Trade Match-Maker 2022: Which Star Players could be on the Move this Off-season?

There is still one game to be played, but for 30/32 teams in the NFL, the off-season has already begun. The off-season in the NFL is always filled with movement and big names heading to new places. Today we look at some of the biggest names that could be traded in the 2022 off-season and we find a perfect trade partner to match them with hypothetically.

Jimmy Garopollo, Quarterback, San Francisco 49ers
→ Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 2022 6th rounder & 2023 3rd rounder

I think the first QB domino to fall this off-season may be Jimmy Garopollo. It is clear that his time in San Francisco has come to an end. It was a decent run for him there, but the 30 year old QB is clearly out of chances, especially with 2021 third overall pick Trey Lance in the waiting. Tampa Bay was thrown a bit of a curveball with the sudden retirement of Tom Brady. I think Kyle Trask is a decent young backup, but his immobility makes it hard for me to believe he can be a franchise QB. Either way, the Bucs give up a couple of mid-round picks to bring in Garopollo who can be a nice bridge-gap QB for a year or two in Tampa and keep them competitive. The Bucs have amazing offensive personnel with Bruce Arians, Byron Leftwich and then guys like Leonard Fournette & Mike Evans. Garopollo should be able to have the same or even maybe more success than he did in SF (and he reached 2 NFC title games and 1 Super Bowl there). I like this move a lot for both sides.

Calvin Ridley, Wide Receiver, Atlanta Falcons
→ Philadelphia Eagles for a 2022 first rounder (15th overall) & 2022 5th rounder

With Calvin Ridley seemingly unhappy in Atlanta, the Eagles absolutely MUST make a move if he is available. The Eagles have probably more ammo to unload in a trade than any other team in the entire NFL. They have 10 draft choices in this year's draft (including THREE 1st-rounders). In this trade, they give up their highest of the three at 15 plus a late round pick to bring in the Falcons' superstar. This would be an A deal for the Falcons to get such good value back for Ridley but a true A+ if the Eagles could get it done. It looks like they finally hit on a WR pick with Devonta Smith in 2021, but they need at least one more stud WR. Calvin Ridley has already proven to be an elite weapon in the NFL for years now, and could instantly come in and slot in as Philly's WR1 to pair with Devonta Smith on the other side and create one of the best WR duos in the league. Eagles need to make this move, Jalen Hurts would benefit immensely.

Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback, Green Bay Packers
→ Denver Broncos for 2022 & 2023 first rounders + 2022 3rd rounder + WR Tim Patrick

This may be the biggest potential name moving in NFL history. Aaron Rodgers has been seemingly unhappy in Green Bay for some time now, and after losing in the Divisional Round AT home to a much worse team, you have to believe this is the final straw. The Packers would have to be willing to move Rodgers if he wanted a trade per their agreement they made going into this season and I'm sure the team would be more than happy to move him all the way to the AFC West where they would rarely have to worry about him. The Broncos have a ton of assets to give up, including their top 10 first this year along with another first next year (and a 3rd and promising young wideout Tim Patrick). This deal sets up Green Bay for a retool and it gives Denver the elite signal caller they have been waiting for since the retirement of Peyton Manning. Rodgers reunites with former Packers OC-turned Broncos HC Nathaniel Hackett. A dream pairing for him, and a great deal to get the Jordan Love era started in Wisconsin. 

Za'Darius Smith, Edge Rusher, Green Bay Packers
→ Jacksonville Jaguars for 2022 4th rounder + 2023 5th rounder

Another big name that could be exiting Green Bay this off-season is perennial 10+ sack man Za'Darius Smith. The Packers signed him to a mega-deal a few years back and he has been worth every penny so far. Unfortunately, the Packers are in some salary cap hell and so they are going to have to get rid of some names that they are going to be sad to see go. Smith is likely one of them with his big cap number and his age inching closer to 30. The Jags have some of the most cap in the NFL and are trying to rebuild into a contender, especially with new and proven HC Doug Pederson. They already have a great rusher on one side in Josh Allen but need another guy to really bolster that D-line. For the price of a few mid-round picks, the Jags secure an elite sack man and also eliminate the need to take a rusher no. 1 overall so they can instead snag rock solid OT Evan Neal. This would be a very beneficial move for both parties.

