1 Trade every NFL team needs to make-AFC

With the NFL trade deadline approaching this week and the rash of injuries that have occurred this year, this year’s deadline could be more active. With contenders trying to find the missing piece and bottom feeders trying to rebuild, plenty of moves will continue to be made as there have already been some trades that occurred. With that being said, we drew up trade scenarios for every team.

Steelers-getting Big Ben’s heir

• Steelers get: QB Dwayne Haskins

• Football Team gets: 2021 4th round pick

The Pittsburgh Steelers have shocked everyone as they have moved to a league’s best 7-0 record, remaining the only undefeated team in the league. The offense is riddled with young talent across the board with running backs James Connor, Benny Snell, and Anthony McFarland and receivers like Juju Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, Dionte Johnson, and James Washington. Everything is clicking on all sides so why not prep for the future. Washington has been discontent with their young signal-caller Dwayne Haskins as Ron Rivera has benched him for Kyle Allen. The team made it clear that they are willing to trade Haskins and Pittsburgh would be a great destination for him. Roethlisberger is a future hall of famer who can mentor and teach the young pocket passer for the future of the franchise.

Ravens-get their #1 receiver

• Ravens get: WR Golden Tate

• Giants get: 2021 5th round pick

The Ravens are coming off an explosive and historic year. It’s extremely difficult to replicate a 14-2 year but the offense looks like they don’t know what to do. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman wants to open the passing game but the receivers can’t seem to get open and Marquise Brown hasn’t been involved as much. The Ravens need to get a veteran receiver who can get open over the middle and they can get that in Golden Tate. Tate only makes $9M a year and is on contract through 2022. He also led the league in forced missed tackles over the last decade. Although he is 32 years old, the Ravens’ most successful receivers over the years have been veterans over 30 so this is a perfect match.

Browns-Denzel gets secondary help

• Browns get: CB Jonathan Jones

• Patriots get: TE David Njoku

It seems as if the Browns have finally struck some gold in their endless mine for success. The team has reached a 5-3 record as they reached a winning record for the first time in 6 years. Cleveland has still lost to top teams and have a glaring need in the secondary with multiple injuries to players like Greedy Williams. The Patriots have nice depth at corner, especially with young slot standout Jonathan Jones. Cleveland has a talented tight end room with Austin Hooper, David Njoku, and breakout rookie Hunter Bryant. Njoku has voiced his demand for a trade and it seems like the right thing to do. The Patriots need an offensive weapon and threat for Cam Newton and Njoku is still on his rookie deal. Both teams get a young player who has starter potential in positions of need.

Bengals-move on from AJ Green

• Bengals get: 2021 3rd round pick

• Packers get: WR AJ Green

The Bengals finally have their franchise quarterback in LSU rookie Joe Burrow. Many people were foaming at the mouth thinking about the Burrow to Green connection. AJ Green signed a franchise tag last offseason afternoon missing another season due to injury. With young breakout receivers like Tyler Boyd and rookie Tee Higgins, the team needs to get younger and end the relationship with Green. The Packers have been looking to find Aaron Rodgers another star receiver alongside Davante Adams. Green Bay is in win-now mode and a move like this would make perfect sense for both sides as the Bengals are looking to build for the future

Bills-get their #2 corner

• Bills get: CB William Jackson

• Bengals get: DE Trent Murphy

The Bills had an amazing season last year but needed some help to make that final push. That’s why they traded for star pass-catcher Stefon Diggs in the offseason. Since the trade, the Bills sit atop the division with a 6-2 record. Most fans have been wanting the team to acquire another corner to pair with all-pro cornerback Tre’Davious White. The Bengals have a very underrated shutdown corner in William Jackson. Jackson has the versatility to play outside and slot and is 28 years old. The Bengals are rebuilding and the Bills are in win-now mode. Cincinnati also just traded edge rusher Carlos Dunlap to the Seahawks so Trent Murphy could be a good replacement. This is a win-win as Jackson is on his rookie deal for the rest of the year and the Bengals can let Murphy walk after this season. Both teams get great players who can get extended or they can let them walk.

Dolphins-get safety help

• Dolphins get: S Ricardo Allen

• Falcons get: 2021 3rd round pick

This team has shocked a lot of people as they attained a 3-3 record which is 2nd in the AFC East. The Dolphins have a lot of money invested in the secondary with Bryon Jones and Xavier Howard but the safety position is still questionable. The Falcons are disappointing and are likely facing a rebuild. Atlanta is projected to be around $20M over the cap next season and they have a decent safety in veteran Ricardo Allen. The Falcons need to start gaining future picks and the Dolphins can use anyone to upgrade the backend of the secondary.

Patriots-Cam gets his safety blanket

• Patriots get: TE Kyle Rudolph

• Vikings get get: 2021 4th round pick

The Patriots are sitting at a dismal 2-5 record. Quarterback Cam Newton is trying his best to pick up where Tom Brady left off but the team doesn’t have any weapons. The struggling offense has the worst tight end production in the league as their 3 tight ends have combined for 8 targets all year. Newton’s most consistent pass catcher in Carolina was Greg Olsen. Belichick can get his new signal-caller a new safety blanket in veteran tight end Kyle Rudolph. Rudolph has been a consistent and reliable target for Kirk Cousins but the Vikings look as if they want to get younger. The team drafted Irv Smith at the same position as Rudolph two years ago and looks to be in future plans. Minnesota’s cap space also looks thin and they should take this opportunity to poach for picks. They have been sellers so far as they have traded Stefon Diggs and edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue only after 4 games with the team. The Vikings continue to harvest picks while the Patriots get a much needed upgrade at receiver or tight end.

