10 Potential Signings/Trades that Would Make Sense Heading into Camp
Training camp has begun! It's getting close to that time of year! The pre-season is right around the corner and we will have stories each day to talk about now with all 32 teams back in action at their training facilities. Some big news that already has come from day 1 of training camp is the news of Aaron Rodgers returning to Green Bay on a revised deal that basically lets him leave after this season. It will be a final push for the Pack to win with him this year. The Texans have also made it public they are willing to trade Deshaun Watson. So much more is to come. Today we look at 10 potential signings for players going to a certain team that would make sense going into the start of camp. These are vets mostly that could have big impacts on a team and would be great signings right now.
The Packers should consider themselves pretty lucky they were able to work something out with Aaron Rodgers and will have him for one final season. One season left is better than none at all. Rodgers has asked the Packers for so many small things that would help the team get better over the years and the Packers have done virtually none of them. I completely understand his frustration. However, as he rolls into camp on his revised deal, he has made a public request that the Packers acquire Texans WR Randall Cobb who spent many years in Green Bay before heading to Dallas and then Houston. The Packers have to do this. It would cost them virtually nothing, probably a 7th round pick and it would show Aaron Rodgers that they care. It would also be a good move for the team. Outside of star Davante Adams, the Packers do not have many reliable pass catchers. Cobb isn't flashy and doesn't have the speed he once did, but he is reliable and catches the football. Aaron Rodgers trusts him. It would be a really good move and he would probably become the Packers instant WR3. Low risk, high reward here.
RB Todd Gurley signing with the Los Angeles Rams
Another potential reunion. Todd Gurley returning to the Rams on a cheap one year deal makes all the sense in the world. The Rams Super Bowl hopes took a decent blow last week when it was announced that stud youngster RB Cam Akers for the Rams tore his Achilles and would be out for the season. Akers stepped up late last season and was unbelievable. He looked unstoppable at times for LA. Losing him puts the Rams backfield into major question. Darrell Henderson Jr. looks to be the next man up and coach Sean McVay is so worried about injury now that he said we won't see a single snap from Henderson in the pre-season. This is why they need to bring back Gurley. He knows the ins and outs of the offense. He is just a couple years removed of near MVP like play. We know he isn't the same, the injuries have ruined his promising career but the Rams are the team he could thrive with. On the Falcons last year there was no good O-line play which made it even harder for him to succeed. Gurley doesn't have to be the RB1 for the Rams, or not at least right away. If they like Henderson then they should give him his chance as the starting back for the team, but they need depth regardless. Gurley is the best option out there. This move needs to happen.
Whether it's a late round pick trade or he is cut and then signs with the Niners, the team needs to find a way to acquire the Pats' former 1st rounder who seems to have overstayed his welcome. Known for his aggressive jump ball catching ability and knack for catching TDs at Arizona State, N'Keal Harry has not worked in the NFL so far. It's still far too early to surely call him a bust. He's only been in the league for 2 short seasons and has barely been on the field for New England. If any team can maximize the potential that Harry possesses, it's Kyle Shannahan's 49ers. The team needs consistent WR play wherever it can get it and so if they can get Harry on a cheap deal that he's on for a low risk high reward type play, it could be massive for the Niners. What if Harry suddenly developed into the stud he was supposed to be once he gets in the Niners next level offense? It would make the Niners that much better. At worst, you sign him to a cheap deal or trade a very late round pick and are at least getting a decent WR3-4 option that can come in on redzone possessions. At best, you found yourself your next franchise WR1. For a team trying to make it to the Super Bowl next season and bringing along a young QB, getting Harry could honestly be the missing piece.
