonable starting quarterback is still up for the debate.  With that said, the Seahawks will likely be looking for somebody new to add to the roster come midseason.

One player that the team should consider is Brady Quinn.  Although right now the word out of Denver is that Brady may be listed as the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Kyle Orton, everyone knows that Tim Tebow is in the plans for the future.  Therefore, once the depth chart settles in and Quinn drops to No. 3 the team may look to shop him.

Quinn has had a rough career thus far in the NFL but he also hasn't gotten a whole lot of opportunity as a first team quarterback.  Seattle could be just the opportunity that Quinn needs.

San Fransisco 49ers: Leon Hall, Cornerback

When the San Fransisco 49ers decided to release cornerback Nate Clements in order to free cap space, this position became a bit of a question for the team. Clements was arguably the best corner last year in a secondary that was not very big.

Since releasing Clements, the team has signed Carlos Rogers from the Washington Redskins, which was a good acquisition for them.  Rogers is a solid cornerback and will likely fill one of the starting roles. Who will fill the other is not totally determined. Shawntae Spencer is out with a hamstring injury and Tramaine Block was just short of terrible in the preseason game against the Saints.

However, Bengals star cornerback Leon Hall is in the last year of his rookie contract and, depending on what Cincinatti has to offer him, could be looking to go elsewhere sometime this season.  If that be the case, the 49ers need to put a target on him.

Arizona Cardinals: Johnny Knox, Wide Receiver

The Arizona Cardinals spent much of the free agency period searching for a wide receiver to complement Larry Fitzgerald in the No. 2 spot, but after players like Braylon Edwards and Lee Evans landed elsewhere, the hunt seems to have seized for now.  If Fitzgerald does not end up in a trade deal himself and a notable player becomes available for a good price, the Cardinals will probably be interested.

A player the Cardinals could end up with is Johnny Knox.  Even though everyone out of Bears camp is denying the Johnny Knox trade rumors, this is a talented player who could definitely end up on the trading block, and for a cheap price that would make Arizona lucky to grab him.

San Diego Chargers: To Be Determined

The Chargers' roster for this season is looking pretty good.  They have a solid offense led by quarterback Phillip Rivers, a good receiving corp with Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd and Antonio Gates, and a committee of running backs in Ryan Matthews, Michael Tolbert and Jordan Todman. Their defense is shaping up nicely as well.  

San Diego's biggest weakness last year was special teams, which was absolutely terrible and costed them a couple of games. But new special teams coach Rich Basaccia seems to have things in order there now as long as kicker Nate Kaeding hasn't turned into a head case.

As free agency winners, the Chargers will probably not make too many moves this season and if they do, it will not be until some of the games play out and they find their weaknesses.

Oakland Raiders: Terence Newman, Cornerback

When the Oakland Raiders let star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha walk away during free agency they knew they would have a huge gap to fill in their secondary.

Aside from Stanford Routt, the team's best returning corner, and the injured Chris Johnson, who was expected to start in the other corner spot, the depth at this position is being maintained by a few young, very inexperienced guys. Rookie DeMarcus VanDyke has a high ceiling but still has a lot to learn, and second year players Walter McFadden and Jeremy Ware played in a combined 12 games last year, recording six tackles and no interceptions between the two of them.

Depending on how things go, Oakland may have to look to acquire a veteran corner in a trade sometime during the season.  One player that could be up for grabs is the Dallas Cowboys' Terence Newman.  Despite having a sub-par season last year, the Cowboys re-signed Newman to a one-year deal this season.

Since then, Newman has injured his groin and is expected to miss four-to-six weeks.  By the time Newman returns, Dallas may have already found a replacement, which could land Newman on the trading block.  Although Newman struggled in 2010 he did have a career-high five interceptions and was a two-time Pro-Bowl selection not that long ago, in 2007 and 2009.

