The 2018 NFL trade deadline deals have already been exhilarating. Jon Gruden is going full Sam Hinkie but doesn’t have the balls to admit it, Dave Gettleman has hit the eject button seven games into his tenure, and Jerry Jones learned nothing from the Roy Williams trade. Don’t worry, though, because as Schefter alludes to there is still time for more teams to make terrible trades! Just kidding, someone is bound to make a good move, so let’s examine 2018 NFL trade deadline deals that should happen.
DT Damon Harrison from Giants to Lions.
CB Eli Apple from Giants to Saints.
WR Amari Cooper from Raiders to Cowboys.
RB Carlos Hyde from Browns to Jaguars.
And there still six days till NFL’s trade deadline. More coming.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 24, 2018
Steelers Trade RB Le’Veon Bell to Eagles or Packers for a 3rd round pick
I know I am hedging by selecting two trading partners, but everyone sends Bell to the Eagles since it is so logical, but I wanted to present another idea as well. These are the 2018 NFL trade deadline deals that are the most obvious. If anyone trades for Bell the acquiring team needs to believe they are Le’Veon Bell away from winning the Super Bowl since he is a likely rental.
First the Eagles
The Eagles could rightfully believe they are less than Bell away since they are the defending champs. The offense needs a shot in the arm, however, as they sit at 23rd in DVOA, rating 23rd in pass DVOA and 20th in run DVOA.
The NFC East is wide open, and Philadelphia could win the division as is. If they want to repeat as Super Bowl champs though a third round pick is a small price for a weapon like Bell. Pederson doesn’t use a workhorse back, but imagine what he could scheme up.
Remember, the Eagles have an extra 2nd round pick in 2019 from the Lamar Jackson trade. Adding Bell figures to send the Eagles on another deep playoff run. A late third is worth the shot at consecutive Super Bowls.
Unlike Green Bay, Philadelphia has the ability to absorb Bell’s remaining salary without shifting around any money.
Now the packers
Like Philly, Green Bay has extra picks in 2019. Unlike Philly, Green Bay isn’t aggressive about maximizing their window. They may want to rethink that before Aaron Rodgers’ cap hit balloons to $32.6 million in 2020.
The Packers aren’t grading out poorly in the run game like the Eagles are. Green Bay sits 5th in run DVOA and 8th in run game grading. This is more the fan in me wanting to see two talents like Bell and Rodgers together. I’m sick of this organization wasting away Rodgers, and it’s clear McCarthy isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. So, here, rent out Bell and just see what happens.
Giants Trade CB Janoris Jenkins to Steelers for a 3rd round pick
Pittsburgh is another team that may want to consider going all in. Predicting how much longer Ben will play or how much longer Ben will play well is an exercise in futility. We don’t know. What we do know is that Pittsburgh has coverage issues.
The Steelers are currently 20th in pass defense DVOA, and 22nd in coverage grading. Specifically, Artie Burns is really struggling. While sometimes inconsistent, Jenkins would instantly be the top corner on this roster.
And the math works. The Steelers can take on the remainder of Jenkins’ salary without having to move around any money. Pittsburgh would also have Jenkins under team contract for two seasons beyond this year. The Steelers will be up against the cap next offseason, but they can easily move on from Maurkice Pouncey and/or Bud Dupree if they need to free up some additional space.
The 3rd round pick comes from consideration of what the Rams gave for Marcus Peters. Peters and a 6th fetched a 2nd and a 4th. Peters is four years young and significantly cheaper, and by the time the Steelers actually get Jenkins they will have received only half a year more worth of team control. Calibrate that on your own however you would like, but I came to a 3rd round pick.
Cardinals Trade CB Patrick Peterson to Chiefs for a 1st round pick
Speaking of Kansas City and cornerback trades, some potential 2018 NFL trade deadline deals are perfect fan fiction teetering on so perfectly logical we can’t help but wish for it to become reality.
Patrick Peterson is amazing. How amazing, you ask? On the season, Peterson has allowed 16 receptions on 28 targets in his coverage for 134 yards, 0 TDs, and 2 INTs. That’s good for a passer rating of 39.9.
If you throw the ball in the dirt, it’s worth a passer rating of 39.9.
Throwing at Patrick Peterson = Throwing the ball in the dirt.
Oh, and in case you weren’t aware, the Chiefs defense is garbage.
The Chiefs should follow the Rams model, which is also the model of the Eagles, Bears, Bucs, and Titans, and formerly of the Seahawks and Jaguars. These teams all realized that having a quarterback on a rookie scale contract is the biggest cheat code in the NFL. In a world where Joe Flacco has a $24.75 million cap hit this season, Patrick Mahomes’ $3.73 million cap hit isn’t fair. Bring on the star power while Mahomes is stuck indescribably below market value.