OT Mitchell Schwartz signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers
This season is really Super Bowl or bust for the Steelers as it seems to be Big Ben's last year on the team. The sad truth is that right now, the Steelers don't even look like they will be a playoff team. We all know their defense is elite, but that isn't enough anymore. Their offense is below average and with the old Big Ben who is not mobile at all, it's going to be tough to succeed with the offensive line that the team has now. They lost 4 of their starters from last season and roll out a lineup that may be the league's worst. To their luck, an All-Pro caliber tackle somehow is still available heading into the first week of August. Mitchell Schwartz is just a year removed from an All-Pro appearance. He has been one of the elite tackles in the NFL over the last decade. He did suffer a tough season ending injury last season and is still rehabbing right now which is the only reason for why he isn't signed. If he were healthy, he would have been off the board in the first 3 days of free agency back in March. What a move this could be for the Steelers. He would instantly probably be their best o-lineman and would beef up the trenches so much for the Steelers. Getting an elite blindside protector is something that every team wants and the opportunity is right in front of the Steelers. If the team picks up Schwartz, I think they are back in the middle of things for playoffs.
A third potential reunion here. As far as likelihood goes, this is probably the least likely of the three so far. I still firmly believe Sherman has quality play left in the tank. It is rare for a 33 year old corner to have it anymore, but Sherman is different. He definitely regressed last season but we saw flashes of his elite play. A few weeks ago, I would have said it was the most likely ending that Sherman ended up with the Hawks, now I don't know if we ever see Sherman play another NFL down again. He got caught up in a scary domestic violence scene last week, no one was hurt and Sherman seems to have gotten off without jail time or anything, but it's clear that his mental state is not where it should be. This might scare teams including the Hawks away from going for Sherman. It's bigger than football and Sherman needs to prioritize his mental health first, but if he is good to go, going back to Seattle makes all the sense in the world. The Hawks don't have much proven depth at corner. DJ Reed will be their CB1 but behind him, it's all up for grabs. Why not give Sherman a chance? He played in Seattle for years and is a fan favorite, he knows the zone system they run and could be a actual huge pickup in terms of helping the team win games. The Hawks have a lot of decent potential CBs on the team, but none has proven anything like Sherman has in his career. At worst, the signing gives the younger corners a great mentor and Hawks fans rejoice as he is a fan favorite from the LOB era that would be brought back to the Emerald City.
DT Geno Atkins signing with the Dallas Cowboys
One of the biggest unsigned names that I still think has a lot left in the tank is Geno Atkins. One of the best players of the last decade is still only 33. That is decently old for some positions but at DT, it is still young enough to contribute big time in my opinion. On the Bengals, Atkins has been one of the best interior pass rushers we've seen ever and he also is elite in the run game. In his prime, he really did it all for the Bengals and was a multi time All-Pro to show for it. The Cowboys have been kicking the tires around on Atkins all off-season and they recently had him in for a workout. Dallas is a very interesting team going into next season as they have one of the best offenses in football but a suspect defense that might hold them back big time from making it to the post-season. They are looking for all the help they can get on that side of the football and have shown they aren't afraid to sign anyone. Atkins could slot in right away as a starter on their D-line and could make a pretty big contribution. I firmly believe he's got a lot of football left in him and the Cowboys would boost their playoff chances a good amount by brining him in.
This might be the biggest potential move on this list, but the Bills should absolutely make a trade to bring in former All-Pro TE Zach Ertz from the Eagles. Ertz has clearly been displeased with the Eagles and even requested a trade this off-season, but so far, the team has not moved him. My guess is they want to and are trying to but haven't got any serious offers they like so far. The Bills should try and get Ertz for a 4th or 5th round pick. He would be such a great add for them. The Bills are on the cusp of a Super Bowl appearance and need to get better in any way they can. They have a nice set of receivers headlined by Stefon Diggs for Josh Allen to throw to, but tight end is kind of a crapshoot for them. If they bring in Zach Ertz, it changes everything for them. A massive, reliable target for Allen to look for in the middle of the field. This trade would genuinely do wonders for the Bills and I like it for the Eagles as well. They shed the contract of an aging player that they don't use well anymore and it paves the way for young stud talent Dallas Goedert to be the main option for them at TE instead of splitting with Ertz. They also get some more draft capital for building for the future (and maybe even trading for Deshaun Watson...). I would be surprised if Ertz isn't eventually moved by the end of the off-season or even cut and the Bills seem to be the most likely landing spot for him if it does in fact happen.
