Adrian Peterson was the first notable name traded ahead of the NFL deadline coming up at the end of October. Could others be next?
The Arizona Cardinals sent a conditional 6th round choice to New Orleans in exchange for the veteran running back. It’s not a surprise they made the move given how depleted their running game is. On the other hand given their record it’s definitely unusual to see them give up picks for what looks like a lost year. Seems Bruce Arians and his crew aren’t ready to concede just yet.
The same might not be true for other teams. They might already be looking towards the future and perhaps thinking about stockpiling as many draft assets as they can. Normally the trade deadline is rather quiet in the NFL, but it’s possible some deals could happen. Here are some players worth watching.
Eric Reid (S, San Franciso 49ers)
The buzz coming out of San Francisco is that Eric Reid might be mustered out of the lineup by Jacquiski Tartt in the new 4-3 defense the 49ers are employing. Part of this is him not being the best fit but also a string of injury issues he’s been battling. Given his Pro Bowl history though, there’s a strong chance the team might try to squeeze a pick out of him before he leaves next March.
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Josh Gordon (WR, Cleveland Browns)
This is no doubt going to be a divisive topic. Josh Gordon hasn’t played football since 2014 due to multiple suspensions over drug use. Recent reports are that he’s finally clean and admitting to his demons like never before. He’ll apply for reinstatement soon. At that point it becomes a question. What will Cleveland do with him? Will they keep him? Cut him? Knowing that regime it and the plague of wide receiver injuries around the league, don’t be surprised if they dangle him for trade.
Kevin Johnson (CB, Houston Texans)
The Texans really had high hopes for the former 1st round pick who has played well when on the field. Problem is Kevin Johnson hasn’t been able to stay on it. Health issues have dogged him for the past two years and it’s getting to point where they might have to think about going in a different direction. The wise thing would be to take advantage of what little of that former 1st round aura he still has on him that another team may want to explore.
Ereck Flowers (OT, New York Giants)
Patience has all but run out for the Giants with tackle Ereck Flowers. He hasn’t become that bookend pass protector they envisioned. Then again there were warnings in the draft that he was never meant to be a left tackle in the NFL. His game was built around his size and power in the run game, two things they’ve failed to exploit. Perhaps another team with a more suitable offense can make use of him properly.