NFL Trade Speculation: 3 Players Who Could Get Teams over the Hump

We are moving towards Week 6 of the NFL regular season and there are a few teams that have left the critics speechless with their perseverance and will to win.  Some that come to mind are the Detroit Lions (5-0), the Buffalo Bills (4-1) and even the San Francisco 49ers (4-1).

However, at the same time, we also see teams showing their offensive and defensive struggles.  These flaws seem to keep rearing their ugly heads during close and crucial moments during a game.

Here are a few players that could help get their teams over the hump.  These are mere speculations and have no evidence to support if the trades are possible.  

Kyle DeVan to the Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears are close to the bottom of every relevant statistical category in the league both on offense and defense. Even Brian Urlacher has been quoted saying that, as a defense, “we stink.” 

However, one of the most pressing problems is not the defense, it’s the mediocre offensive line that has allowed quarterback Jay Cutler to be sacked more than 15 times this season. 

The Bears have a great quarterback in Cutler, talented special teams and one of the most efficient running backs in the NFL in Matt Forte.  Needless to say, their current 2-3 record is a sub-par reality of their expected goals.  After losing veteran Olin Kreutz, the center position has been soft and a liability for the rest of the team. 

Picking up Kyle DeVan from the Philadelphia Eagles would be a huge upgrade in their offensive line.  With him, the Bears are getting a smart, young, talented player with a lot of upside in the future.  DeVan was recently replaced at starter due to a tough outing against the 49ers, which could help the Bears to trade low with high future value.  A thought would be trading newly acquired Marion Barber alongside a viable linebacker for the acquiring of DeVan.

Percy Harvin to the Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans are actually not that bad.  In fact, they are tied for first place in the AFC South.  During the offseason, the organization made a crucial decision in acquiring Matt Hasselbeck from the Seattle Seahawks, which helped secure the quarterback situation.  Chris Johnson, the league's leading rusher the year prior, is officially signed and although not yet living up to standards he set in 2010, no defense is going to neglect paying attention to this guy.

However, one noticeable addition to the Titans that could help them on offense and special teams would be acquiring Minnesota Vikings' Percy Harvin.  

Hasselbeck is having a pretty decent year considering his wideouts consist of non-household names.  Imagine having Harvin on the outside and spreading the defense out, allowing Johnson to get out into the open field.  Putting a threat like Harvin on the field opens up the rest of the offense to new opportunities it otherwise would not have had. 

Of course, getting him would require losing a valuable piece.  That piece is backup quarterback Jake Locker. 

The Vikings are struggling with Donovan McNabb at the helm.  They need a new quarterback and, as anybody in the league knows, Locker has the potential to be a franchise quarterback.  Giving up an offensive piece like Harvin for the potential of gaining a franchise quarterback is a risk that could potentially happen between these two teams. 

Peyton Hillis to the New York Jets

Just this past weekend, the nation was witness to the New York Jets losing to the New England Patriots at their own game.  The Pats ran the ball straight into the teeth of the Jets defense and they had no way to respond back. 

Aside from the defensive woes that lurk over the Jets, another pressing issue was they could not return the favor when they had possession.  Third-down efficiency was abysmal and offensive flow in general was stalled.

Acquiring Peyton Hillis and his bruising run style could help energize this team into remembering what got it to this position in the first place.

Hillis has been involved in a contract dispute with the Browns, and if Cleveland feels Montario Hardesty is a suitable substitute, this could open a door for the Jets to offer up something small in order to get an unhappy Hillis packing his bags to the Big Apple.