A fair question would be is Peterson worth a first round pick, and is that a smart allocation of assets? I get the push back I’m expecting that giving up a cost controlled asset like a first round pick for a 28 year old making at least $11 million a year for the remainder of his contract may be poor asset management.
You will get Peterson for 2.5 years, and you will get 4 or 5 years out of the first rounder, depending on if he pans out. The first rounder will be significantly younger, but in all likelihood will be significantly worse than Peterson.
Also, the Chiefs books are clean, as they’re looking at $43.91 million in space next offseason. Tyreke Hill, Kendall Fuller, and Chris Jones are signed to six figure deals through 2019. Kareem Hunt through 2020. By the time they need the money they can easily walk away from Sammy Watkins, Eric Berry, and Justin Houston if any or all of those players no longer are worthy of their current contracts.
This could win them a Super Bowl.
Do it. Be bold. Make fan fiction a reality.
Broncos Trade Edge Shane Ray to Patriots for a 4th round pick
Some 2018 NFL trade deadline deals are so logical but still have no shot at transpiring. Would John Elway actually give the Patriots a pass rusher? I doubt it, but nothing in this article will come true so we move forward!
This is really more a case of asset management for Mr. Elway. The Broncos are currently 3-4. The Broncos play in Kansas City on Sunday where FPI gives them a 78.6% chance of losing. Let’s live in a hypothetical world for a second where Denver is 3-5 and stuck in the same division as the Chiefs and Chargers.
Both Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett are unrestricted free agents after this season. Considering Von Miller and Bradley Chubb are going nowhere, is Elway going to shell out to keep not one but two rotation edge defenders? Probably not.
So why not just send one out to Foxborough for a 4th round pick? There’s a chance one of them strikes gold in free agency since they are pass rushers and Denver ends up with a better compensatory pick in 2020 than the Patriots 4th rounder in 2019, but given the comp pick formula that seems highly unlikely.
For the Patriots, they weren’t as aggressive in the offseason as I was anticipating, so here is their chance for a last ditch effort in 2018. Shane is an underachieving high draft pick that presents Bill Belichick with a buy low opportunity. Sound familiar?
I probably don’t need to tell you the Patriots pass rush sucks, but the Patriots pass rush sucks. They are constitutionally incapable of generating consistent pressure without blitzing. This gets you wins against the Colts, Dolphins, and Bears in September/October, but the Patriots don’t play for September/October.
Bills Trade WR Kelvin Benjamin to Jaguars for a Bag of Rocks
What is Benjamin providing to this team? The Bills are going no where this season, so why keep Kelvin around? The Jaguars, on the other hand, could possibly go somewhere, and desperately need someone who can at least body people and jump high when trying to corral air mail from Blake Bortles.
And, I dunno, Benjamin went to FSU so maybe if he is back in Florida he will like try or something? Maybe? Possibly? Doubtful, but isn’t it worth finding out at the low low cost of literally nothing?
Bills Trade DT Kyle Williams to Bengals for a 5th round pick
#FreeWilliams
Seriously, Kyle Williams is a saint. He has spent his entire career in Buffalo. Woof. And here he is, 35 years old, and the Bills are headed for a top five pick. Let Williams move on to greener pastures. He gave you his youth!
The Bengals have a legitimate shot at the playoffs this year, but one area where they could use some help is run defense. Cincinnati currently ranks 27th in run defense DVOA, though it is more so a linebacker issue than an interior defender issue.
Nevertheless, Williams can help Marvin Lewis once again reach the playoffs and then immediately lose.
Dolphins Trade WR DeVante Parker to Titans for a 3rd round pick
DeVante Parker is the girl you routinely see at the gym that stone cold ignores you but every blue moon shoots you a smile and teases you with 60 seconds of flirty conversation only to walk straight bye you every day for the next three months as if the two of you have never met.
Let me rephrase that; DeVante Parker is that girl to the Dolphins. He has never put it all together and broken out, but like clock work will show up every blue moon to remind us that he was the 14th pick of the draft once upon a time.
It’s time the Dolphins start using dating apps or something, and it’s time for Parker to find a nice guy to settle down with.
In case you haven’t noticed, the Titans need passing game weapons. You can rag on Mariota all you want, but that’s a conversation for another time. Delaine Walker is hurt, Corey Davis is also a gym tease, and if you’re not a Titans fan I challenge you to name another receiver on this roster without cheating.
Parkers 5th year option next year will cost $9.39 million, and the Titans are looking at $42.18 million in cap space next offseason. Let’s get Parker into a new environment with someone that doesn’t spend a billion resources trying to replace him with Danny Amendola, Albert Wilson, and Leonte Carroo. (I will never let the Leonte Carroo trade go)
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