Potential Trade Targets

This should probably already be a thread.

I've long considered a trade this off season to be highly likely, with all the extra ammunition they have as well as looking at Jeff Ireland's history and the various rumors we've heard of trades they've tried to accomplish but couldn't.

It's so hard to pinpoint a trade for so many reasons. Could be any position. Could be TE, WR, RB, CB, DE, etc.

I'll start though.

WIDE RECEIVERS

1. WR Nate Washington, Tennessee - Rumors had this as a potential target last off season and he'd be no less a target this off season I would think. He's always been a big deep threat that makes big plays. The Titans have Kendall Wright developing nicely and should start to get Kenny Britt back full time. Washington signed a 6 year deal worth $27 million in 2009. He should have 2 more years remaining on it. He had 1023 yards and 7 TDs when Matt Hasselbeck was throwing the ball, and was down to 746 yards and 4 TDs with Jake Locker (who IMO, is not very good).

2. WR Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia - Maclin's contract with the Eagles ends after 2013, and the Eagles already paid DeSean Jackson, making them unlikely to pay Maclin IMO. Jeremy is of course a big deep threat with speed. But he also has had some injury issues. He had 861 yards and 7 TDs this year.

3. WR Mike A. Williams, Tampa Bay - The Buccaneers paid Vincent Jackson a VERY healthy amount of money last off season. Mike Williams is now a restricted free agent. We don't know what level the Bucs will tender him but I am going to guess a 1st round level. The Dolphins could decide to try and negotiate with the Buccaneers and see if that price can come down on a sign-and-trade. Williams had a character history with Syracuse as he quit that program after he got in trouble a bunch with Doug Marrone and the coaches. He also was kicked out of school temporarily for academic cheating. But in his three years in the NFL, he's caught for 2728 yards and 23 TDs. I considered him pure talent-wise to be one of the two-best wide receivers in his Draft class, being only behind Dez Bryant, though I also rated Demaryius Thomas a 1st rounder. But, I was disturbed by the character issues. Those issues have either disappeared altogether, or been running very far under the surface. The Bucs could decide to monetize him a year in advance knowing they won't pay him in 2014.

I do not believe the Dolphins would target Percy Harvin. That's the elephant-in-the-room guy that pretty much every Dol-fan will offer as the potential trade target if the Dolphins are trying to get a wide receiver. But I do not believe they would pull the trigger on him.

RUNNING BACKS

1. RB LeGarrette Blount, Tampa Bay - (Disgustipate): "Reggie Bush is almost certain to walk and I think the team will write Daniel Thomas off, so they're going to be in the market for someone to pair with, or be an insurance for Lamar Miller. I think you'd be best off trying to find someone who compliments him with a physical run style, and Blount will probably be an inexpensive option. Technically I think he's a Restricted Free Agent, though." (My Comment): I agree with the above. However I would note that on 24 carrer carries inside the 10 yard line he has only 6 touchdowns to show for it (25%) which isn't necessarily fantastic. Blount's effectiveness on 1st & 10 is also declining, from 5.9 ypc to 4.9 ypc and this year only 3.1 ypc on 16 carries. One does wonder if despite being buried on San Francisco's roster and clearly ending up unhappy about it, perhaps Brandon Jacobs could be a cheaper, trade-less alternative. Nonetheless, this is a good call.

TIGHT ENDS

1. TE Jermichael Finley, Green Bay - This is one I've talked about many times. As we're expanding the coverage of the original post beyond just wide receivers, this becomes a natural consideration. Clearly there are issues between Aaron Rodgers and Jermichael Finley. Finley's agent ended up spouting off about how overrated Rodgers is especially as a leader, or something to that effect. Finley doesn't have a reputation for being the greatest or most humble of personalities, but those accusations got a little more interesting when Greg Jennings' sister essentially echoed those sentiments on twitter. Other players on the team have commented on the feud between Rodgers and Finley and how they believe it's clearly affecting the offense. The ice might've started to thaw around mid season as the combo went from 30 yards a game in the first 9 games to about 56 yards a game the final 7 games. But I imagine the damage could be done. There have also been reports the Packers may outright release Finley as he's due a $3.5 million roster bonus in March. If the Dolphins trade for him they would be responsible for approximately $8.0 million of compensation in 2013, which means the trade would probably be contingent upon reaching an agreement with Finley's agent on a new contract.

