5 Big-name NFL players who could be traded before 2020 kickoff
By Samuel Teets
Trades could be on the near horizon still for former NFL Pro Bowlers and All-Pros.
With the NFL Draft and first wave of free agency behind us, football fans are in for a long offseason. However, some trades could spice up the dull summer stretch in the NFL, especially with the big names that could switch teams.
New signings, draft picks, and contract disputes generated a shortlist of players who could find themselves on the move this offseason.
Teams won’t trade players unless it’s in their financial interest, or they feel like they’re getting something of equal or greater value in return. The following five players are candidates teams could receive offers for that they can’t refuse.
5. Desmond King, CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, the Chargers told free-agent signee Chris Harris that he’ll play in the slot this coming season. Harris rose to prominence in the slot with Denver before the Broncos moved him outside last season. The shift didn’t sit well with Harris and ultimately increased the tension between him and the team. Now, Harris gets his favorite position back.
However, the move leaves Desmond King in a precarious position. The former fifth-round pick spent the majority of his first three seasons in the NFL playing in the slot. He’s arguably a top-five slot defender, but Harris is the best slot corner of the 2010s. He even earned a spot on the Pro Football Hall of Fame 2010s All-Decade Team.
So, where does that leave King? It’s hard to say. King earned a First-Team All-Pro selection as a defensive back in 2018 and a Second-Team All-Pro selection as a punt returner, so he’s still an extremely valuable player. However, as King enters the final year of his rookie contract, his role is largely undefined in Los Angeles.
The Chargers also drafted Joe Reed in the fifth-round of the 2020 NFL Draft. At Virginia, Reed amassed the second most kick return yards in ACC history. He could usurp kick and punt return duties from King this season.
With his role and importance on the Chargers quickly deteriorating, King could find himself on the trade market before the 2020 season.