Michael Thomas, Wide Receiver, New Orleans Saints
→ Cleveland Browns for 2022 first rounder (13th overall) & 2022 5th rounder

Michael Thomas is a name that many have forgotten about, but he will resurface in talks this off-season. Thomas had one of the best seasons by a WR ever a couple years back but then since has been oft injured and also in a bad place with the Saints. With the Saints in salary cap hell and needing to get rid of big contracts, Thomas feels like the next big piece to go. The Browns are desperately going to do everything they can to get back into the post-season in 2022-23 with Baker Mayfield still at the helm. The OBJ experiment didn't work out so they are going to risk it all that Thomas will. Sure, the 13th pick is a lot to give up, but if Thomas is healthy, it is a steal of a trade for Cleveland. Him and Mayfield share a similar level of swagger and would mesh very well together. Don't count the Browns out in terms of their chances for landing a superstar like Thomas, they have the cap space to do so.

Gardner Minshew, Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles
→ Pittsburgh Steelers for 2022 4th rounder

Gardner Minshew has been one of the best backup QBs in football for a few years now, and after proving he still had it when filling in a couple of games for Jalen Hurts this season, he will have a lot of teams interested. The Steelers are obviously without a QB1 for 2022 at the moment, and while they have Dwayne Haskins and Mason Rudolph, neither are very inspiring. Mike Tomlin never wants to be in for a rebuild (as he's never had a losing season before) and by trading just a mid-round pick to get Minshew, the Steelers could be even better in 2022. I could also see them swinging this deal and then still taking a QB in round 1 to sit and learn for a year or two. Either way, a 4th isn't much to give up for a guy that could be perfect in Pittsburgh.

Amari Cooper, Wide Receiver, Dallas Cowboys
→ Kansas City Chiefs for 2022 first round pick (29th overall)

Even though we have bigger names potentially on the move like Aaron Rodgers above, this move would maybe send the most shockwaves around the league. If the Chiefs were able to land yet another elite offensive weapon, the NFL would quake. Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill have formed one of the league's top receiving tandems for a few years now, but the Chiefs have been lacking a consistent WR2 for Mahomes' entire career. The Cowboys seem willing to move on from Cooper at the right price given his large cap hit. The Chiefs are cap wizards and could make it work if they made the move. A first is a great asset, but Cooper would be well worth it. How would you stop an offense with Hill, Kelce, and Cooper? The Chiefs would like to find out...

Khalil Mack, Edge Rusher, Chicago Bears
→ Los Angeles Chargers for 2022 first round pick (17th overall) + 2022 4th rounder

The former DPOY Khalil Mack had a season-ending injury near halfway through this season and has since pretty much fallen off of the face of the earth. I feel like I have not heard his name in ages, yet he is nearly still as good as he's ever been. With Robert Quinn having the INSANE season he just came off of (with 18.5 sacks), the Bears could feel able to trade Mack now to get some draft capital back and keep building around Justin Fields. The Bears are one of the teams who do not currently own a first rounder right now. The Chargers need to get better wherever they can, especially on defense. Mack is not only an elite rusher, but elite in the run defense game (where the Chargers struggled by far the most). The Chargers would also then boast a pass rushing duo of Joey Bosa and Mack which would probably be by far the best in the league. For basically just a first and then another mid round pick, if the Chargers can make this happen, they absolutely should. 

Deshaun Watsons, Quarterback, Houston Texans
→ Washington Commanders for 2022 first round pick (11th overall) + 2023 & 2024 first round picks

This would be yet another potential blockbuster move that we could see happening. The recently renamed Commanders are in search for their franchise QB. They certainly have the draft capital to make a move if one of the main franchise QBs comes available this off-season. Obviously, Deshaun Watson's playing status is still very up in the air, but this off-season should provide some much needed clarity. If Watson is cleared to finally come back (pending his legal issues), I could see impatient owner Dan Synder pulling the trigger on this mega-deal to get Ron Rivera his QB. 

Xavien Howard, Cornerback, Miami Dolphins
→ New York Jets for 2022 first round pick (10th overall) + 2023 3rd rounder

Obviously these are all blockbuster moves on this list, and so seeing some of these big names may shock you, but Howard is one that genuinely could be on the move. One of the best CBs in the NFL, he has been publicly unhappy with the Dolphins for some time now and I wouldn't be surprised if they were willing to move off of him for the right price. In this case, the Jets would give up their second 1st round pick (the one from the Jamal Adams trade) plus a high pick in 2023 to bring him over. Robert Saleh is a defensive-minded HC and is trying to build up his defense. With a ton of cap space and draft picks, they are easily able to make this move which would be a great one for them. The Dolphins can finally move past this rough patch with Howard and use the pick on potentially an elite replacement for him in a guy like Derek Stingley Jr. (LSU) or Sauce Gardner (Cincinnati).