Last year, the Los Angeles Rams made the blueprint for how to move draft picks and build an immediate contender: trade a young quarterback for a proven competitor in Matt Stafford, move some later picks for a running back to boost the offense, grab Von Miller on a one-year rental to improve your defense from good to great before the playoffs.
Which teams could make moves like this to become Super Bowl favorites this year?
READ MORE: Ravens Trade Targets
Three Teams That Should Make Moves at the NFL Trade Deadline
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs offense has looked different but can turn it around. Patrick Mahomes is a perennial MVP candidate and can make any scheme look adequate. But if the Chiefs want to be true juggernauts in the AFC, they need to keep up with Josh Allen’s firepower. Imagine a world with D.J. Moore on the outside, Travis Kelce in the middle, and Cam Akers lined up in the backfield. The Chiefs know that their picks will be late and you’re not going to find a better immediate contributor on the outside than D.J. Moore.
The Kansas City defense could also use some help this year without Tyrann Mathieu. Through six weeks, the defense has only forced one interception and recovered four fumbles. There are a couple of disgruntled superstar defenders looking for a change of scenery. Roquan Smith could be the kind of X-factor player that pushes the defense into elite status. A rangy linebacker with 66 tackles and an interception already this year, Smith is a top choice for any team looking to buy a contributor.
Philadelphia Eagles
Who saw this coming? The Eagles are favorites in the NFC East, Jalen Hurts might be the MVP front-runner, and the fans might not be throwing snowballs at Santa Claus this year. They currently own two first-round picks for next year and have already made a move to acquire a top cover guy in C.J. Gardner-Johnson. They also traded away their first-round pick in 2022 for A.J. Brown and are looking down at the rest of the NFC East. They could make a couple more moves and widen that gap to make a run for the Super Bowl this year.
The only possible holes on this roster are on the offensive and defensive lines, though calling any position a hole is a stretch. The Eagles could add an older pass rusher to keep legs fresh in the playoffs or upgrade the interior of their offensive line to further protect Jalen Hurts. Robert Quinn is an older pass rusher who can wreck a game with a single strip sack and fits the bill. The Bears are clear sellers and would probably be satisfied with a third-round pick or even less. Additionally, they could shop their own first-round pick for one of the premiere guards on a struggling team. Whether it’s Wyatt Teller, Joel Bitonio, or Chris Lindstrom the extra muscle on the inside could make this team’s offensive attack even scarier.
New York Giants
NFL trade deadline now more interesting for surprising Giants https://t.co/RV7DsgP4Lk pic.twitter.com/uwcuHRbdtB
— New York Post (@nypost) October 19, 2022
This entire section only matters if Brian Daboll believes in Daniel Jones long-term. If Daniel Jones is their guy, the Giants could turn the NFC East into an arms race. Saquon Barkley is an absolute stud, the offensive line has been surprisingly adequate, and the defense looks terrifying with Kayvon Thibodeaux. This offense has been passable despite Kadarious Toney, Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, and basically every other wide receiver dealing with some kind of injury. They could move their second or third-round pick for Elijah Moore, Chase Claypool, or even Jerry Jeudy if the Denver Broncos are done with him.
As the NFL trade deadline approaches, each of these teams will need to weigh the pros and cons of moving their draft capital. The Rams were able to have their one year under the sun before struggling this year, but they’ll have that Lombardi Trophy in their building forever. The real question is, is it better to win one Super Bowl and struggle the next year, or just be an average playoff team for multiple years?
