Now that there have been so many rumors swirling around the NFL regarding offseason moves, key signings, and big trades that are likely to go down, it leaves us to ponder which ones will make the biggest headlines during the 2022 NFL offseason? Already having had so many potential trades being rumors running rampant just a few weeks after Super Bowl 56 concluded, the NFL could be in for a serious facelift across the league this summer.
It’s almost been non-stop with players being unsatisfied or superstars seeking a change of scenery after failing to reach expectations. Whatever the case may be, let’s now take a look at four potential blockbuster trades that would shake up the entire 2022 NFL offseason in an instant.
4 potential blockbuster NFL trades
Russell Wilson to the Tennessee Titans
The Titans would definitely have to give an arm and a leg to the NFL overlords and then some to pull off this trade, but if they are able to make it happen without sacrificing too much then this would certainly shake things up for the entire football world. With Super Bowl champion and all-time great Russell Wilson under center for them, the Titans would become instant title contenders and pose the biggest threat to the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, and Buffalo Bills to win the AFC crown. He’d also be a major upgrade from Ryan Tannehill.
Just the very idea of Wilson delivering passes to Julio Jones, AJ Brown, Nick Ikhine-Westbrook, and Anthony Firkser while forming a lethal rushing attack with All-Pro running back Derrick Henry is a fun vision in itself. It’s hard to imagine there’d be a defensive unit out that could slow down the explosion and dominance this offense would bring. If the Titans are serious about competing for a Super Bowl and reaching the promised land in 2023, then this could be the move that gets them over the hump.
Deshaun Watson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Now that Tom Brady has officially retired from the NFL, this has left a void at the quarterback spot for the Buccaneers. One player they’ve been linked to lately is Deshaun Watson who has been seeking a trade out of Houston for quite some time now but is still dealing with legal issues stemming from a lengthy list of sexual assault allegations.
The Buccaneers are reportedly looking into Watson and waiting to get more clarity on his legal situation. If the Buccaneers are able to pull off a trade with the Texans and land Watson, this would keep them in title contention—especially if they’re able to re-sign Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, and Leonard Fournette. Watson’s elite playmaking and precision in the pocket would give Tampa Bay an exciting new style of play at the quarterback spot.
This would also give the team an immediate upgrade over Blaine Gabbert and Kyle Trask. As the Buccaneers forge a backup plan to stay competitive and begin a new chapter, making a play for Watson could very well be a part of their offseason strategy which will strongly vary on the status of his legal issues.
Michael Thomas to the Las Vegas Raiders
In all likelihood, the New Orleans Saints won’t get fair market value for Michael Thomas in any trade scenario. After sitting out the entire 2021-22 NFL season due to issues with the organization and a nagging ankle injury, Thomas’ time with the Saints could be coming to a close this summer.
As a three-time Pro Bowler who’s widely considered one of the best wideouts in the game when fully healthy, Thomas could be the missing link for the Raiders on offense. In Las Vegas, he’d perfectly complement the existing talents and diverse skillsets of Derek Carr, Hunter Renfrow, Darren Waller, Zay Jones, DeSean Jackson, and Josh Jacobs. Carr and Thomas might even form one of the league’s best quarterback/receiver duos in the NFL.
All-in-all, it has become apparent that Thomas isn’t a good long-term fit on a Saints team that’s aiming to retool and rebuild on the fly while possessing the worst salary cap situation in the league. Plus, with the Raiders having the cap room to take on Thomas’ contract and new head coach Josh McDaniels looking to usher in an exciting new era for the team, this move could be worth the gamble. And who knows, Thomas might even thrive with a change of scenery.
Christian McCaffrey to the Buffalo Bills
Despite his unmatched value to the Carolina Panthers, Christian McCaffrey has only suited up for the team in 10 games over the last two seasons, and this has come shortly after being made the highest-paid running back in the NFL with a four-year, $64-plus million extension. Unfortunately, this is the nature of the business and the NFL doesn’t hold halfbacks in the same regard as it does some of the other positions in the league.
This has also led to recent reports that the Panthers are willing to listen to trade offers for CMC this offseason. With the Bills, McCaffrey would solve their woes in the running game and give them a complete and versatile offensive unit. Even with an elite dual-threat quarterback like Josh Allen and a solid rushing attack led by Devin Singletary, there’s no denying that the Bills’ play would be elevated with CMC coming out of the backfield.
With a deep and dynamic passing game already in the fold for them, the addition of McCaffrey would upgrade their offense and take a ton of the offensive playmaking load off of Allen. Plus a superstar trio of McCaffrey, Allen, and Stefon Diggs would be hard for any team to shut down on a weekly basis.
The addition of McCaffrey would give the Bills a multi-faceted offense that could overtake the Chiefs and Bengals and get them to the Super Bowl in 2023. Despite all the success the Bills have seen over the past couple of years, the addition of McCaffrey would be an absolute game-changer and take their offense to the next level.
