NFL trade rumors: Backup offensive linemen going for premium

NFL trade rumors are heating up and we have some initial action on the hot stove involving offensive linemen going for a premium price.

NFL trade rumors are starting to heat up as roster cuts loom, and a number of deals are already being made around the league.

One interesting trend going on right now is backup offensive linemen getting traded for a pretty nice premium. Nobody has been acquired for more than a couple of day three selections, but there are some pretty valuable picks on the move and I think it’s worth noting.

Let’s take a look at the value of some backup linemen across the league right now, what teams are making deals, and what this could mean for other backup linemen going forward.

Trade 1: Patriots get OT Korey Cunningham from Cardinals

The Patriots traded a 2020 sixth-round pick to the Cardinals to get 2018 seventh-round pick Korey Cunningham, who will now be their main swing tackle.

Cunningham certainly has potential, and the price of a sixth-round pick seems like a low price to pay if a guy can actually play for you.

All of Cunningham’s 111 snaps this preseason came at the right tackle position and he didn’t allow a sack.

Trade 2: Patriots get OG Jermaine Eluemunor from Ravens

If you combine the New England Patriots’ two offensive line trades here, they moved a 2020 4th-round pick for Jermaine Eluemunor, Korey Cunningham, and a move down of probably close to 20 picks in the sixth round.

Belichik & Co. are always out there playing chess while much of the rest of the league is playing checkers.

Eluemunor was no lock for the Ravens’ 53-man roster, but if Belichick calls you about one of your bottom-of-the-roster guys, wouldn’t you think twice before trading him?

Trade 3: Browns get OG Wyatt Teller from Bills

After trading Kevin Zeitler to the New York Giants earlier this offseason, the Browns apparently are not overly pleased with the alternative options.

This trade haul for Buffalo is almost more impressive than the haul the Ravens got for Jermaine Eluemunor.

Teller was a fifth-round pick out of Virginia Tech just last year, so for him to go for two picks in next year’s draft is pretty great for the Bills. If he turns out to be a starter for the Browns? Win-win.

All of these trades have included fairly decent picks — 4th and 5th round picks are by no means throw-away selections — for players who have either proven nothing or very little.

What would a guy like Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who can play all over the line and started in the Super Bowl go for? What would/will someone like Trent Williams go for?

The price to acquire offensive linemen is high right now, and if you’re an NFL team with an abundance, there may be no better time to sell.