Five NFL players who need a change of scenery as trade deadline approaches
The NFL trade deadline is a natural catalyst for some fun hypotheticals.
Of course, most of the deals thrown around will never materialize, and the overwhelming bulk of teams will stand pat or make minor tweaks rather than attempt to make major changes at midseason. But with the cutoff for making deals now is 11 days away, it's only natural to ponder the possibilities, even if a majority of the league's biggest stars will remain in place.
With that in mind, we asked USA TODAY Sports' NFL writers and columnists: Which NFL player – regardless of whether actually on the trade block – is most in need of a change of scenery?
Their answers:
Davante Adams
Things have changed dramatically since Davante Adams was traded to his favorite childhood team. His good friend Derek Carr was released, Chandler Jones was exiled, and the Raiders are hovering around the basement of the AFC. Adams has already caught passes from Jimmy Garoppolo, Aidan O'Connell and Brian Hoyer this season.
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The six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver stated last month that it’s not in his "mentality to sit here and try to take all season and figure it out." But it’s become apparent that the Raiders are closer to a being in a rebuild than they are to being a contender, and they don’t have a franchise quarterback on their roster.
Adams was considered by many to be the best wide receiver in the NFL not too long ago. Now it seems as though he’s stuck in the Raiders' black hole, one Las Vegas likely won’t escape for the next few seasons. And the 30-year-old wide receiver doesn’t have all the time to “figure it out.” – Tyler Dragon
Davante Adams is the easy answer here as he’s publicly voiced his frustrations this week. And he’s right. Jimmy Garoppolo has replaced the quarterback he first joined the Raiders to play with in Derek Carr, and Adams is not getting the ball as much as he should. It’s felt like Adams has been working on his cardio in his last two games, producing just six catches on nine targets for 74 yards and no scores. Adams should be the most targeted receiver in the NFL, like he was in Weeks 3 and 4 when he had 33 targets, producing 21 catches for 247 yards and two touchdowns. I don’t see Adams or the Raiders parting ways because of his immense value. Hopefully, Raiders coach Josh McDaniels hears Adams loud and clear, and will find ways to feed his best player. The Raiders are second in the AFC West and could reach the playoffs if Adams is as involved as he wants to be. – Safid Deen
Jerry Jeudy
The Denver Broncos are going nowhere fast. They haven’t been helped much at all by 2020 first-round WR Jerry Jeudy, who still doesn’t seem to be vibing with QB Russell Wilson – the results equating to four catches per game for Jeudy and a career-low 44.4 receiving yards per. And with outsiders like NFL Network analyst Steve Smith living rent-free in Jeudy’s head, it just seems like a new team, new mentors, new advisors, new quarterback, et al. might help him reboot what’s largely been a disappointing career to date for the former Alabama star. – Nate Davis
Jeudy, the former Alabama star, could use a fresh start after falling way short of living up to his status as a first-round pick in 2020. While it was reasonable to think that the arrival of Sean Payton earlier this year might ignite the wide receiver's production, that hasn't happened. In five games, Jeudy's tallied 20 catches for 222, and has zero TDs. The rebuilding Broncos would be gambling big if they invested a fifth-year option on Jeudy, who still hasn't produced a 1,000-yard season in the NFL while being outplayed by fellow first-round receivers in his draft class: Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aiyuk. Denver's best option is to deal Jeudy for some future draft capital – and there's no reason that Jeudy should object to that while trying reboot his NFL potential. – Jarrett Bell
Justin Jefferson
I’m also going to go with a receiver, but a different one. We’ve got to get Justin Jefferson into a winning organization. If he’s not the most electric wideout in the game — Tyreek Hill of the Dolphins may have a claim here — Jefferson's not third, we can say that with confidence. Kirk Cousins has been a fine and serviceable quarterback and he has actually developed a solid rapport with Jefferson; last season, Jefferson led the NFL with 1,809 receiving yards and flirted with Calvin Johnson’s single-season record of 1,964. But the problem is what’s happening in the win-loss column.
Minnesota has made the playoffs just once in Jefferson’s three seasons there. That came last year and the Vikings got bounced by a flawed Giants team in the wild card round. The Vikings are now 2-4 and falling behind the Lions in the NFC North. Jefferson is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. His frustrations with losing are clear on the sideline. He's 24 and is an absolute game breaker. He appears to be craving bigger moments and would thrive on a legitimate contender. Now in the final season of his rookie contract, the Vikings hold leverage via the fifth-year option and, potentially, the franchise tag. If the Vikings can’t turn their performance around, hopefully they can swing a deal and get him to a contender because it would be a treat to watch Jefferson go off in the postseason. – Lorenzo Reyes
Alvin Kamara
Missing the first three games of the season suspended for his role in a Las Vegas assault, Kamara returned to a Saints offense that through six weeks averages 4.6 yards per play (26th in the NFL). Kamara still has a sizable role in the Saints offense, but with quarterback Derek Carr, he is a sitting duck in the passing game. Prior to Thursday night's loss to the Jaguars, his average yards per target was 3.4. His average yards per reception? 3.7, essentially meaning that Kamara has no room to run the ball. Watch one Saints drive and it becomes clear Carr has zero issue using his safety valve in the flat or underneath in Kamara. Unfortunately for the five-time Pro Bowl running back, his touches are baked-in surrender rather than an effort to move the ball. New Orleans should be in playoff contention – thanks to its defense – all season, but Kamara’s effectiveness in both the passing and rushing attacks would be better-suited for a team interested in playing modern offense. – Chris Bumbaca
CeeDee Lamb
The Dallas Cowboys won't – and shouldn't – move their No. 1 receiver this year. That much is clear. But it's still a real drag to see a target as dynamic as Lamb get bogged down in a stagnant, uncreative attack that ranks last in the NFL in rate of motion at the snap, according to ESPN. A seven-catch, 117-yard performance in Monday's win over the Los Angeles Chargers helped get the fourth-year pass catcher back on track this season. But the lack of a contract extension for Lamb – as well as Jerry Jones' response of "I don't know about that" when asked last week if he wanted more targets for his top weapon – underscores some troubling signs about Dallas' level of commitment. Don't make the same mistake you did with Amari Cooper, 'Boys. – Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