Kansas City Chiefs: Shaun Hill, Quarterback

Kansas City has Matt Cassel as their starting quarterback and so far things look good.  Cassel seems to have improved in the offseason and is looking to have a solid year for the Chiefs.  With that said, the Chiefs could still use a solid veteran quarterback for backup purposes for both a safety cushion and a second set of eyes to help guide Cassel.

If the Chiefs could nab backup Shaun Hill from the Detroit Lions he could be a perfect fit.

Denver Broncos: Corey Williams, Defensive Tackle

The Denver Broncos are a work in progress with a lot of kinks left to work out.  Their starting quarterback is a guy they were trying to trade a couple of weeks ago and their backup quarterback was originally slated as a third stringer.  That's only the beginning of their problems.  

Just this week, in a span of one hour at practice, defensive tackles Ty Warren and Marcus Thomas both went down with major injuries.  Warren tore his tricep and Thomas tore his pectoral muscle, removing almost all the Broncos' depth at the defensive tackle position.

One guy that the Broncos could look to target at this spot is Detroit Lions defensive tackle Corey Williams.  With the Lions' star 2011 first-round draft pick Nick Fairley sidelined for the time being with an injury, Williams is still slated as Detroit's starter. However, once Fairley returns, it is only a matter of time before Williams drops down on the depth chart and possibly finds his way out the door in a trade.  The Broncos may want to be at the opposite end of this trade.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kroy Biermann, Defensive End

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have promising but very young team.  They are especially young and inexperienced at the defensive end position.  According to the Bucs' current depth chart, the starting defensive ends are two rookies, Da'Quan Bowers and Adrian Clayborn.

As the season progresses, the Bucs may need to add a veteran defensive end to help guide and push these two young players. 

One guy the Bucs could target is Kroy Biermann of the Atlanta Falcons. With the acquisition of Ray Edwards, the Falcons could afford to part ways with Biermann.  Biermann will be a free agent in 2012 and is likely to be a player who will just walk away, so before that happens maybe the Falcons will trade him for a low price, and he would not be a bad get for the Bucs.

New Orleans Saints: Demetrius Bell, Offensive Tackle

The New Orleans Saints are another team that have a lot of the right pieces and very few holes to fill. One place that could use some extra depth though is the offensive line.  Used to an offensive line that has been the same for the past two years, Drew Brees will have to adjust to a couple of fresh faces protecting him this season. Two previous starters have departed from the team: Jonathan Goodwin left for San Francisco in free agency, and Jon Stinchcomb was released.

Olin Kreutz will replace Goodwin and either Zach Strief or Charles Brown will replace Stinchcomb.  However, the Saints may look at add a player for depth.  One guy they could target in a trade is Demetrius Bell from the Buffalo Bills.  Bell is on the last year of his contract and the Bills are not sold on him as a starter.  Buffalo may be willing to trade Bell for a low price and he could serve as an excellent backup at tackle for the Saints.

Carolina Panthers: Asante Samuel, Cornerback

The Carolina Panthers had the worst record in the NFL last season; it's safe to say that they entered this season with a lot of needs.  However, they did a pretty good job of filling those needs with free agency and the draft.  Whether it be Cam Newton, Jimmy Clausen or Derek Anderson that ends up starting at quarterback for the team, if they find a solid guy they may be able to compete.

One place the Panthers may need to add some depth though is at cornerback.  The current starters listed on the depth chart are Chris Gamble and Captain Munnerlyn backed by Robert McClain and Brandon Hogan. But Gamble is coming off a down year with zero interceptions in 2010, Captain Munnerlyn is undersized and not a proven starter, Hogan is coming off of ACL surgery and has yet to play and Robert McClain has very little experience.

The Panthers are going to have to get a guy here and one person they should target is Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel.  Samuel was shopped during free agency and was highly talked about, but ended up back with the Eagles.  In the end though, he will more than likely still be traded away.  Early on, the Panthers were mentioned to be considering Samuel, but his high price tag and salary may have turned them off.  However, once the season starts and they realize they need him, Carolina could make a deal with Philly.

