2011 NFL Trade Rumors: Moves That May Still Shake Up the NFC North

As we get into the thick of preseason, teams will begin to realize one of two things: either that they are moving along as expected with minimal hiccups and lapses on the roster, or the exact opposite.

Some teams will come to realize that they don't have the guys on their roster that they need to be competitive. Or maybe instead, the team will suffer some injuries to key players that could keep them from competing.

Each option points to the same thing at this point in the NFL process: trading players.

The NFC North is the most competitive division in all of football right now. The top two NFC teams from last season came from the North and two other arguably dangerous teams round out the rest of the division.

Obviously, some teams have better standing than others, possessing younger and more durable players, but with even one blockbuster trade to any of the teams, the landscape of the entire division is shifted.

Here is one trade for each team in the NFC North that would shift the outlook in their favor.

Detroit Lions: CB Asante Samuel, Philadelphia Eagles

The Detroit Lions were very active in free agency, landing cornerback Erik Wright and linebackers Justin Durant and Stephen Tulloch who will all likely push for starting roles on the team's rising defense.

The Lions' front four, led by Ndamukong Suh, is growing more feared by the day. The linebackers are very talented as well. The only issue at this point is in their secondary that has been know to give up a big play or two.

The addition of Erik Wright will help tremendously in that regard, but to be competitive in this tough a division, the Lions will need to bring in a second stud in their secondary.

This is where Asante Samuel comes in.

In the first blockbuster trade of 2011, the Eagles traded Kevin Kolb to the Arizona Cardinals for a second-round pick and the contract rights to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Later that week, the Eagles also signed free agent prize Nnamdi Asomugha, essentially giving them three Pro-Bowlers at one position, including Samuel.

It's highly doubtful, to me, that the Eagles intend to start three corners. Even if they did, egos clash, tempers rise and someone will want out. I see Samuel getting the short end of that stick, being that the other two guys are fresh to the roster and neither attract $20,000 fines every other week for illegal hits (no matter how soft the game appears nowadays).

Andy Reid has come to be known for accumulating some good draft picks, just like he did with Kevin Kolb. I would not put it past Reid to trade Samuel to get better standing for the 2012 NFL draft next March, especially considering that the "dream team" he has assembled is held together with one-year contracts.

If the Lions were to give up a second- or third-round pick and one of their younger prospects, I don't think it is out of the question at all for Samuel to end up in Detroit to really make that defense feared.

If that trade were to happen, the Lions would jump from potentially third in the division to a secure second, or could even compete for first, barring another Matthew Stafford injury.

Chicago Bears: TE Dustin Keller, New York Jets

Last season, the Chicago Bears had a couple of weaknesses on offense that essentially kept them from being the Super Bowl XLV Champions instead of their rival Green Bay Packers.

Those two weaknesses were on their offensive line and at wide receiver.

Jay Culter was left high and dry by an offensive line that allowed him to get devastated by opposing defenses on a weekly basis. Judging by how the Bears' offensive line looked in their first preseason game, that issue remains the same.

To address the issue at wide receiver, the Bears brought in former Dallas Cowboy Roy Williams to be their new No. 1 target—a solid signing for a team desperate for some improvement in their passing game.

Though the Bears addressed one issue and ignored the other, they also created another issue that could end up being costly unless they fix it soon. Honestly, I think their need on the offensive line is the most important, but that can't be fixed with one player, so an impact player is more appropriate for a blockbuster trade.

The Bears traded tight end Greg Olsen to the Carolina Panthers for a third-round draft pick. Though some may argue that Olsen really wasn't utilized in offensive coordinator Mike Martz's offense, I think his absence will really be felt without the threat of a receiving tight end in the passing game.

The Bears were able to sign tight end Matt Spaeth from Pittsburgh. They will rely on Spaeth and Kellen Davis to fill the gap left by Olsen. Unfortunately for the Bears (particularly Jay Cutler), neither player is a great receiving option and because of the size of both men, they will likely see the most action in the run-game.

Statistically, Johnny Knox was the Bears' best receiver in 2010 and the addition of Roy Williams should lock up the top two receiving spots. That will leave Earl Bennett, last year's statistical No. 2, and Devin Hester to fight for the No. 3 spot at wide receiver.

The way I see it, Hester is one of the clear faces of the Bears' franchise right now, but is overvalued by the organization. His true value is on special teams, not at wide receiver. That being said, Hester's value may plummet as he nears his 30s. It may be wise for the Bears to explore the market and see what they can get for Hester.

I think the best opportunity would be with the New York Jets, who lost their return man Brad Smith in free agency. The Jets are a team built to win right now, and special teams is important to their success.

