We've reached the point of the 2020 NFL offseason -- one unlike any other -- in which most player acquisitions are behind us. There are still free agents who will eventually sign with teams, led by Cam Newton and Jadeveon Clowney, but the majority of roster reconstruction is finished. For the most part, teams are focused on the development of the players they have. They are trying to evaluate and ready players for the season while navigating the global circumstances we are collectively facing with the coronavirus pandemic.
Trades aren't particularly common in the NFL relative to other major North American sports leagues, but when tasked with finding potential trades based on player-for-player concepts, it got me thinking. What are some moves that work well for both sides?
Here are five deals that are sensible when factoring in many aspects, while acknowledging that they are all unlikely to take place. But if they were to happen, they are win-win options for both teams.
Jacksonville Jaguars trade DE Yannick Ngakoue to Cleveland Browns for TE David Njoku and a 2021 second-round pick
Why the Jaguars do it: My sense is that Jaguars fans would balk at such a move, as they seek a far more lucrative return for the 25-year-old pass-rusher, but let's start by examining why making a trade for Ngakoue is difficult. He's playing under the franchise tag, meaning the team inheriting Ngakoue is committing twice to him: once in trade compensation and then again financially, the latter likely to be more significant than the former ($20 million annually is a logical starting point).
Under this scenario, Jacksonville acquires an athletic middle-of-the-field target who has the ability to have a Jordan Reed-like impact in new coordinator Jay Gruden's offense, which currently features Tyler Eifert (on a two-year deal that has a team option after this season) and 2019 draft pick Josh Oliver as the primary tight end targets. Njoku is under contract through 2021 for a shade under $8 million total. That's an excellent value if he realizes the immense potential he flashed before the 2017 NFL draft. Plus, Jacksonville's 2021 draft haul would now include an extra first- and second-round pick.
Why the Browns do it: For Cleveland, the allure is straightforward. Ngakoue has at least 8.0 sacks in each of his four pro seasons. He's a ball hunter who disrupts quarterbacks, something the team is looking for to play opposite Myles Garrett (they've pursued Clowney in free agency).
While new coach Kevin Stefanski figures to rely heavily on two tight end sets, the team recently made Austin Hooper the highest-paid tight end ever and drafted Harrison Bryant -- the winner of the John Mackey Award for the best tight end in college football -- in the fourth round. This would be dealing from an area of strength to bolster an important position that right now needs the added talent.
San Francisco 49ers trade WR Dante Pettis to Houston Texans for WR Keke Coutee
Why the 49ers do it: Pettis couldn't find consistent playing time in 2019 with San Francisco, despite a relatively thin receiver depth chart. He played fewer than 30% of the total offensive snaps. He's a dynamic and electric player with the football in his hands (he's one of the greatest returners in NCAA history), but patience appears to be running thin with the 49ers.
Coutee -- taken in the 2018 draft, like Pettis -- provides San Francisco with a shifty slot option who would resume learning under wide receivers coach Wes Welker, a fan of his from their time together in Houston in 2018. The 49ers relied on a committee approach at the slot position last season (Kendrick Bourne led them with 180 total slot snaps), but Coutee, who has 50 catches in just 15 career games, would handle that role adeptly.
Why the Texans do it: Coutee is buried on the depth chart as things presently stand, with Houston just signing Randall Cobb to a major three-year, $27 million deal. The troika of Brandin Cooks, Will Fuller V and Cobb should make up the primary starters, and it's hard to find a game-day role for Coutee without any return experience at the pro level.
In Pettis, Houston would add yet another speed receiver who could immediately impact the team on punt and kickoff returns. There has been speculation that Kenny Stills (due $6.975 million this year) could be a cap casualty (a Deshaun Watson contract impacts their cap outlook going forward), and Pettis would be a more affordable option (due just about $2.2 million over the next two seasons) to bring depth and playmaking upside. For both wideouts in this deal, a change of scenery might be just what the doctor ordered.