Atlanta Falcons: Joselio Hanson, Cornerback

Offensively the Atlanta Falcons are stacked with weapons.  The Falcons defense looks pretty solid as well, but there is still a big question about who will play the teams nickel back.  Right now starting at the two cornerback spots for the Falcons are Brent Grimes and Dunta Robinson.  Both of these two guys are pretty good cover corners on the outside, but Atlanta needs some to fill the inside. 

The player they need to go after is Joselio Hanson of the Philadelphia Eagles.  Hanson is knocked for not being a great outside corner, but he is phenomenal at the nickel back spot and that is where the Falcons have a gap.  With the acquisition of Nnamdi Asomugha, Philly will probably be looking to trade Hanson because he will be too expensive to keep.

Washington Redskins: Jimmy Clausen, Quarterback

The Washington Redskins' fate lies in the hands of their quarterback, who has yet to be determined, but the choices are not good.  Originally thought to be the starting quarterback, John Beck is now apparently in a battle with Rex Grossman for the spot and it sounds like the team may be leading more towards Grossman.

Well, anyone who has seen Grossman play knows that he is not the answer as a starting quarterback.  Grossman has been given ample opportunities in his career to prove himself and has never been able to do so.  Therefore, it's hard to believe that a player, such as Beck, who is in real competition with Grossman for the job, is a promising starter either. Therefore, the Redskins are going to be looking for a quarterback come a few games into the season.

A quarterback the Redskins should keep their eye on is Jimmy Clausen.  Ultimately I think that the Carolina Panthers want to go in the direction of Cam Newton and they will find a way to secure that he is their starter and the guy they are going to build the franchise with.

With that said, Derek Anderson is perfectly capable of holding down the backup position in case of emergency so the Panthers can look to trade Clausen for a good deal.  Clausen is a guy who had a rough rookie season but does seem to have the tools necessary to be a decent starting quarterback in this league.

Philadelphia Eagles: Offensive Lineman, TBD

The Philadelphia Eagles have arguably the most mobile quarterback in the NFL in Michael Vick.  However, Philly's offensive line struggled terribly last season to block for the scrambling Vick.  This year many of the Eagles' offensive line questions still seem unanswered, some due to injury and some just due to unfilled holes. 

One position the Eagles really need help at is right tackle.  The starter from last season, Winston Justice, is coming off of knee surgery and Ryan Harris, who was signed in free agency, is unable to play because he is struggling with back spasms.  Right now the team is going with King Dunlap at starter, but they are not sold on him. 

The Eagles desperately need to add a solid offensive lineman to the depth chart, particularly at right tackle, but who that person could be will remain to be seen once the season gets underway.

New York Giants: John Carlson, Tight End

When Kevin Boss decided to leave New York for the Oakland in free agency, the Giants instantly had a huge hole to fill in their offense.  The team is currently trying to work with Travis Beckum but as of right now he doesn't seem to be cut out to be the starter.

The player the Giants need to go after is John Carlson of the Seattle Seahawks.  Carlson is a tight end with good hands who prior to last season had caught more passes in his first two seasons than any other tight end in Seahawks franchise history.

The Seahawks recently added Zach Miller to their roster, who is also very talented and younger the Carlson.  The talk in Seattle is that there is room for both, but this is not likely. The Seahawks are going to shop Carlson once they figure out their own needs and New York could be his new home.

Dallas Cowboys: Moran Norris, Fullback

One position at which the Dallas Cowboys are still looking for an answer is the fullback position.  The Cowboys are a team who still readily use a fullback; therefore they need to to fill the void.

The team thought the battle for the position would be between Chris Gronkowski and Shaun Chapas, who are both natural fullbacks, but neither ones seems to have the ability to lay the block and create the big blows.  The Cowboys have now decided to try out Isaiah Greenhouse at the position, who is naturally a linebacker but it is unknown yet whether he is the solution or not.

