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Sportsnaut

NFL Trade Block: 5 Players Likely On The Move

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Trades may not be as widespread in the NFL as they are in MLB and the NBA, but it is still an avenue that some teams pursue. Just look at the San Francisco 49ers, who have acquired both Blaine Gabbert and Jonathan Martin in separate deals within the first week of the new league year.

There are going to be more trades involving veterans between now and the 2014 NFL draft in May. Teams will be looking to unload contracts and acquire draft picks, while other teams will attempt to fill holes via the trade route.

Here is our latest NFL trade block update.

 

1. Matt Schaub, Quarterback, Houston Texans

Troy Taormina, USA Today: Schaub struggled in 2013, but is an attractive stopgap option.

Troy Taormina, USA Today: Schaub struggled in 2013, but is an attractive stopgap option. Here is our latest NFL trade block update.

According to Sports Radio 610 in Houston, the Texans and Oakland Raiders are in “serious talks” for the quarterback. This seems to make some sense in that Oakland has been in the market for a veteran quarterback. It has been linked to Josh Freeman, Michael Vick and Schaub himself in the past.

The one issue that might hold up a potential trade is that Schaub is still due nearly $18 million guaranteed in the remainder of his deal and is set to count over $14 million against the cap in 2014 (via Spotrac). That’s a whole lot of dough for a quarterback that struggled big time last year.

While Corkran has the numbers wrong, he is spot on as it relates to Schaub. Remember, this is a quarterback that was benched on a team that ended up losing its final 14 games last year. When you’re benched for the likes of Case Keenum and T.J. Yates, there are some issues.

As it relates to possible compensation in this deal, Houston would just love to rid itself of Schaub’s ridiculous contract. This seems to indicate that the Raiders could get him for cheap. In fact, there is something to the argument of the Raiders sending a lower-round pick to the Texans for Schaub and a mid-round pick. That would help the Texans with the cap and give Oakland even more incentive to make a deal.

However, the likeliest scenario here is that Oakland sends a seventh-round pick for Schaub, who would then re-work his contract to help the Raiders cap both in 2014 and beyond.

 

2. Chris Johnson, Running Back, Tennessee Titans

I wrote an article over the weekend on the possibility that Tennessee might actually be able to get something for this enigmatic veteran running back. As previously reported on multiple outlets including Sportsnaut, Johnson is willing to take a paycut in order to facilitate a deal. After all, his $10 million cap hit for 2014 isn’t even tradeable.

Johnson has put up 1,000-plus rushing yards in each of his first six NFL seasons and is actually averaging nearly 1,500 total yards and seven scores over the past three seasons. That has to be surprising considering he has been so maligned during this three-year span.

Dallas would definitely be an intriguing option. Even with DeMarco Murray entrenched in as the starter, Jerry Jones and Co. could use a solid COP (change of pace) running back. If Johnson were to lower his annual salary to say $3 million per season, the Cowboys could very well be a logical destination.

Then you have this.

While nothing more than conjecture, Denver might be in the market for a veteran running back to complement Montee Ball in the backfield, especially with Knowshon Moreno on his way out of town. Imagine Johnson in the same backfield with Peyton Manning, who would use him as a check-down option in the passing game. Denver has been mighty active this offseason, and could very well be a solid fit for the running back.

 

3. LaMichael James, Running Back, San Francisco 49ers

Mark J. Rebilas, USA Today: James needs to go to a team that will give him a defined role.

Mark J. Rebilas, USA Today: James needs to go to a team that will give him a defined role.

Only one of two remaining players on the 49ers roster from the 2012 NFL draft, James may very well find himself traded prior to the draft in a couple months. He’s attempted a total of 39 regular season rushes in two seasons and was a healthy inactive 18 times in 32 outings since being selected in the second round two years ago. In addition, James seems to be unhappy with his role on the 49ers, as evidenced by multiple tweets suggesting somewhat of a rift.

According to Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area, James may be on the trade block…

James could find himself on the trade block with a running back corps that could consist of Gore, Lattimore, Kendall Hunter, Jewel Hampton and any other offseason additions. But for the 49ers to even consider shipping off James, they must have a plan for someone else in the return game.

The latter part of that comment is important. James took over for Kyle Williams midway through the 2013 season when the veteran receiver was cut. Backup return man Perrish Cox is currently a free agent and might not return. Where San Francisco might be able to add a return man in the draft, that would have to occur pretty much at the same time that it trades James. In reality, this former Oregon running back is nothing more than an insurance policy.

Again, this could all change if the 49ers go after a return man like Devin Hester in free agency or view someone internally as a potential replacement for James. Who might be interested in the smallish running back? One of the first teams that came to mind prior to the start of the new league year were the Philadelphia Eagles. They have since acquired Darren Sproles from the New Orleans Saints, which eliminates them as a potential suitor.

The market should be plentiful here. Teams in need of a COP back as well as a return man might come calling. With that said, San Francisco isn’t going to receive anywhere near the second-round pick it spent on James two years back. Its looking more at a late-round pick or a player-for-player swap.

 

4. Danny Amendola, Wide Receiver, New England Patriots

Mark J. Rebilas, USA Today: Guaranteed money may complicate things, but Amendola doesn't have the trust of the brass in NE.

Mark J. Rebilas, USA Today: Guaranteed money may complicate things, but Amendola doesn’t have the trust of the brass in NE.

Speaking of untradeable, it’s hard to imagine any team being interested in Amendola with his $4.6 million cap hit in 2014 (via Spotrac). The veteran has missed 24 games over the past three seasons and is about as injury prone as they come.

$2 million of Amendola’s 2014 salary became guaranteed last week, which seems to indicate that he could stay in New England. While this does complicate things a tad, potential suitors will not be thrown off by that. Instead, he’d have to lower his base salary for 2014 and the nearly $6 million he is set to earn in 2015 (via Spotrac).

If Amendola were to be shopped prior to the draft, a number of wide receiver needy teams out there could show interest. One such team is the Carolina Panthers, who have zero wide receivers remaining on the roster that caught a single pass last season. San Francisco is obviously shopping for a slot guy and boast a ton of picks in May. If the contract works, the 49ers could show some interest.

 

5. Ryan Mallett, Quarterback, New England Patriots

When has Mallett not been on the trade block? It seems that every single year around this time he’s heading to the Cleveland Browns as a starting quarterback. Considering that he’s been rotting away behind Tom Brady in New England, this might be the Patriots last chance to receive something of value for their former third-round pick.

In all seriousness, the Texans seem to make some sense here. Why not yield a second  or third rounder to the Patriots for Mallett and then spend the No. 1 overall pick on say Jadeveon Clowney to team up with J.J. Watt? If the Texans aren’t sold on any quarterback in the 2014 NFL draft class, this could represent much more value for them.

Unfortunately, that may no longer be an option…

Another team who could express interest in Mallett include the Arizona Cardinals as an eventual replacement for Carson Palmer. The Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings also come to mind as potential suitors.

Photo: Stew Milne, USA Today

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