The NFL does not operate like the NBA when it comes to player movement. It is not as common for an elite, All-Pro level player to ask to be traded. Meanwhile in the NBA, it has become an annual or bi-annual occurrence for the past decade. This summer Damian Lillard asked for a trade, which created a buyers market leading to one of the best teams in the league making a move to add the future Hall of Fame point guard. Which NFL players might be the Lillard of this season, demanding a trade and therefore swinging the Super Bowl odds creating an arms race with the rest of the contenders? Does that player exist?
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In any trade list like this, the obvious name to start with is Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts. He asked out over the summer, but is still on the roster. When healthy, Taylor can be the best running back in the NFL. Taylor led the NFL in rushing just two years ago with 1,811 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.Â
Making a move for Taylor could be costly for a team with how the league has valued the position for a few years, especially for a player looking for a new contract.
The case to make a move for Taylor is what is currently happening this season with the San Francisco 49ers and Christian McCaffrey. They made the move to add McCaffrey as a dynamic playmaker out of the backfield last season and now San Francisco looks unstoppable on the offensive end.
Teams that would make sense to go after Taylor include: the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On the defensive end there are two names that could be massive game-changers if traded to a contender after a slow start to the season for their teams. The first is Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young. He is set to be a free agent this summer, making him a candidate to be moved to a new team during the season to recoup value.
Teams that would make sense to add a young, defensive pass rusher like Young include: the Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh (along with every contender).
The other defender that could make a huge difference for a team looking to contend is the Minnesota Vikings Danielle Hunter. The veteran has an $11.5 million dollar tab for Minnesota, who could be looking through the couch cushions to make sure they can pay Justin Jefferson.
Teams that should be sniffing around Hunter to add the dynamic linebacker include: the Cleveland Browns, Detroit, Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
Looking at the landscape of the NFL this season, there might not be a massive trade available to swing the odds of winning a Super Bowl outside of those talents. There might not be an obvious Lillard-level trade in the ether right now, which is usually the calm before the storm that ends with a monster trade nobody is thinking about today.
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