Minnesota Vikings trade OT Riley Reiff (and agree to pay $3.8 million of his 2020 base salary) to Los Angeles Chargers for CB Desmond King II
Why the Vikings do it: The Vikings drafted Ezra Cleveland out of Boise State, their heir apparent to Reiff, in the second round of this year's draft, which makes a trade of Reiff more viable. Now, it's likely that Minnesota would want to maintain its veteran presence in protecting Kirk Cousins' blind side (particularly with a limited, at best, offseason), but the Vikings are navigating a tightrope with the salary cap because of a roster featuring many excellent players. In trading Reiff (even while paying a portion of his salary this season), Minnesota would free up salary-cap space and acquire a versatile defensive back in King.
The next time Mike Zimmer meets a talented cornerback he won't want to work with will be the first, as he's arguably the best defensive backs tutor in all of football. After cutting Xavier Rhodes and losing Mackensie Alexander in free agency, the Vikings retooled their secondary with first- and third-round picks in Jeff Gladney (TCU) and Cameron Dantzler (Ole Miss), respectively, but King would add one more movable chess piece to this group.
Why the Chargers do it: Chargers GM Tom Telesco did a really nice job this offseason in retooling the offensive line, but the left tackle spot looks to be the area of vulnerability. While Reiff is not an elite-level option, he's definitely a dependable one. In this maneuver, Reiff would be acquired for two years and up to $18.85 million, a fair market price for a 31-year-old starter. Because Reiff does not have any guaranteed money due to him in 2021, the Chargers would have the chance to evaluate Reiff fully this season and reevaluate the need to address the left tackle spot further next offseason.
Trading King is an unlikely ending to his Chargers tenure given how things started: He was an All-Pro as both a defensive back and a return man in 2018. But King had a down year in 2019 that included a one-game suspension for violating team rules and he is in the final year of his deal. If Telesco and coach Anthony Lynn don't foresee him being an extension candidate, moving on from King before the season has merit to help protect Tyrod Taylor and/or Justin Herbert.
Seattle Seahawks trade OL Ethan Pocic to Philadelphia Eagles for CB Sidney Jones
Why the Seahawks do it: There was a point this offseason when 20% of Seattle's 90-man roster was dedicated to the offensive line, as the team added layers of depth and competition. The Seahawks are invariably going to have to move on from players who will enter training camp with the hopes of carving out a steady role; it's simply a numbers game. The secondary isn't as deep, which brings us back to the allure of Jones, a 2017 second-round pick who played his college ball locally at Washington.
Jones has some traits Seattle typically covets. He's 6-feet tall with 31½-inch arms and excellent speed. He has been inconsistent in Philadelphia, but it's a calculated addition for Seattle in a player who might be able to provide a spark in the secondary.
Why the Eagles do it: Following the devastating news that Brandon Brooks suffered a torn Achilles and will miss the 2020 season, Philly has a massive gap to fill along the offensive line. Matt Pryor, who started in place of Brooks because of an injury in last year's playoffs, is the likely starter, but there is room to add some depth.
Pocic has plenty of positional versatility (he has played both guard spots, center and right tackle) and was on track to a promising career as a rookie. Injuries derailed his 2019 season, and he has played in just 30 of 48 career games. But this would be a bet for Philly on the ability to develop him, the chance to pad depth at multiple spots and the reality that finding replacements in mid-June is not easy to accomplish.
Green Bay Packers trade CB Josh Jackson to Denver Broncos for CB Isaac Yiadom
Why it makes sense for both sides: The same logic applies for both teams here, as this trade would represent a swap of cornerbacks taken just one round apart during the 2018 NFL draft. Each has struggled with his original team and does not appear to be a roster lock at this time for the 2020 season.
Jackson's career was off to a more promising start in 2018 after starting 10 games and breaking up 10 passes, but he became a back-end depth player in 2019 and finished with zero pass breakups. Yiadom did start eight games for the Broncos in 2019 but he was a player opposing passing games were confident in targeting. Both players have enough raw ability to be better with a change of scenery.