Not only has the 2022 season not started, but the NFL trade deadline is still months away. Which players could be moved at the deadline?
The NFL trade deadline is often a very hectic time for some teams. Usually, the teams who are firmly out of a playoff spot might consider trading some veterans away to acquire some young players or draft capital for the future.
On the flip side, teams who are right in the thick of a playoff hunt might consider trading for a veteran or two to put them over the edge.
The 2022 NFL season will be no different once we get to the trade deadline.
However, especially in the AFC, there appears to be a ton of parity, so I would not be surprised to see more teams than normal trying to add players before the deadline passes.
In most respects, the acquisition of players at the trade deadline are usually just rentals for the rest of the season, but there is still a chance that these players could stick around longer.
With that said, let’s try and predict some players who could be moved at the 2022 NFL trade deadline.
Players who could be moved at the NFL trade deadline in 2022
Casey Hayward has been in the NFL since 2012, playing for the Packers, Chargers, and Raiders.
Now, entering his age-33 season, Heyward decided to return home and play for the Atlanta Falcons.
The Georgia native signed an $11 million contract this offseason, so he isn’t breaking the bank anymore.
Hayward would be a perfect player to acquire in a trade for a competing team. Obviously, a contending team may suffer an injury in the secondary and could end up using Heyward’s services.
Or, a team simply might need another quality player in the secondary.
Who knows what exact situation might arise that may warrant a team trading for Hayward, but him being moved makes sense. Hayward would still get to play for his hometown team, but would also have the chance to play for a contender if one comes calling.
Being that he’s 33 this season, he likely does not have a ton of quality football left.
If Hayward wants to win a Super Bowl, he may end up wanting a trade to a contender, and he is a solid candidate to be moved at the 2022 NFL trade deadline.
Players who could be moved at the NFL trade deadline in 2022
Contractually, it wouldn’t make a ton of financial sense for the Seahawks to trade Tyler Lockett this season. Trading him would force them to eat more dead money than they would save, so the financials don’t make sense.
However, the Seahawks are clearly in a rebuilding process and Lockett is not someone who is likely to be around for a full rebuild.
Trading Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos all but guaranteed the Seahawks wouldn’t be good in 2022, and Lockett.
He’ll be 30 this year, is coming off three straight 1,000-yard seasons, and has only missed one game in his career, but Seattle might be willing to accept a nice haul of future draft picks for Lockett’s services.
They are going to eventually need to find a franchise quarterback, as Drew Lock and Geno Smith won’t be that, and need to add more talent overall on both sides of the ball.
It would be smart for them to sign DK Metcalf to an extension, which would then give them two big contracts at receiver.
Trading Lockett at the deadline, when the Seahawks are likely to only have one or two wins makes sense.
Players who could be moved at the NFL trade deadline in 2022
The last player I think that could be moved by the trade deadline, or even before, is Falcons’ inside linebacker Deion Jones.
Jones is a former second-round pick and Pro Bowler, so he’s got the talent.
He hasn’t played up to that level the past few seasons, and the Falcons could save a good bit on their cap if they trade him this season.
Atlanta is clearly now in a long rebuilding phase after they traded Matt Ryan to the Colts.
They largely have a poor roster and need quite a bit more to become relevant again.
If the Falcons were able to trade Deion Jones this season, they would save almost $15 million against their cap number.
That’s quite large savings for an inside linebacker, a position that perhaps isn’t as important as it once was.
Some teams could even come calling later in the offseason for Deion Jones, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he was moved before the 2022 season.
However, Atlanta still might want to be somewhat competitive, so holding onto him until the deadline, where they might be able to get a bigger return, makes sense.