WR Dez Bryant signing with the Kansas City Chiefs
This name might seem like a blast from the past, but Bryant is serious about returning to the NFL. He actually did it last season when he signed a one year deal with the Ravens midway through but didn't really have an impact at all. When his contract expired at the end of the year, it seemed all but over for Bryant. It isn't. Players from around the league have been raving about Bryant's workouts and there have been viral videos of Dez making some incredible catches during the off-season. One team that seems to be in on everything and wouldn't have anything to lose in this signing is the Kansas City Chiefs. If anyone can figure out how to make Bryant work again in the NFL, it would be them. The Patrick Mahomes/Andy Reid duo is a defense's worst nightmare, and they would find ways to get Bryant the football. Aside from studs Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs actually do not have much at pass catcher. The rest is pretty unproven talent and upcoming youngsters like Mecole Hardman for example. Bryant would give them a reliable set of hands that Mahomes would feel comfortable throwing to in a big moment. Bryant is battle tested and has been through hell and back during his NFL career. He wouldn't let Mahomes down. I think the Chiefs should give him a chance, at worst he is just another camp body that gets cut on roster cutdown day. At best, he slots in as a 3rd/4th WR that could come up big in key situations for the Chiefs who are bound to make another deep run in the playoffs this year.
This is a potential trade that no one is talking about that I love for both sides. For the Broncos, they do not need Gordon anymore. They overpayed to get him last off-season when they already had depth at RB and it never really worked out for them. Gordon was on and off the field with injury last year and didn't get it done much when he was on the field. Now the Broncos have second round pick RB Javonte Williams coming in and the hype for him to start will only get louder and louder by the week. Williams is a beast and the Broncos should start him week 1. A way to pave the way for that is by shedding the contract of the vet Melvin Gordon. What better team to take him on than the New York Jets? The Jets have had a great off-season and seem to keep adding talent to their new look offense. Gordon could be the final piece they are missing before the season starts. As it stands right now, the RB starters for them would be bust Tevin Coleman and unproven 4th round rookie RB Michael Carter. If the Jets want Zach Wilson to succeed, they need to surround him with talent. The opposite of what they did with Sam Darnold who didn't work out in New York. The team knows they can't make that mistake again and so have surrounded Wilson with a lot of talent so far, but why not take a flier on Gordon. He wouldn't cost much, maybe a future 6th round pick, and he could be a major contributor for the Jets from day 1. He would be their RB1 and would take a lot of pressure off of Zach Wilson. No one is talking about this potential move but I love the idea.
LB K.J. Wright signing with the Seattle Seahawks
The second potential Seahawks signing and the second potential Seahawks reunion of this list. It is kind of a wonder to me how Wright is still a free agent. Even though he is over 30 years old which is seen as a cut-off for LBs in the league, Wright is coming off of potentially the best season of his amazing career. He did it all for Seattle last season. Tackles, pass deflections, picks. You name it. He was everywhere. His veteran presence alone is enough to make the whole defense around him better. Coming off the season he just had, he expected a lot of money and a lot of teams to be interested. That just hasn't been the case. For good reason, teams are wary of spending big time money on an old LB who has somewhat of an injury history. The Hawks made it clear they were ready to move in another direction but since he is still available going into August, each day that passes makes a reunion more and more likely. The Hawks want to roll with 2020 first round LB Jordyn Brooks who has a ton of potential and that is why they were ready to give up on Wright. He is still there though and for a cheap deal, it would make so much sense for him to come back. He has been one of the faces of Seattle for years and has great relationships with everyone on the team. If the team wants to go young at LB, at the least, he can rotate in and give them quality play from time to time. He is a great mentor and can help Jordyn Brooks develop and I still think he would be a better starter than other young LB Cody Barton who seems to be a bust in my mind. Wright going back to Seattle may be inevitable at this point.
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