10 Crazy NFL trades that could actually happen in 2019 offseason
By Joe Kipp
The Minnesota Vikings had arguably the most disappointing 2018 campaign among any team in the NFL. On the flip side, the Indianapolis Colts performed well above expectations, charging back from a 1-5 start to their season and finishing at 10-6 with a Wild Card berth.
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Despite their stellar campaign, however, the Colts are still in a mini rebuild. The defense is far from being a fully furnished squad, which is why trading for Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes makes a world of sense – even after the disappointing season Rhodes displayed in 2018. The Vikings receive a 2019 second-rounder in return.
The soon-to-be 29-year old missed two games last season, and easily had one of the worst seasons of his career. He was graded as Pro Football Focus’ (subscription required) No. 101 overall cornerback, a far cry from where he was ranked in 2017.
Even so, most of Rhodes’ struggles can be chalked up to an injury-riddled season. He battled a hamstring injury for the final few games and some even speculated that he had gained significant weight. A healthy start to 2019 should do him wonders, and a fresh start in Indianapolis could help. The two-time Pro Bowler and 2017 first-team All-Pro is fully capable of playing much better than he did in 2018, and the Colts could be the team willing to take the gamble.
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