Draft day trade targets
by Michael E Lawrence
April 16th 2010
 
The pre-draft portion of the off-season has sloped along at a snail's pace recently (you think this is sluggish? Just wait for summer…) but there's no denying it's been studded with some extraordinary trades of big ticket players along the way. Rarely, if ever, have we seen so many prominent starters traded from one ballclub to another, but then rarely have the spoils (a chance to benefit from a mouth wateringly deep 2010 draft) been so inviting.
 
A quartet of household names on offense has already been signed, sealed and delivered to new homes, namely: Anquan Boldin (Cardinals to Ravens); Donovan McNabb (Eagles to Redskins); Santonio Holmes (Steelers to Jets); and Brandon Marshall (Broncos to Dolphins). On defense, the names aren't quite so eye popping, but we've still seen the likes of Sheldon Brown (Eagles to Browns), Kamerion Wimbley (Browns to Raiders), Antonio Cromartie (Chargers to Jets) and Darryl Tapp (Seahawks to Eagles) exiting stage left.
 
And with draft day on the way, plenty more moves are likely still to come. One caveat: the 2009 draft was supposed to be buxom with trades on the day too (Boldin, Marshall, Braylon Edwards were all mentioned) but it never happened. Still, the 2010 version – three or four rounds deep with first and second round talent according to some observers – could be different.
 
Here's a heads up on some big name players still waiting to see if they'll find new homes on or around April 22-24:
 
Marshawn Lynch, Bills
 
Lynch is a onetime top-15 pick with that must-have for unwanted talents: multiple red flags and an arrest or two. Always a risk for a Buffalo team that offloaded Willis McGahee because of his own disruptive nature (said McGahee on leaving Buffalo: “Coming from Miami, I was used to partying, going out, just having something to do every night. Going to Buffalo, it was like hitting a brick wall. Like, 'Damn!' Can't go out, can't do nothing. And, you know, the women…”), Lynch has proved to be more of the same. Still, there's no denying he can run, and though he dances too much behind the line, a motivated Marshawn can flat run over people. While GM Buddy Nix says Lynch is going nowhere, privately the Bills appear to want a second rounder. They'd get a third tops.
Possible suitors: San Diego, Seattle
 
Ronnie Brown, Dolphins
 
When healthy, Brown is a fantastic all around back with great size and surprising speed. He's a dynamic running threat who catches the ball extremely well and is a major player in the Dolphins' Wildcat attack. But the former second overall pick brings similar skills to the table as number two Ricky Williams, and his durability issues give Tony Sparano all types of headaches. The hunch is Bill Parcells wants a break-away threat in the Chris Johnson mould to pair with the ageing Williams, leaving Brown - also recently had up on a DUI charge – available to the highest bidder. A second rounder would easily do it; a third should tip the balance too.
Possible suitors: Seattle, Detroit, San Francisco
 
Tony Scheffler, Denver
 
The Scheff has just signed his one year tender in Denver, which makes him prime real estate for a team ready to make a move. It's a draft packed to the rafters with pass-catching tight end types, but Scheffler has great speed and red zone skills. He'll be tempting for the price of a mid-round pick.
Possible suitors: Cincinnati, Baltimore, New England, Atlanta
 
LenDale White, Tennessee
 
White lost 20 lbs. last summer by laying off the tequila, which tells you all you need to know about his intriguing combination of NFL-level physical skills and high school-level mental preparation. He wants to be a starter in the league and former college coach Pete Carroll – who's just signed ex-USC bust Mike Williams – might be the guy to give him a shot.
Possible suitors: Seattle, New York Giants, Cincinnati
 
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh
 
There's something increasingly sinister about the details of the Big Ben fiasco, but a man is innocent until proven guilty. That said, the NFL and Steelers are set to act as if Roethlisberger is guilty – a suspension looms, especially with a civil suit still pending – and that might just mean the Rooney family ok-ing a trade. How much would a two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback with a deeply murky off field issue cost? It would take a fearless franchise to take that baggage on, but a first round pick at least must be part of the deal unless things take a turn for the worse. In truth, a trade is unlikely to go down as things stand.
Possible suitors: St. Louis, Buffalo
 
Jared Gaither, Baltimore
 
The Ravens' presumptive LT has big question marks around his work ethic, and more to the point the team might not be willing to pay big contracts to both him and Michael Oher a couple of years down the line. Is the trade talk a motivational ploy or for real? It's a deep draft for OL, and the Ravens may yet hit the 'eject' button.
Possible suitors: Dallas, Washington
 
Jason Campbell, QB
 
With Donovan McNabb in town, the Redskins will draft a developmental type for further down the line while Rex Grossman plays backup. That means Campbell - with a surprising 20 TD passes last year – is as good as gone. Carolina are supposedly out of the running, but Campbell's arm would be a good fit for Buffalo's swirling winds, especially for a third or fourth round pick with escalators.
Possible suitors: Buffalo, Carolina, Cincinnati, St. Louis, San Francisco
 
Leon Washington, Jets
 
Washington is a lightning bolt runner /receiver/returner who was in line for a big, Darren Sproles-esque payday until he broke his leg. With a one year tender signed (at the second round level) there was talk that Washington would be part of the Jets' deal for Santonio Holmes – that didn't happen, but the right offer would surely prize him loose. Trouble is, teams don't pay high prices for injured players, and Washington's greatest value is to the team he already plays for.
Possible suitors: San Francisco, Seattle, New York Giants, Miami
 
Marcus McNeill, Chargers
 
Decent left tackles are hard to find, and McNeill might be prized away from San Diego for something like a low first, high second round pick. The Colts were rumoured to be sniffing round, but the McNeill talk has died down for now.
Possible destinations: Indianapolis, Dallas, Washington
 
Derrick Johnson, Chiefs
 
Johnson somehow fell out of favour with the new regime in Kansas City and remains a bit-part player with great athletic ability. Is it another Todd Haley motivational tactic? The fact that Johnson's early season benching lasted all year suggests not, and there would unquestionably be a market for a young defender yet to fulfil his potential.
Possible suitors: Denver, New England
 
Kirk Morrison, Raiders
 
Unlike Johnson, Morrison has produced for the Raiders, but seems to be the scapegoat when it comes to Oakland's feeble run defense nonetheless. With a tender just signed, he's a draft day trade waiting to happen.
Possible suitors: New York Giants, Seattle, Philadelphia