NFL players who just became tradeable with new head coaches

Something that often gets overlooked in regards to certain NFL players is their status on a team shifts whenever the head coach or GM changes.

This past year was no exception. The Browns traded DeShone Kizer, Danny Shelton, and Jason McCourty. The Giants traded Jason Pierre-Paul after Pat Shurmur arrived and Jon Gruden dealt Cordarrelle Patterson from the Raiders. With several more teams changing coaches this 2019 offseason, it stands to reason that certain players who might’ve been favored by the previous regime are on unstable ground for one reason or another.

Here are five who should probably be nervous about their immediate plans for the future.

David Johnson (RB, Arizona Cardinals)

The former All-Pro running back was already used less than normal under Steve Wilks. That figures to get a lot worse now. Kliff Kingsburgh runs his offenses through the quarterback. He wants to throw the football early and often. Commitment to the run is not something that is in his vocabulary. Johnson was already tied to trade rumors this past offseason. Given the shift in philosophy that is coming, keeping him and his large contract doesn’t seem like a strong possibility.

Brandon Marshall (ILB, Denver Broncos)

Marshall has dealt with injury setbacks lately but there is another aspect in play here. Vic Fangio is running the show now and his demands at inside linebacker are considerably different. One thing he looks for is speed and an ability to drop into coverage. These are two things that were never considered big strengths of Marshall’s game. He likely won’t fetch much in return but he’s still a proven starter that could help another team in need of veteran help.

Gerald McCoy (DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

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The Pro Bowl defensive tackle has had a good run over several years in Tampa Bay. He should still have a few solid seasons left even as he turns 31 this year. However, that may not be with the Buccaneers. They’re about to undergo a significant scheme shift with the arrival of Todd Bowles as defensive coordinator. He’ll turn them into a 3-4 defense, making McCoy‘s customary three-technique position irrelevant. Given his age, the team may be better off sending him elsewhere rather than trying to see if he can shift to a different position.

Kiko Alonso (ILB, Miami Dolphins)

Frustration has steadily been building with Alonso over the course of the season. For every big play he makes, he always seems to make 2-3 mental errors that help out the opponent. The continued lack of discipline is something that can’t be allowed to last forever. If Brian Flores is indeed the head coach when the season concludes for the Patriots, don’t expect him to allow. Not coming from the Patriots system and being a former linebackers coach himself.

Andy Dalton (QB, Cincinnati Bengals)

Marvin Lewis has been the biggest supporter of Andy Dalton over his career, even when it became clear that the Bengals had peaked with him at quarterback. Zac Taylor, being a quarterbacks coach, isn’t likely to stick with that formula if he can help it. The Bengals have the 11th pick in the draft, which is a favorable position for going after a young replacement. This team hired Taylor to elevate that position. Allowing him to trade Dalton for his own choices would be the proper start.

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