One Trade That Every NFL Team Should Make in the 2012 Offseason

This year, all of the trade talk will be about Andrew Luck.  It looks like the Colts will be the lucky recipients of the No. 1 overall pick.  Will they trade the pick or go ahead and take Luck?

In reality, there are very few trades made each year in the NFL.  

Here's a look at one trade each team should make before the 2012 season kicks off.

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals need to upgrade their offensive line this offseason.  It would be a good idea for them to pursue a veteran lineman to secure their investment in Kevin Kolb.

They have a good group of offensive skill players with Larry Fitzgerald, Early Doucet and Beanie Wells.  As long as Kevin Kolb can get it going, they should be in good shape soon.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons should call the Eagles about one of their corners.  Their defense has been outstanding this year, and if they added a shutdown corner, they would almost unbeatable.

The Falcons will have to address any important needs they have with a trade this offseason after the draft picks they gave up last season to move up and draft Julio Jones.  It's too early to say if that move was worth it yet, but it sure looks like it was a good move when Jones has been healthy.

Baltimore Ravens

It's time for the Baltimore Ravens to move on from Joe Flacco.  They're a good quarterback away from having a team that is dominant in this league.  Flacco is not getting it done.

They should trade for a veteran that can manage their offense and let the defense win games.  Their window is not going to stay open forever.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills need to add a pass-rusher this offseason.  They only have 15 sacks in nine games.  Marcell Dareus, their rookie defensive tackle, is leading the way with 3.5 sacks.

There's no question the Bills have the offense to compete.  Once they can get the defense to the same level, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers need to add some beef to the middle of their defensive line.  They have been gashed by opposing running backs all season long.  Acquiring a defensive tackle is a must for the Panthers this offseason.

They have the the talent on offense to be a contender, but right now, their defense is the reason they are 2-7.

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears should call the Green Bay Packers about one of their receivers.  The Bears are in desperate need of a No. 1 receiver, and it sure looks like the Packers have a stable full of them.

Of course, the problem with that idea is most teams do not want to trade with teams in their own division.  Chicago might have to pay a little bit more because they are in the division.  That would be worth it for Jay Cutler to have a legitimate receiving option.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals should trade for Titans running back Chris Johnson.  The Titans are not happy with how he has been performing this year.  The Bengals are going to need a running back because they will let Cedric Benson walk at the end of the year.

Johnson would benefit from a fresh start, and the Bengals have picks to give because of the Carson Palmer trade.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns are another team that should be on the phone with the Green Bay Packers about their receivers.  Cleveland has no threat at receiver right now, and it's killing their offensive production.

Colt McCoy has struggled, but that's due in large part to the fact that he does not have any weapons.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys still need help on the offensive line.  They should look to target a veteran who can come in and be a leader right away. 

Dallas has a lot of talent on both sides of the ball.  Adding that key part to the offensive line could make them among the best teams in the league.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos need to get a quarterback who can throw a forward pass during this offseason.  They should call the Panthers about Jimmy Clausen.  Clausen was terrible last season, but he could succeed in the right offense. 

John Fox wants to build his team around running the football.  That means Clausen would not have to throw the ball very much.

Detroit Lions

The Lions are loaded on offense.  The only problem they have is on the defensive side of the ball.

Most people were really surprised when the Lions did not take a corner in the first round of last year's draft.  They are another team that would be wise to call the Eagles about Asante Samuel.  He would be a true shutdown corner with that defensive line in front of him.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers would be wise to unload of their receivers for an offensive lineman.  Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in the game right now.  There's nothing more important than protecting him.  That means the Packers can never have enough offensive lineman.

Houston Texans

Andre Johnson has been one of the best receivers in the game for a long time now.  He has never had a legitimate threat opposite him.

The Texans should call the Green Bay Packers and offer them a third-round pick for James Jones.  The Texans would get their No. 2 receiver, and the Packers would get a pick for a guy who's not playing much for them anyway.

Indianapolis Colts

The best trade the Colts can make this offseason is the No. 1 pick in next year's draft.  Andrew Luck is going to be in high demand, and they could probably get two No. 1 and two No. 2 picks in return for that first pick.

That would set the franchise up for years of success with good draft picks.

Jacksonville Jaguars

There are a lot of teams in the NFL that need receivers.  The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of them.  In fact, they might have the worst group of receivers in the league.

The Jaguars should shoot high on this one.  Adding a guy that is currently a No. 3 is not good enough.  They should call the Giants and offer them a first in 2012 and a second in 2013 for Hakeem Nicks.

The Giants can afford to do it because they have the receivers behind Nicks.  Adding Nicks to an offense that already has Maurice Jones-Drew would take it from bad to dynamic.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs should make the move to go get Andrew Luck.  They're a quarterback short of being an offensive juggernaut.  They should re-sign Dwayne Bowe and give up whatever it takes to get Luck.