If the tryout with Greenhouse doesn't work out and Dallas is still hunting after a few games, they could look to make a cheap trade with San Fransisco for veteran fullback Moran Norris, whose contract expires this year.  The 49ers haven't decent depth at fullback anyway and they may even let Norris walk away come the season's end, so there is no reason the team wouldn't shop him if he could be shopped.

New York Jets: Offensive Lineman, TBD

When Robert Turner broke his leg in the Jets' first preseason game, New York's offensive line suddenly got a whole lot thinner.  Although Turner was not a starter, he was a very solid, versatile player that could back up a few positions, including center and guard.  Turner actually started that preseason game in place of Nick Mangold, who was out with a stinger.

With the offensive line already needing more depth and then the loss of Turner, the Jets are going to be looking to sign someone. However, offensive lineman are a little sparse right now so who that will be is yet to be determined.

New England Patriots: Dwayne Bowe, Wide Receiver

There are a lot of ifs in this potential future trade, but there is a chance that come midseason the Patriots will be shopping for a big-time wide receiver.  Most people are probably thinking, "but they just signed Ochocinco in free agency." 

As of right now Ochocinco doesn't entirely seem to be what the Patriots were looking for. And no, it has nothing to do with his attitude, inability to be coached or anything personal; Ocho just hasn't exploded as the deep down field threat that the Patriots need, as least as of yet.  Sure, Ocho is still developing and getting used to the Patriots' system, but if things don't pan out they may look elsewhere for the type of receiver that can fill this role.

Here comes the second if. With an expiring contract in 2012, IF for some reason the Chiefs don't seem to be working out a new contract for Bowe this season to head in to next season, some teams may be able to make an offer for him.  If this somehow becomes the case, and New England can come up with the money, Bowe would be an excellent addition to the squad.

Miami Dolphins: Alex Smith, Quarterback

The Miami Dolphins desperately need a quarterback.  Chad Henne simply has not gotten the job done and Matt Moore is not the answer.  Miami originally tried to acquire Kyle Orton from the Broncos; however, the deal did not go through and Orton has since been named the started in Denver.

Therefore, desperate times call for desperate measures and the call being made is to take a chance on Alex Smith. Sure, the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft has been equally unproductive or worse than Chad Henne since being selected by the 49ers, but maybe a change of scenery is just what Smith needs to jump start his career. 

After all, multiple coaches have gone back to giving Smith an opportunity as a starter, so there must be something there that he's not showing in games. In fact, Smith may get one more shot as the starter in San Fransisco, but when the team ultimately decides to push forward with rookie quarterback Colin Kapernick as their starter, the Miami Dolphins should look to acquire Alex Smith.  It can't get any worse, right?

Buffalo Bills: Michael Palmer, Tight End

One position it seems like the Bills are always lacking depth in is the tight end position.  Once again, Buffalo does not have a starting tight end entirely solidified heading into the season and their options are quite slim. 

Slated in the No. 1 spot right now is Scott Chandler, who in his career has one reception for four yards in 14 games.  Apparently Chandler has shown something in preseason to give him the nod, but whether he deserves to be a starter has yet to be determined because he has never played.  Chandler is backed up by David Martin, a veteran tight end that has had bright spots in over the years but never really panned out, and Shawn Nelson who has just 182 yards and one touchdown in his career.

Needless to say, the Bills don't exactly have a star at tight end.  Perhaps Chandler will turn into something being given the opportunity to start but in the event that he doesn't, a young player who has shown promise but is currently buried on the depth chart on his respective team is Michael Palmer.

Palmer right now is listed as the third tight end on the Falcons' depth chart behind Tony Gonazalez and the recently acquired Reggie Kelly, but teams should not be deceived.  Palmer is young with great hands and has even drawn comparisons at times to tight end great, Gonzalez.  If the Bills' woes continue, maybe they can make a deal with Atlanta for a young, promising talent in Palmer.

Tennessee Titans: Matt Forte, Running Back

Tennessee's star running back Chris Johnson is still holding out for more money and as of now, the Titans aren't coughing it up.  It's an ongoing debate whether the Titans should come to terms with Johnson and pay him a slew of money, or trade him for a whole lot while his price tag is really high.