Jets-gain more draft capital

• Jets get: 2021 4th round pick

• Cowboys get: CB Brian Poole

The Jets have been an absolute dumpster fire this season. The team looked to be moving up after investing in the offensive line, but they have yet to win a game at 0-8. With star players like all-pro safety Jamal Adams and pro bowl running back Le’veon Bell requesting trades and going to different teams, the Jets are clearly selling. The team needs to get as many draft picks as possible and continue to be sellers. The Cowboys need help on a historically terrible defense and the Jets have a good and serviceable slot corner in Brian Poole. Poole has been a consistent corner for the Falcons and Jets and even helped Atlanta reach a Super Bowl. The Jets can get more picks and the Cowboys get secondary help and someone who can mentor their rookie Trevon Diggs.

Titans-beef up the defensive line

• Titans get: DE Leonard Williams

• Giants get: 2021 5th round pick

The Titans are coming off an underdog season in which they went to the AFC championship game as the 6th seed. That momentum has carried over into this season as they are leading the AFC South at 5-2. The secondary has seen a drop-off in production with the loss of Logan Ryan but patched that up as they have just traded for cornerback Desmond King. The Titans also traded pro bowl defensive tackle Jarrell Casey to the Broncos in the offseason and gave 2nd-year tackle Jeffery Simmons a bigger role. While the defense has been decent, they still need a defensive end that can play up front with Simmons. Williams is a serviceable lineman who is only on the franchise tag. Leonard will help bolster the run defense while the Giants gain more picks.

Colts-strengthen pass rush

• Colts get: DE Melvin Ingram

• Chargers get: 2021 3rd round pick

The Colts have been a middle-of-the-pack team recently with the early retirement of franchise quarterback Andrew Luck 2 years ago. The organization has done a great job building the team since then as they traded their 1st round pick last year for pro bowl defensive tackle Deforest Buckner and still came away with drafting Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor in the 2nd round. Indianapolis has one of the best defenses n the league and should take the opportunity to strengthen that unit. Chargers star edge rusher Melvin Ingram has been looking for a new contract and the team just hasn’t been able to get it done. The Colts can swoop in and make a scary defensive line featuring Ingram, Buckner, and Justin Houston. Indianapolis also doesn’t spend a ton of money so they will be able to extend him after the season.

Texans-get picks back

• Texans get: 2021 4th round pick

• Eagles get: WR Kenny Stills

The Texans have lost a key offensive piece in wide receiver Deandre Hopkins. Houston has some nice depth at receiver and lost a lot of picks in the past 2 years. The Eagles need a deep threat wideout and Kenny Stills can help the depleted receiver group. The Texans need to reattain some picks they lost and gaining draft capital will help them move up in the draft.

Jaguars-continue fire sale

• Jaguars get: 2022 3rd round pick

• Ravens get: OT Cam Robinson

The Jaguars have been huge sellers this offseason. The team traded away pro bowl defensive linemen Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue, star corner AJ Bouye, and cut running back Leonard Fournette. Jacksonville is looking to gain draft picks for the future and to get younger for the long run. The Ravens just lost all-pro offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley to an ankle injury and have already done a deal with Jacksonville. Why not give them another lineman for a future draft pick. The Jaguars can also get another tackle in the draft.

Chiefs-the rich get richer

• Chiefs get: CB William Jackson

• Bengals get: 2021 4th round pick

The Chiefs are coming off of a Super Bowl-winning season and look to repeat. The offense is still amazing and the defense lost some players in the secondary. The defense is still holding its own but it would be better to get a shutdown corner on their rookie deal in William Jackson. You get a great and number 1 corner to pair with safety Tyrann Matthieu in the secondary. The Chiefs strengthen a strong defense that can improve.

Raiders-finally get edge help in Khalil Mack’s absence

• Raiders get: DE Ryan Kerrigan

• Football Team gets: 2021 3rd round pick

The Raiders have been on a nice start this year and have surprised people with a 4-3 record. The offense has been catching opponents off guard but the pass rush still needs help after trading away all-pro rusher Khalil Mack. Ryan Kerrigan is on the market and isn’t getting as many snaps as he used to in Washington. The Football Team has gotten younger on the defensive front and the Raiders can easily poach Kerrigan to fill in and help their struggling pass rush.

Broncos-fix need at linebacker

• Broncos get: LB Thomas Davis

• Football Team gets: 2021 6th round pick

The Broncos have put together some nice talent on the offensive side of the ball. The defense needs some work especially considering the amount of injuries they have. One big need is at the middle linebacker position and Thomas Davis would be a great fit. He’s an older veteran who can mentor the young bucks and is only on a 1 year, $3M deal. Washington has also seen the emergence of Cole Holcomb at the position so them trading Davis would make sense. Denver gets help and leadership in the middle of the defense.

Chargers-sell for picks

• Chargers get: 2021 3rd round pick

• Cowboys get: DE Melvin Ingram

The Chargers have been disappointing to say the least. The future is bright as they seemed to hit on rookie quarterback Justin Herbert and signed young edge Joey Bosa to a 5 year, $135M deal in the offseason. But for now, edge rusher Melvin Ingram wants a new deal and the Chargers don’t look like they will be in the playoffs soon. The Cowboys need help on their defense and pairing Ingram with Demarcus Lawrence would be a great idea. The Chargers get more picks and at least get something in return instead of Ingram leaving in free agency.