Seven blockbuster trades that should happen at the 2020 NFL trade deadline.
The 2020 NFL trade deadline has arrived, with the hard deadline coming at 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Once Week 8 is fully in the books after Monday Night Football, teams will have the opportunity to make deals that fit the plight of their organizations. Some franchises could be looking to sell assets to improve their future while others could be looking to make an aggressive playoff push.
Overall in NFL history, we’ve seen the NFL trade deadline come and go without as much as a whimper. Teams were less inclined to trade away draft picks or other players in order to make deals happen. But that has changed in recent years. With general managers trying to find a market inefficiency and value, we’ve seen more deals being made at the deadline recently.
Already this year, we’ve seen players such as Yannick Ngakoue (Ravens), Carlos Dunlap (Seahawks) and Avery Williamson (Steelers) be dealt prior to the 2020 NFL trade deadline, among others. We could see more players being moved as well.
But while some blockbuster trades may not happen prior to 4:00 p.m. ET on Nov. 3, these are seven huge deals that should happen at the 2020 NFL trade deadline.
NFL trade deadline blockbuster No. 7: J.J. Watt to the Raiders
One team that most everyone believes should be sellers at the 2020 NFL trade deadline is the Houston Texans and it’s not difficult to see why. Former head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien haphazardly traded away draft capital to leave the team in a difficult spot to fill holes for the future of the roster.
Subsequently, the team could look to unload assets prior to Tuesday, especially since they sit at 1-6 on the season and appear well out of the mix for the playoffs. And one player who has been discussed as possibly one of the most valuable pieces to trade away is veteran defensive lineman J.J. Watt.
At the peak of his career, Watt was arguably the best defensive player in the NFL. Injuries and age have slowed him a bit lately but he’s still a highly effective player in the trenches. ESPN’s Sarah Barshop noted that the Texans may not be inclined to do so but, in regards to possible return in a trade, no asset may be as great as Watt.
Jon Gruden and the Las Vegas Raiders sit at 4-3 on the season and are on the cusp of playoff contention. Having said that, they need to improve the defense, particularly in the front seven. Watt would help that. Moreover, he fits the mentality of Gruden seemingly perfectly, making him a tantalizing fit for Las Vegas.