Terrifying trades that could scare the NFL
Despite being just one week into the new NFL season, we’ve already seen a potentially terrifying trade in the first week of free agency. The New Orleans Saints traded receiver Brandin Cooks to the New England Patriots for first and third round picks. So that got me thinking… What other hypothetical blockbuster trades could terrify the NFL?
The Patriots have been excluded from this list, given that they’ve already made a blockbuster trade. Proposed trades also do not include potential costs for the players. This is just based on potentially terrifying player-team fits.
Marcus Peters to Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks still have the key pieces of the once-dominant Legion of Boom in place; cornerback Richard Sherman and safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. But the second cornerback spot has often let them down. Slotting Peters in opposite Sherman? Quarterbacks across the league would break out in a cold sweat. Peters has 14 interceptions in his first two years, the most of any player over that span. At just 24 years old, Peters could be the foundation for the next generation of the Legion of Boom.
Le’Veon Bell to Green Bay Packers
The Packers have struggled to generate a good running game for Aaron Rodgers over the past few years, and they let Eddie Lacy sign elsewhere in free agency. Adding Bell to the backfield would give Rodgers a multi-purpose weapon in both the running and passing game. Bell has averaged 1512 total yards from scrimmage each season in his career. Bell in the backfield and Jordy Nelson and Martellus Bennett out wide? That could bring another Lombardi trophy home to Lambeau.
Khalil Mack to Atlanta Falcons
Dan Quinn has built a ferocious, fast young defense in Atlanta. The only things missing? Another three-down linebacker to pair with Deion Jones and another pass rusher to complement Vic Beasley. With Mack, the Falcons would get both, adding another young dominant player to their defense. Mack is 26 and is a versatile player who can line up at either defensive end or linebacker. A perfect player for Dan Quinn.
Ezekiel Elliott to Oakland Raiders
The Raiders already have a young franchise quarterback in Derek Carr. They already have a young number one receiver in Amari Cooper. The missing member? A young bell-cow running back. Elliott would turn the Raiders from borderline playoff team into a legitimate Super Bowl contender overnight. Oakland’s offensive line is one of the best in the league, similar to what Elliott worked with in Dallas. A trio of Carr, Cooper and Elliott could dominate the NFL for years.
Jimmy Garoppolo to Houston Texans
The Texans are arguably only a quarterback away from contending for a Super Bowl, and it’s safe to say they didn’t get it right with Brock Osweiler. After jettisoning the former Broncos backup to Cleveland, Houston needs a new quarterback. Garoppolo would fit Bill O’Brien’s system, having both come from the Bill Belichick football academy in New England. Garoppolo would also be surrounded by young talent like receiver DeAndre Hopkins and running back Lamar Miller, as well as being backed up by one of the league’s best defenses. Jimmy G could be the missing piece that pushes the Texans to the top.
Aaron Donald to Denver Broncos
Denver’s Super Bowl window is still open, despite losing veterans like Demarcus Ware, Malik Jackson and Brandon Marshall over the last couple of years. Donald is the NFL’s best young defensive tackle and would fill the void left by Jackson, and pairing him with Von Miller would make their defense dominant once again. Donald can draw double teams for Miller, and vice versa, as Donald is able to get pressure from the interior as well as stopping the run. A Donald-Miller combo is a terrifying thought for the rest of the AFC.