CORNERBACKS

1. CB Tramon Williams, Green Bay - The Packers are in for some belt-tightening this off season. They have to find a way to sign Jordy Nelson to an extension and the only salary cap room they have scheduled will be needed for rookies. With the emergence of both Sam Shields and Casey Hayward as young corners with the ability to be starters, not to mention the quality play of Davon House a 4th round pick from 2011, the Packers could decide to move Williams if they got an offer on him. Tramon will be 30 years old in March of 2013 and is owed $13.4 million over the next two years, which is less than Sean Smith will likely command. At 29 years old, Williams still allowed only 1.14 yards per pass snap this year, at 7.4 yards per attempt, both good figures for perimeter corners. He only had 2 interceptions this year, but he had 4 in 2011 and 9 in 2010. He had 24 interceptions from 2008 to 2012 which is damn close to 5 per year. Miami seems intent on adding "takeaways" to their defense.

DEFENSIVE LINE

1. DT Mike Patterson, Philadelphia - Another guy that I'm batting around is Eagles DT Mike Patterson. Patterson has always been more of a penetrating defensive end that is similar to Randy Starks and Geno Atkins though obviously a little less effective than Atkins. Patterson had offseason brain surgery (yikes!). He suffered a seizure during camp in 2011, and it was found that he had an arteriovenus malformation. He played 15 games anyway after doctors concluded he wasn't in anymore danger. But in the 2012 off season he went in for surgery to untangle the blood vessels in his brain (yikes!). He had complications after the surgery as he contracted viral pneumonia, so he only played in 5 games this year. The fact that he played in any games at all, and that he played 15 games in 2011 even after the diagnosis, this guy will play through anything if he can, obviously. Maybe to his own detriment. But with Andy Reid now gone, Patterson may want out. Especially since after going through the surgery, GM Howie Roseman insisted on reducing Patterson's pay by $1 million while he was in recovery. Then during the season when he contracted the pneumonia and had to sit more, Roseman put him on a reserve/NFI list that let him reduce Patterson's pay by another $150k. Roseman took a lot of sh-t from that including from Patterson's agent, and after a day Roseman rescinded the reduction. But the damage is probably done. Without Andy Reid there anymore to ensure Patterson's loyalty, I'm going to guess Patterson wants out. He's scheduled to make $4.1 million in 2013 (rotoworld says $2.9 but I keep seeing the same number from other sources, he may have reached incentives), $3.65 million in 2014, $4.9 million in 2015 and $6.25 million in 2016. That's an attractive contract to take over. I remember this was one of those weird things where for some reason the Eagles gave him an 8 year deal right after a successful rookie season after being a 1st round pick (#31 overall). Very strange but the idea was to Welker him. Lock him into a super long term deal that pays him and makes him a genuine millionaire but which you think is probably going to be below-market for much of the deal. So the real question is, would the Eagles just drop him to where you could get him without any trade compensation? He's not likely to fit their 3-4 defense (if indeed that's what they run, as most speculate). If the Dolphins lose Randy Starks to free agency, they could come knocking on the Eagles' door about Patterson, who is a good player.

