The 2020 NFL Trade Deadline has not become what the NFL Trade Deadline is supposed to be: a fun and groundbreaking event where NFL teams make the moves necessary to get better. The 2020 NFL Tradeline was a bust among some of the big moves that could have happened. While some moves will help NFL teams for the Playoffs, many of the projected trades did not happen. After another week in the books, here are some of the trades that should have occurred.
2020 NFL Trade Deadline: Trades That Should Have Happened
Green Bay Needed to Find A New Receiver
The Green Bay Packers were among the teams in the league seriously considering a trade during the 2020 NFL Trade Deadline. This was because they do not have a healthy wide receiver outside of Davante Adams. Their second receiver in Allen Lazard has missed the past four games while on the injured reserver.Green Bay searching for a wide receiver like Will Fuller of the Houston Texans was an open secret. Although there were constant rumors, the trade for Fuller did not happen. The Packers were potentially looking into John Ross of the Cincinnati Bengals and Golden Tate of the New York Giants. Green Bay is ranked ninth in the league in passing yards(265.7) and 18th in completion percentage (65.9 percent). The receivers have accounted for 1,124 yards and eight drops for the Packers. This might be a missed opportunity for the Packers to be considered an elite team in the NFC.
Dwayne Haskins needed a new start
The timeline for teams to put their trust in developing their rookie quarterback is not a set science. The Washington Football Team seems to be ready to move on from their former first-round selected quarterback, Dwayne Haskins. In four games this season Haskins has passed for 939 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions on a completion percentage of 61 percent. Haskins has not been the most impressive quarterback for Washington and it seems apparent that they are giving up on him. Washington is currently expected to look into a quarterback in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft and Haskins might progress as a passer with a different team.Washington wasted the opportunity to trade him to a team like the Indianapolis Colts, who are operating with an ageing quarterback.
Tennessee could have used Ryan Kerrigan
Among some of the teams that had the most stress during the NFL Tradeline were the Tennessee Titans. The Titans were looking for trade partners for underwhelming outside linebacker Vic Beasley Jr. and cornerback Johnathan Joseph. Instead, the Titans released both players and traded for 2018 First-Team All-Pro cornerback Desmond King from the Los Angeles Chargers.
While they filled their cornerback position, they failed to trade for a replacement in Beasley. Washington’s under utilized outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan would have been a great addition to the team. Of the seven games Kerrigan has played, he has only played in two games where he 33 percent or more of the defensive reps. A frustrated Kerrigan was looking for a new team to contribute to and Tennessee needed more pass rush impact.
Matt Ryan and Kyle Shanahan could have reunited
There were rumors that the Atlanta Falcons were looking to rebuild their franchise. There were speculations that Matt Ryan was on the trade block due to an expensive contract with the team. With the San Francisco 49ers needing a potential out for their injured quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, they could have made the move for Ryan as their starter for the short future. The 35-year old quarterback had some of his best seasons in 2015 and 2016 while 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan was the offensive coordinator for the Falcons.
In 2016, the Falcons offense ranked third in the league in passing yards per game (295.3) and first in points per game (33.8). Atlanta would traverse to Super Bowl LI, but lose to the New England Patriots 34-28. After the season, Shanahan became the head coach of the 49ers. This is a team that has not entirely had consistency in their quarterbacks in terms of durability and health. Ryan would have been the long-term answer and a more capable passer for the 49ers than Garoppolo. Ryan currently leads the league in passing yards accounted for this season (2,462).
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