The Titans are in rebuilding mode. Therefore, if they could trade Johnson for something like a first- and third-round pick it may be worth their loss. However, Johnson is one-of-a-kind, so weighing the options is necessary.

When it's all said and done, though, if Johnson and the Titans cannot reach an agreement and he gets traded elsewhere then the team will be in the market for a new running back.

Right now, the Titans' backup running back is Javon Ringer, who has impressed in training camp, but in the event that Johnson doesn't end up back with the team, the Titans will still need to acquire someone.  One player the Titans could look to get is Bears running back Matt Forte who is in the last year of his current contract.  Forte wants a new contract and the Bears don't seem to be willing to give to him, so he is feasible choice.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Anthony Gonzalez, Wide Receiver

The Jacksonville Jaguars took care of a lot of their needs this offseason with free agency and have a couple of key players retuning from injuries, notably running back Maurice Jones-Drew.  However, one place where the Jaguars could still add some depth is at the wide receiver position.

With Jason Hill as the No. 1 option at receiver, the Jaguars really lack a star.  One player that may not be considered a star (at least not anymore) but could be a great addition to Jacksonville's receiving corp is Anthony Gonzalez.  Gonzalez had a good beginning to his young career with the Colts, but coming off of a couple knee injuries and entering the final year of his contract, the Colts will likely tried to trade Gonzalez for some value rather than resign him.  Still young, and with a lot of potential to come back strong and healthy, Gonzalez would be a nice addition for Jacksonville.

Houston Texans: Mike Scifres, Punter

The Houston Texans have a very strong squad heading into 2011.  The team has been building into something special for a few years now and its finally all coming together.  The gaps that still need to be filled by the Texans will be more obvious once they have played a few games.

The Texans are one of few teams whose main void is in the kicking department.  The Texans have a kicker but after losing starter Matt Turk to free agecy, Houston is trying to decide on a starting punter.

The battle is currently between rookie Brett Hartmann and long-time vet Brad Maynard.  Maynard is known for his accuracy and ability, especially within the 20-yard line, but does not have a very strong leg, averaging just 40.9 yards per punt last season.  Hartmann, on the other hand, has decent leg strength, but isn't the most accurate.

With free agency looming, they may be able to grab a guy like Scirfres who is perhaps a slightly better option.

Indianapolis Colts: Peyton Manning's Health

What the Indianapolis Colts need is not something that they can trade for, sign or draft.  The Colts need a healthy Peyton Manning in 2011.  Manning had neck surgery in the offseason and is still recovering, but hopefully he will be good to go and not miss any games because if he's good, the Colts are good.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Rashad Johnson, Safety

As we all know, the Steelers have a stud starting at safety for them in Troy Polamalu and a pretty solid safety starting alongside him in Ryan Clark.  However, past that the Steelers are extremely thin at safety and barring injury could be in big trouble.

A guy that the Steelers could look to sign as a backup is Rashad Johnson of the Arizona Cardinals.  Johnson is young and has pretty darn good cover skills, and as of right now he will not likely end up as a starter for Arizona.

Cleveland Browns: Brandon Marshall, Wide Receiver

The Cleveland Browns are still looking for another option at wide receiver.  Right now Brian Robiskie, rookie Greg Little, Joshua Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi are their top guys to choose from and only one or two of them are really clear-cut starters.

The Browns need a big go-to guy and one person that may be traded from their team in order to unload a large amount of money is Brandon Marshall.  Marshall's contract is about up and with the Dolphins rebuilding, they are not going to be able to pay him the money he will want.  Not to mention that as of right now, they don't even have anyone to throw to Marshall, so he is not much use to them anyway.  The Browns could sign Marshall as a major receiver to build around.

Cincinatti Bengals: Matt Flynn, Quarterback

When Carson Palmer decided to retire after the Cincinnati Bengals refused to trade him, he left the team in the hands of rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and so far that is exactly what Dalton has looked like—a rookie.  Dalton needs some time to develop behind a more experienced quarterback before he can have the ability to lead a team that needs as much help as the Bengals.