Keeping that in mind, the Jets may be looking to fill that void with the addition of an impact player like Hester who still has a few good years left in the tank.

So what does that mean for the Bears?

The Bears could potentially trade Hester for Jets tight end Dustin Keller, who is a decent receiving tight end, but has failed to build chemistry with QB Mark Sanchez, resulting in some dropped passes.

A Bears addition of Keller would really balance out the offense and add some more youth to an offense that, at that point, would be built for long-term success.

The Bears could send Devin Hester to New York for Keller and potentially another third-round draft pick (to match the one they received for Olsen).

This would be extremely beneficial to the Bears who would free up some serious cap space, make their team younger, and create the opportunity for some good draft picks in 2012.

This trade would not only help the Bears in the short term, but it would also shut the mouths of those saying that the Bears' window for success is closing fast.

It may seem like a lower-profile trade, but its magnitude would show it to be profound in time.

Minnesota Vikings: WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals

I realize that Larry Fitzgerald recently came out and said that a deal is close for a contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals. I do believe, however, that you have to take any rumors in the NFL with a grain of salt. I won't believe that an extension is coming until the extension is signed and Fitzgerald is locked in as a Cardinal for years to come.

The way I see it, Kevin Kolb was brought in by the Cardinals organization as a desperate attempt to retain FItzgerald's services by giving him a competent QB to get him the ball.

If Kolb doesn't turn out the way everyone seemed to think he would, Fitzgerald may choose to walk at the end of this season, given that his current contract prevents the Cardinals from using their franchise tag on him.

If that were the case, the Cardinals may want to explore his trade value and get something for him before he is merely a memory.

Everyone knows that Fitzgerald has some serious ties to not only the state of Minnesota, but the Minnesota Vikings as well. If this is news to you, check out this article, which exemplifies Fitzgerald's connections to his hometown team.

The Minnesota Vikings, fortunately for the Cardinals, are in desperate need of a star wide receiver to replace Sidney Rice who signed with Seattle.

I'm sure that, if given the opportunity, the Minnesota would give an arm and a leg (and then some) to bring Larry home to play in the purple.

The Vikings would have to give up quite a bit to land a player of this magnitude, but I think it would be worth it for them, considering the impact he would have over the next five or so years.

Fitzgerald still has a few of his prime years left, and the Vikings are a Fitzgerald short of a potential return to the NFC Championship, or even the Super Bowl.

If the Vikings were able to land Fitzgerald, they would rise from a fourth place ranking in their division to an easy second or even to competing with Green Bay for first.

I would say that they would have to give up possibly a second- and third-round pick to land Fitzgerald, but it would be completely worth it if they were able to keep him for a long-term deal.

Although right now, this deal seems unlikely, it would be foolish to not leave on the table—especially considering that Fitzgerald's personal deadline for an extension is September 4th. If nothing is settled by then, we may see Larry in purple before the season ends.

Green Bay Packers: Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans

I know, am I insane?

Chris Johnson traded? Yeah right, right?

It could happen, and here's why:

Chris Johnson is one of the top running backs in the NFL, and though I don't think he is the best, he seems to think so and wants to be compensated as such. The Titans completely agree that Johnson should be paid as the NFL's best running back, but he wants to be paid as one of "the league's best play-makers."

So essentially, Johnson wants to be paid like Tom Brady. I think that is ridiculous, and if the Titans organization has any common sense, they will agree with me.

That being said, if Johnson continues his holdout for a new contract, the Titans may look to get a heaping sum of talent for his contract.

The Titans lack a top receiver, among many things, and with the addition of two QBs (Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker), they may look to add some talent at receiver to help bail out whoever becomes the starter for the duration of the season.

Fortunately, the Packers have a plethora of solid receiving options.

How colossal of a trade would it be for the Titans to send Johnson to Green Bay for wide receivers James Jones and Donald Driver, and possibly some draft pick as well?

It would be one of the biggest trades in history. The addition of Johnson would not only guarantee the Packers another Super Bowl berth, but could potentially create a dynasty in Green Bay for years to come.

The loss of Driver and Jones would not be that huge for the Packers, as they prepared for life without them this season anyways, but it would be a tremendous addition for the Titans who really lack reliable receivers.

But what about Johnson's new contract?

The Packers have some of the highest available cap space among all the teams in the NFL with $11,106,000, not to mention the room from parting with Driver and Jones.

Is this trade likely? Probably not, but it is absolutely possible given the current state of both teams.

The Titans are clearly in rebuilding mode still, and letting go of a guy that is willing to handcuff the team like that could be a positive step for a team with a new head coach and two new QBs.

If the Packers want to cement themselves as the NFL's next great dynasty, this would be their opportunity.

What do you think?

Thanks for reading.

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