2. DE Corey Wootton, Chicago - (PhinsRDBest): "Corey Wootton, Chicago drafted Shea McCellan to take his place, could fit the big de that Coyle likes." (My Comment): This is actually a possibility, if the Dolphins allow Randy Starks to walk via free agency and are forced to move Jared Odrick inside to replace him. At 6'6" and 270 lbs, Corey notches the size that I believe Kevin Coyle and the Dolphins would like to see in the starting defensive end opposite Cameron Wake. I think the Dolphins want that player to be big and strong and be able to affect the run game. This was really the first year Wootton was given a significant amount of playing time since coming in as a 4th round pick in the 2010 Draft. He was a part-time player from Weeks 1-10, and the starter from Weeks 11-17. Whether starting or not he was sort of a half-rotational guy with Israel Idonije. The problem is that Idonije by all means outplayed Wootton and himself would probably be a potential UFA target of the Dolphins', should Randy Starks leave. Yet, Chicago could work something out with Israel before he escapes to free agency. If that's the case, the Dolphins could inquire about Wootton as he'll likely be buried behind Peppers, Idonije and Shea McLellin who is their pass rush specialist. Wootton is a RFA this off season. If the Bears retain Idonije then they'll likely know that they're not having Wootton back in 2014, which would mean it could be an attractive idea to monetize him now while they can.

 

Nate Washington will be 30 years old this year much as Greg Jennings will be. However, he doesn't have recent injury issues, and he may very literally cost about half what Jennings will.

 

But will the Dolphins agree with you. That's the point of the thread.

 

True but I think this is less of a concern this off season than it would've been last off season, for whatever that's worth. The Titans are happy with Kendall Wright, I think. And I wouldn't say the cupboard is completely bare as they have Lavelle Hawkins and Damian Williams behind them as role players. Plus this is a deep draft. On the one hand you don't want to trade someone for a pick and turn around and use that pick on a question mark at the same position, but on the other hand they'd be trading in a 30 year old for a 22 year old...an opportunity to develop a younger player, that opporunity being afforded to them by the knowledge that Kendall Wright and Kenny Britt can be productive while the young player develops.

 

LeGarrette Blount is an interesting possibility. Seems a lot more likely than the other two you named. That's a good call.

I'm going to add the best ideas to the original post as I see them. With proper attribution, of course.

 

I believe they just re-signed Smith to a new contract. Doubt that's going to happen.

I'll take Finley as a suggestion though, a possibility I've talked about before many times.

 

The Steve Smith thing is not happening. Sorry. They only JUST gave him $10 million in signing bonus one year ago. It's not like he went out there and pulled a David Boston, rupturing a tendon, getting caught for doping, and then getting arrested on top of it. He had 1200 yards receiving this year.

 

I think it's a fair shout but ultimately the fact that he's owed $13 million a year over the next 3 years will probably scare Miami off. I don't think I'm going to bother putting him on the list.

Tramon Williams of Green Bay would be more likely, with the emergence of Sam Shields and Casey Hayward not to mention Davon House looking pretty good. I think there will need to be some belt tightening up there and Williams is owed $13.4 million in the next 2 years. He is currently 29 years old and will be 30 years old in March.

 

How about actually telling us why some of these players could be trade targets?

 

-Jabaal Sheard...an interesting possibility. Probably not what the Dolphins want at the spot, though.

-Phil Hunt would also be 3rd on our depth chart so I'm not entirely sure about the rationale. They have Vinny Curry they'd like to see more involved, but not until he shows something. I'm going to call this one unlikely for now.

-Willie Young played this year, he just didn't play well. He played well last year though. Still, not what the Dolphins are likely looking for, I don't see enough of a mismatch in values between how the Lions will value Willie and how the Dolphins would value him.

-Now you're talking. I will add Corey Wootton to the list.

-Kenny Britt probably too much of a problem child. They'll look foolish for ditching one problem child in Brandon Marshall who was a top 5 receiver this year for another problem child in Kenny Britt who just isn't as good.

-The question with Nate Allen is how much the Dolphins would really want him. He doesn't look so valuable that they'd pay up for him to be a reclamation project, he's more the type they would find on the street and try and shine up.

-Just don't see why Daquan Bowers would happen.

Good call on Corey Wootton I think he might go on the list.

 

I think the Titans are stuck making it work with Chris Johnson after the contract they gave him. He actually produced this year, too. The money is too much of a barrier to that, IMO.

And I don't think the Seahawks would be remotely interested in giving up Brandon Browner.

 

Added Mike Patterson to the list. Intriguing possibility.

 

Why would they give up young, cheap talent? Miami would have to blow them away with an offer. Based on, essentially, one game.