That would give them Luck, Bowe, Jamaal Charles, Jonathan Baldwin and Dexter McCluster. Good luck stopping them.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins are another team that needs to make a move for Andrew Luck.  They're a little bit more than just a quarterback away from being a dominant team, but a good quarterback can make a huge difference.  

It probably will not cost the Dolphins as much as some other teams to get up to No. 1 because they will be picking in the top five.  They should make the move.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are another team that desperately needs a wide receiver.  They have a stud running back and a rookie quarterback that they think is going to be really good.  The Minnesota front office would be doing both of them a disservice by not adding a wide receiver.

They could trade with the Packers, but again, trading inside the division is tough.  It would not hurt for them to call the Dolphins and discuss a second or third for Brandon Marshall.

New England Patriots

The Patriots always end up with multiple picks in the draft.  This year, they should package them to move up and get Quinton Couples out of North Carolina.  He would give them the pass-rush presence that they need to solidify their shaky defense.

All Tom Brady needs is a defense that can hold teams under 24 points a game.  Couples would make them even better than that.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints are another team that really just needs help on the defensive side of the ball.  There are a couple of defensive players in this draft that are going to be impact players from the first day they step on the field.  

Morris Claiborne out of LSU is one of those players.  The Saints should put together a package of picks and maybe a receiver to move up and get him.

New York Giants

The Giants are going to need a running back because Brandon Jacobs is going to be somewhere else and Ahmad Bradshaw might not ever be able to get his foot right.

They could find a potential trade target in Chris Johnson.  The Titans are tired of his antics and need a wide receiver.  They could make a straight up deal—CJ for Hakeem Nicks.

New York Jets

The Jets should trade up in the draft to get Trent Richardson.  He is going to be an immediate impact player.  Mark Sanchez needs a dominant running back behind him because he's not that good.

Richardson will more than likely go in the top five.  It will probably take a first and second to go up and get him.  He would be worth it for the Jets.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders need a cornerback.  Their defensive backfield is not the same since they let the best cornerback in football go.

The Raiders could call the Eagles about Asante Samuel.  He would be the shutdown guy they need.  Unfortunately for them, they do not have any draft picks to trade, but they do have Michael Bush.  

He has proven that he is a legitimate No. 1 running back in this league.  He would be a nice compliment to LeSean McCoy.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are getting gashed by the run this season.  It's mainly because they do not have the linebackers to play behind the wide-nine technique that new defensive line coach Jim Washburn teaches.

This draft class is pretty deep at linebacker.  They should move up to get Luke Kuechly out of Boston College.  Kuechly could step in and help from day one.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers have been in desperate need of offensive line help for a few years.  This is the year they should take care of that.  

Matt Kalil is a guy who will be a franchise left tackle for whoever drafts him for a decade.  The Steelers have plenty of talent.  They should put together a package of picks to move up at draft Kalil.  He would give Ben Roethlisberger the protection that he desperately needs.

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers need to go get a wide receiver.  Vincent Jackson will likely sign elsewhere given that he's a free agent when the season is over.  Malcolm Floyd is good, but he cannot seem to stay healthy enough to contribute.

Justin Blackmon would be an ideal target for San Diego.  He's going to go in the top 10.  The Chargers will not have a top 10 pick, but they will not be that far away.  Moving up a few spots would not be that expensive, and adding Blackmon would be worth a first-round pick in next year's draft.

San Francisco 49ers

It seems crazy to say, but the San Francisco 49ers are one of the most complete teams in all of football. Most people thought they would be in the hunt for Andrew Luck.  Instead, they will be picking in the late 20s.

They could use another weapon on the outside.  Michael Crabtree has not developed into the receiver they hoped he would be yet.  Adding a threat like James Jones from the Packers would give Jim Harbaugh's team another dimension.

Seattle Seahawks

People are starting to say now that Matt Barkley and Andrew Luck are close.  Pete Carroll is very familiar with what Barkley can do from their time together at USC.  

Tarvaris Jackson is not the answer for the Seahawks.  They should package whatever it takes to get Barkley.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams need more help on defense than they can get in one offseason.  A really good place to start would be getting Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from the Eagles.  

He would give them some much-needed speed on defense and probably would not be that expensive.  Philadelphia would be willing to part with him for a third-round pick.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers need help on the offensive line.  They are another team that would be smart to move up in the draft for either Matt Kalil or Jonathan Martin.

The move for Kalil would be pretty expensive, but the move for Martin probably will not be because the Buccaneers will be picking close to where he's slotted.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans have got to get a receiver to line up opposite Kenny Britt.  The best way to do that is in the draft.  Justin Blackmon looks like a sure thing.  Giving Jake Locker the benefit of throwing the ball to Britt and Blackmon would all but ensure that he succeeds as an NFL quarterback.

The Titans should give up this year's two and next year's one to move up and get him.

Washington Redskins

For the Redskins it's all about getting a quarterback.  They are another team that should give up whatever it takes to get Andrew Luck.

Mike Shanahan has proven to be a quarterback guru throughout the years.  He could ensure that Luck becomes the start so many people think he's going to be.