The NFL Trade Deadline is less than 24 hours away and rumors are starting to speculate on potential star players that could get moved. In the next few days teams have to decide whether they should buy, sell, or stand pat at the deadline. The deadline is November 3 at 4pm Eastern time. There has already been two major trades where the Minnesota Vikings sent Yannick Ngakoue to the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys sent Everson Griffen to the Detroit Lions, San Fransisco sent Kwon Alexander to the New Orleans Saints, and Los Angeles Chargers sent Desmond King to the Tennessee Titans. These teams may not be done trading their veterans this season as both are rumored to want to move a few more veterans. Here are deals that teams in the AFC West should do before the trade deadline.
Denver Broncos get a draft pick for a good player at a deep position
Denver Broncos receive: 6th round pick
San Fransisco 49ers receive: Jake Butt
The Denver Broncos had a good enough offseason for people to consider them a breakout team this year. However after major injuries to Von Miller and Courtland Sutton that ended their seasons to go along with quarterback Drew Lock missing time due an injury himself, it doesn’t seem like the Broncos will be sneaking into the playoffs this year. Their team has played solid. No one in Denver should be losing their jobs after this year. If Denver was to make a move this offseason, it would be to move a player in a position of depth for a late round pick.
New broke yesterday that star tight end George Kittle will likely miss the last eight weeks of the regular season. This leaves a massive hole in the 49ers offense that cannot be patched up easily. The team has former Pro Bowler Jordan Reed on roster, but he has dealt with his own injuries in the past. If San Fransisco wants to stay competitive down the stretch they should add some depth at the positions that have been hit hard with injuries.
The Denver Broncos have a trend of drafting an upside tight end late in the draft almost every year. They drafted Jake Butt in 2017, Troy Fumagalli in 2018, Noah Fant in the first round in 2019, and Albert Okwuegbunam this past year. Fant is number one in the depth chart, Fumagalli is off the team, and they added Nick Vannett who is just as talented as Butt. In the last few games Okwuegbunam has looked like the teams second tight end and appears to still have a connection with his former college quarterback Lock. This makes Butt extendable and a team like the 49ers could use him for depth at the position. It is unlikely that Butt will fill the void left by Kittle, he may not even start, but he could be a nice addition to the team.
Kansas City Chiefs fortify their offensive line
Kansas City Chiefs receive: Kevin Zeitler
New York Giants receive: 4th round pick
Once again the Kansas City Chiefs look like a favorite to go to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row. The Chiefs offense is playing at a high level and their defense is playing similar to how they played last year. They can stand pat with this current roster after adding Le’Veon Bell to the offense and will still be considered one of the best teams in the league. However if they were to made an addition they could add to the interior of their offensive line.
The New York Giants are trying to sell their veteran players to accelerate their rebuild because the Giants have shown flashes of being a lot better than they were a season ago. Kevin Zeitler is a veteran offensive lineman who is good, but may not be in the Giants long term plans. The Giants could likely get a mid round pick if they were to move Zeitler before todays deadline.
Despite their great play, the Chiefs biggest weakness is the interior of their offensive line. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif opted out for the year and his replacement Kelechi Osemele is out for the year with knee injuries. Before the season started their interior offensive line wasn’t elite, but now it is their weakest unit. The team has the cap space to take Zeitler’s contract. He could be a valuable starter for this team for the next season and a half.
Las Vegas Raiders get rid of an expensive veteran
Las Vegas Raiders receive: 6th round pick
Baltimore Ravens receive: Lamarcus Joyner
In 2020 it appears that Jon Gruden’s vision for the Raiders is starting to come to life. The team is 4-3 and could sneak into a wild card spot with some great games down the stretch. When looking at the teams roster it doesn’t have any major holes. The team may not have many superstar players, but every position has a young player with upside or an established veteran. That being said the team might be interesting in making some major moves during the offseason to become legitimate contenders next year. But in order to do that the team needs to clear some salary cap space.
The Baltimore Ravens may not be as exciting as they were last year, but they are essentially just as good. The offense is not as explosive, but the Ravens defense is one of the better units in the league. If the team was to add a piece on offense it may not make much of a difference because the issue is that Lamar Jackson is struggling to develop as a passer. There is a valid case for the team to add another piece to the defense and make a unit that could carry this team to the Super Bowl they failed to reach last season.
Lamarcus Joyner was one of the first major defensive additions of the Jon Gruden era. But since he has joined the team his just doesn’t seem to fit. When he was in the Rams, Joyner was the teams free safety that could also cover players who line up in the slot. The Raiders haven’t found a home for Joyner lining him up at free safety but then transitioning him to slot corner. Joyner has struggled since joining the team and is too expensive to be playing at the level he is. The Raiders also have his replacements on the roster, first round pick Damon Arnette mostly played in the slot during his time at Ohio State and may start his career there. Also fourth round pick Amik Robertson could develop into a starting caliber slot corner.
The Ravens released Earl Thomas and lost Tavon Young to another season ending injury. Especially with Marlon Humphrey slated to miss time due to Covid-19 the Ravens need defensive back depth. Joyner’s contract is set up that way he would be a cheap acquisition via trade and he could rotate with free safety DeShon Elliot or be the fourth cornerback. Don “Wink” Martindale added Marcus Peters at last years trade deadline and rejuvenated his career turning him back into an elite corner. He could potentially help Joyner return to the player he was in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Chargers add a talented offensive tackle
Los Angeles Chargers receive: Greg Little
Carolina Panthers receive: 4th round pick
Despite only having two wins and having the worst record in the division, the Los Angeles Chargers have to be confident in their teams future. They are loaded on the defensive side of the ball and the offensive has looked great with first round pick Justin Herbert under center. The next step for the team will be to invest in some protection for Herbert, because the teams offensive line is way bellow average. If given the opportunity the team should try to add to the position as soon as possible.
Despite drafting Greg Little with the 37th overall pick in 2019, the Panther have not given him much opportunity to play or develop into the franchise left tackle they thought he could be. To be fair he wasn’t healthy for much of last season. Daryl Williams starter at the position primarily for Carolina last season and now veteran Russell Okung is the teams left tackle this season. If the Panthers have lost complete faith in Little they should try to move him as soon as possible while he still has name value. They can possibly get a mid round pick for their whiff they had in the second round just a season ago.
The Los Angeles Chargers should have likely added a better option at left tackle during the offseason after trading Russell Okung. They did go out and sign Bryan Bulaga to a large contract, but he is staying on the right side. Sam Tevi is the teams starter at left tackle and he has played okay, not great. The Chargers could see Greg Little as an opportunity to buy low on a player who projected to be a franchise left tackle coming out of college. If the Chargers move a mid round pick for Little, it could end up being a steal if he develops into that player that most scouts thought he would be.
Other Divisions
NFC South
NFC West
NFC East
NFC North
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
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