NFL Trade Targets 2020: One player every team should trade for this offseason
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: Malik Hooker, S, Colts
Now this is a player that might cost a bit more than a Day 3 pick. Despite his injuries, Malik Hooker was still a first-rounder a few years ago. Furthermore, the Colts have depth at the position, but would they want to strengthen an AFC rival?
Hooker’s fifth-year option was recently declined by the team, so they are already thinking about moving on. Why not do it a little sooner? If the Ravens decide to offer a third-rounder for Hooker, Colts GM Chris Ballard should take it and move on. There’s a 50/50 shot that Hooker stays healthy the whole year, plays well and re-signs with the Colts. But that’s being optimistic.
Cincinnati Bengals: Jamon Brown, OG, Falcons
After a very successful 2020 NFL Draft, and an underrated free agency period, the Bengals look a lot better than they did last season. However, there’s still one major problem spot: offensive line. The team should look to upgrade at every spot, except possibly left tackle. The hard part will be finding a team with sufficient offensive line depth that’s willing to deal.
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The Falcons are one such team, as they have a surplus at guard. Luckily, that’s probably Cincinnati’s biggest need on their line. To start his career, Jamon Brown was a steady starter with the Rams before hitting a rough patch. However, he’s shown glimpses of his old self since signing with Atlanta but is buried on the depth chart. A mid-round pick should be enough to get Brown.
Cleveland Browns: Kwon Alexander, LB, 49ers
The first-year tandem GM Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski have done a great job at addressing the Browns’ major needs this offseason, adding players in free agency (Jack Conklin, Austin Hooper) and in the draft (Jedrick Wills Jr., Grant Delpit) that should start immediately for a team that is on the cusp of a potential playoff berth. Yet, their one big misstep was allowing linebacker Joe Schobert leave for Jacksonville in free agency.
There are linebackers that could be available for trade though. Even though he just signed with San Francisco a year ago, Kwon Alexander is possibly one such player. His salary is a bit high, but that means the Browns can get him for a cheaper price if they offer to pay the whole amount, which they can afford to do. A fifth or sixth-round pick just might do it. From there, he can be plugged into the middle of their defense and is young enough to star for a few more seasons. What does Cleveland have to lose?
Pittsburgh Steelers: Josh Rosen, QB, Dolphins
When will Ben Roethlisberger’s time in the Steel City be over? It’s definitely sooner rather than later, which begs the question why GM Kevin Colbert and coach Mike Tomlin haven’t been more serious in pursuing a potential long-term replacement. Mason Rudolph was a decent attempt, but it’s now clear he’s not the answer. So why not ask the Dolphins about Josh Rosen?
The 10th overall pick from 2018 has seen his career start in a severely broken manner. He was thrown to the wolves in Arizona during his rookie year and struggled due to a very bad offensive situation. Then he was shipped off to Miami during last year’s draft, where he again struggled under the same set of circumstances. Now he’s in limbo. Pittsburgh should try and swing a deal to see if Rosen could develop into the franchise quarterback it needs for the future.