The quarterback the Bengals should look to trade for is Matt Flynn of the Green Bay Packers.  Flynn is in the last year of his contract and the Packers would be dumb not to shop him after he showed promise in his only start last year, throwing three touchdowns.  With Rodgers at the helm, a backup is not likely to see a lot of time for Green Bay and Flynn could be traded for some decent collateral.

Baltimore Ravens: Jeremy Zuttah, Offensive Lineman

The Baltimore Ravens will be solid again this year and had a decent offseason of acquisitions.  However, the Ravens still have some holes that need to be filled on the offensive line.

A guy like Jeremy Zuttah could be a good acquisition for the Ravens because he has a contract expiring in Tampa and his versatility makes him a nice backup at guard or center.  With depth an issue and center Matt Birk's health in question, he could be a nice addition to the roster.

Minnesota Vikings: Larry Fitzgerald, Wide Receiver

When the Minnesota Vikings let their No. 1 wide receiver Sidney Rice depart for the Seahawks after, according to him, making no attempts to sign him, they were suddenly left with some serious questions at wide receiver.  Percy Harvin is now the team's best wide receiver, with Bernard Berrian and Michael Jenkins filling the spots alongside him.

However, at the start of the season talks were that the team would cut Berrian and now he is one of their top options.  The Vikings need a deep threat; a No. 1 wide receiver that can cause matchup problems, and they need to go big.  Larry Fitzgerald, who is scheduled to become a free agent come the season's end is supposedly in talks with Cardinals regarding a new deal, but the Vikings need to throw the house at Fitzgerald in an effort to sign him.  Fitzgerald's hometown is Minneapolis, Minnesota and he has shown interest in the team before.  After messing up with Rice, this is something the team cannot mess up.

Green Bay Packers: Cory Redding, Defensive End

The Green Bay Packers are returning almost every key player from their 2010 Super Championship team and are poised to make another run for the NFC North and title.  However, the Packers do have a position that is a cause for concern, and that is defensive end.

Their starter from last season, Cullen Jenkins, departed the team in free agency and his replacement, Mike Neal, was recently sidelined with a knee injury.  The Packers are going to need to add some depth at this position.  One player the Packers should target is Baltimore Raven Cory Redding.

Redding is a veteran at this position and is in his final contract year.  He is currently splitting a lot of first team snaps with Arthur Jones and if Jones takes the starting spot, the Ravens may be willing to part ways with Redding.

Chicago Bears: Taylor Mays, Safety

The safety position for the Chicago Bears is one that seems to be ever-changing over the past few years, and that stood true again this year with the departure of Danieal Manning to the Texans.  Right now the Bears are challenging Major Wright to step up and be a starter alongside Chris Harris. However, the Bears should still keep their eyes open for a player that they can go after to either start or add depth.

One target the Bears should keep their eye on is the San Fransisco 49ers' Taylor Mays.  Rumors have it that Chicago already made an offer for Mays which San Fransisco denied, but as the season gets underway, if things still seem like they aren't panning out for Mays and the 49ers the team may be willing to re-negotiate.

Detroit Lions: Steve Slaton, Running Back

Although the Detroit Lions are much improved compared to the past few years and are actually expected to compete, they still have work to do to improve their running game.  Jahvid Best is the team's starter and past that not much has really been determined.  Guys like Maurice Morris, Jerome Harrison and Mike Bell will get a chance to try out their hand, but the Lions should stay on the lookout for a running back that they can trade for to enhance this position on their roster.

One player that was mentioned to be on the trading block early in free agency was Steve Slaton of the Houston Texans.  However, when Ben Tate, Derrick Ward and Arian Foster were all sidelined with hamstring injuries, this trade was not feasible for the time being.  Now that guys are slowly getting healthy again, the Texans may be willing to discuss trading options for Slaton again. If so, the Lions should get in on the talks.