We are less than a week away from the NFL trade deadline, and trade rumors are flying! The time of year where NFL superstars on bad teams get saved and shipped off to a contending team. Or bad fits that are bundled and sent off somewhere where they can be used properly.
It is clear which teams are sinking and which teams still have a fighting chance. Those sinking teams have plenty of talented veterans, some of them disgruntled, that need to abandon ship ASAP. Here is a list of superstars that really could use a change in scenery.
Julio Jones
The Falcons came out earlier in the month stating Julio Jones and Matt Ryan weren’t going to be dealt before the trade deadline. Translation, we haven’t gotten any offers worth our time, yet. The Falcons are a team that can’t get out of its own way even with some of the best offensive pieces you could ask for. They are 1-5 with no reason to waste elite veteran talent like Julio Jones.
Carlos Dunlap
Carlos Dunlap literally posted on his social media that his house is for sale and looking to sell ASAP. He is as good as gone. The Cincinnati Bengals are looking to go in a different direction at pass rusher and have slowly been phasing Dunlap out of the game plan. The 31-year old defensive end has no reason to stay a part of a franchise starting it’s second rebuild in his 11-years with the Bengals. Plenty of NFL teams could use a talent like Dunlap off the edge to help them push towards a Super Bowl birth.
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Miami handled their relationship with Ryan Fitzpatrick pretty terribly. Right after stomping out the New York Jets, the Dolphins announced they would be running with Tua Tagovailoa after their bye week. In Fitzpatrick’s own words, “it was heart breaking for me”, and it made very little sense. Fitzmagic did say at the beginning of the year that he understood he was just a place holder and his time will come to an end in Miami. If he does change his mind though, and want to push for another starting job, don’t be surprised for a late trade with the Dolphins.
Odell Beckham Jr.
This one sadly can’t happen now until the offseason due to Beckham tearing his ACL. The point t still stands though. Cleveland and Odell just aren’t a match. The amount of production they can get out of him just does not equal how much he is worth. OBJ needs to be the focal point of an offense, not because he wants to be but because he has that much talent. A team that is still searching for a true No. 1 receiver, like the Eagles or (ironically) the Giants, would be perfect for him.
Dwayne Haskins Jr.
The Washington Football Team squashed the Dallas Cowboys this weekend 25-3 behind Kyle Allen. Alex Smith was the back-up quarterback listed, and Dwayne Haskins was once again inactive. It is safe to say his time in Washington is over (possibly a blessing in disguise) and he deserves a fair shot on a roster willing to coach him. I think he has a lot more potential than Josh Rosen did when he was traded to Miami. Trade him to a squad that is willing to build around him, and develop some of that talent he flashed at Ohio State.
