As we approach the 2022 NFL Draft, which trades could teams make that would not only shake up the league but the draft itself?
There has been a bit of news working its way across the NFL landscape recently. Specifically, Kyler Murray and his situation with the Arizona Cardinals has left many teams wondering if he could potentially be available for trade.
Not only him, but Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown, and Terry McLaurin are all set to skip their teams’ offseason workouts unless they get new contracts.
Seahawks’ D.K. Metcalf’s status is also something to monitor as well.
There’s been no indication that any of these teams would be willing to trade these payers, but we did just see perhaps the best offensive player in the NFL, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, get moved from the Chiefs.
I would have to think that all of these teams would prefer to keep their star offensive players, but I suppose there’s no guarantee, especially in the NFL.
The draft is less than two weeks away, and a potential trade for any of these players could not only shake up the entire draft but the league itself as well.
More and more rumors will continue to swirl until some type of decision is made. As of now, let’s look at three major trades that could shake up the league and the NFL Draft.
Three trades to shake up 2022 NFL Draft plans
1. Kyler Murray to the Houston Texans
Perhaps the Texans could be a player for Kyler Murray if the Cardinals do indeed listen to trade offers.
Murray is from Bedford, Texas, which is the Dallas/ Fort Worth area, but a return to his home state could be very appealing. The Texans don’t exactly have a ton of players that would come over in a trade, but they do have draft capital.
They have two first-round picks, at number three and 13th overall.
I think that could be the baseline to begin trade talks. Sure, Kyler Murray might be young and a bit dramatic, but he’s an unbelievably good football player who has a long career ahead of him. Most teams in the NFL would be upgrading at the position if they traded for him.
Acquiring Murray for at least picks 3 and 13 would give the Texans their long-term answer and would put the Cardinals in a solid position to draft a quarterback they like, or simply use those picks in another way.
I do think the Cardinals and Murray ultimately come to a resolution here, but making a trade like this would be major for a multitude of reasons.
Three trades to shake up 2022 NFL Draft plans
2. Deebo Samuel to the New York Jets
All of a sudden, Deebo Samuel, among a couple of other high-profile wide receivers, seems to be ready to hold out for new contracts, and understandably so.
Samuel is one of the most unique players in the NFL, being effective as a pass catcher and as a running back.
He had 1,405 receiving yards this season to go with 365 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns.
It was a breakout year for Samuel after his 2020 season was cut short by injuries.
Now, he apparently wants a contract that would pay him $25 million per season, which is top money for a wide receiver.
Deebo Samuel is set to enter his age-26 season, so he’s still in the middle of his prime. Teams should be calling the 49ers to see if he’s available. I’m not sure the 49ers make this trade, though.
If they did, the New York Jets would make a ton of sense.
Not only would San Francisco get to trade him out of the conference, but they would give the Jets another playmaker they desperately need and have the draft capital to pull it off.
The Jets have the fourth, 10th, 35th, and 38th overall picks in the upcoming draft.
Perhaps the Jets could part with picks 10 and 35 to acquire Samuel? A high first and second-round pick might get the job done. This would give the 49ers a perfect chance to draft another playmaker or two and would still allow the Jets to keep their fourth overall selection.
Three trades to shake up 2022 NFL Draft plans
3. Jimmy Garoppolo to the Carolina Panthers
Could we still have another quarterback domino yet to fall? Jimmy Garoppolo recently had surgery on his shoulder and won’t be able to throw until June, which is definitely impacting his status currently.
Jimmy G has battled injuries his entire career but has still been mildly effective when on the field.
He was 31-14 with the 49ers, where he threw 66 touchdowns on 38 interceptions. The passing stats aren’t that special, but it’s significantly better than anything the Panthers have had recently.
Carolina, at this point, could very well start Sam Darnold again in 2022. They’ve been doing their homework on QBs in the draft, and hold the 6th overall pick, which is a great spot to get a signal-caller.
However, this QB class is weaker than normal, so acquiring someone like Garoppolo would give the Panthers a competent solution for the short term.
I think also doing this trade would give the Panthers a bit of breathing room with their 6th overall selection. I don’t think they’d then have to reach for a quarterback and would be able to pick someone later on to perhaps develop behind Jimmy G.
The NFC is a weaker conference, and the NFC South is perhaps the weakest division in the NFL. A Jimmy Garoppolo-led Panthers team might be just enough to win them 9 or so games and clinch a Wild Card spot.
The Panthers do have a sneaky good roster, with talent on both sides of the ball, and an improved offensive line, signing both Bradley Bozeman and Austin Corbett to go with Taylor Moton and perhaps a left tackle with the 6th overall pick.
Unfortunately, the Panthers don’t have a ton of draft capital. They have the 6th overall pick but don’t pick again until the fourth round. Carolina might have to come up with some 2023 draft capital, perhaps a pick in 2022, and/or a player to swing this trade.
I don’t see how that wouldn’t be doable, though, especially for a competent quarterback.