The NFL is an ever changing league and the first month and a half of the 2024 season has certainly shown that. Some teams seasons are effectively over despite having postseason aspirations just a little over a month ago. And on the other side of the coin – other teams seasons are just getting started and they are looking to make a deep postseason run. As we know – only one team can win a Super Bowl – but it’s not set in stone who’s going to win. And in today’s video we’re going to discuss a couple of stars that could be the move and could be traded in the next few weeks. One of the coolest things about the NFL over the past 5 to 7 years is how much the NFL trade deadline has picked up – not just for a team or two – but for the entire league. For any younger viewers believe it or not – it used to just be another day – but thankfully those days are over. The trade deadline is a lot more interesting and we could see a handful of teams try to make a Super Bowl push with what they believe could be the missing piece. And there is a lot to dive into in today’s video and without further ado – let’s begin
And we are starting today’s video by discussing Browns receiver Amari Cooper. Amari has been one of the most consistent receivers over the past decade as he was selected number 4 overall by the Raiders back in 2015. Amari was traded to the Cowboys during the 2018 season, and eventually traded to the Browns in the 2022 offseason. Amari is in the final year of his deal and he is 30 years old. Given the situation in Cleveland – it makes a lot of sense for Amari to be traded to a serious contender. Whether that team is the Buffalo Bills or Kansas City Chiefs – both are viable options for Amari and to be honest – I would prefer him to go to the Chiefs due in large part to the injuries they have sustained. They lost Marquise Brown for the year before he could even play a regular season game for them, and Rashee Rice is done for the year after suffering an injury in week 4.
The Chiefs are still 5-0 despite all of this – but it’s fair to say Patrick Mahomes hasn’t looked close to the Patrick Mahomes we’re used to. He’s thrown 6 touchdowns to 6 interceptions to start the season and the Chiefs have just one game with 400 yards of offense in their first 5 games – which was against the Saints on Monday night in week 5. It is worth noting they are also banged up at the running back position, and that both Kareem Hunt and Juju Smith Schuster both turned the clock back to the 2017 or 2018 version of themselves – but I don’t think relying on both of those players in 2024 is sustainable. Amari on the other hand is working on 4 1,100 yard seasons in the past 5 and would undoubtedly be an upgrade to the position.
The lackluster quarterback play in Cleveland in 2024 to start the year will certainly hurt Amari’s chances of having a 5th 1,100 yard season in 6 years – but the Chiefs are in a Super Bowl window and bringing in Amari certainly helps their chances of doing what no other NFL franchise has ever done – and that’s 3 peat. Amari will turn 31 in June and given that he is on an expiring contract – I don’t think the cost would be all that much either.
I think it would be a late day 3 pick or maybe even a pick swap and the Browns are in a position where they simply need draft capital. Cleveland clearly is not going anywhere this year and if there has ever been a definition of a selling team at the deadline – Cleveland fits the bill. I don’t think Amari would re sign with the Browns for several reasons and the quarterback situation is certainly one. He also has just one career playoff win which was back in the 2018 wild card round against Seattle. Amari is closing in on 10,000 career receiving yards and has over 60 career touchdowns and out of all of the talented receivers from the past 10 years – whether it’s AB, Julio, Tyreek, Justin Jefferson, or whoever – Amari is often forgotten about despite having 7 1,000 yard seasons and 5 pro bowls. And to be fair – he’s never been on any of those guys levels – but in terms of bringing in a talented player for a relatively low cost – this is a move I think Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach has to make.
I know the day 3 pick trade value may come as a surprise to some – but this is 30 year old receiver on an expiring deal. No team is going to cough up a first or second round pick for him. I also think Amari has a very high floor as a player and despite having just 250 receiving yards in 6 games – and being on pace for just 708 yards – if he is traded this week to Kansas City and plays the final 12 games for the Chiefs – because remember – Kansas City just had a bye – he could still be a 1,000 yard receiver this year. I know Juju is coming off of a great game, and Xavier Worthy has had some splash plays here and there – but I don’t think that’s enough to carry a receiving core. And I think the Chiefs need to go get Amari Cooper
The next one is going to be surprising because a lot of the time with players being moved at the trade deadline – it’s usually about finding a marriage of a bad team moving a player on an expiring contract to a team that’s contending for a Super Bowl. And there was a reason there were a lot of rumors last year this time about the Titans potentially moving on from Derrick Henry, and of course – the Raiders moving on from Davante Adams. And we saw at times how unhappy Davante was throughout the receiver documentary. But this next one is the Panthers trading Diontae Johnson to the Patriots and it’s for very similar reasons as to why they brought him in in the first place. The main reason Diontae was brought in was to help out their young quarterback in Bryce Young and I do credit the Panthers for every move they made this offseason – to try and help Bryce Young. Unfortunately that didn’t work out and we’ve seen the level of play at the quarterback position improve since Andy Dalton took over.
And over the past couple of Games – Diontae has been a really productive player. He has 3 touchdowns in the last 4 games and he’s went for over 75 yards in 3 of the last 4 games – including a season high 122 yard outing against the Raiders back in week 3. I understand there may be some push back from Panthers fans with this one but what I would say is the Panthers didn’t give up much to get him in the first place. They gave up corner Donte Jackson and a 7th round pick, for Diontae Johnson and a 6th round pick. And if you can get the 6th round pick back from the New England Patriots – and send him to New England so he can work with Drake Maye – I think this is a trade that would benefit both teams. Receivers have to look out for themselves and with the uncertainty at the quarterback position in 2025 and beyond for Carolina – I would be kind of surprised if Diontae stays in the Queen City this offseason. And I can’t blame him because you have one shot at an NFL career – and Diontae doesn’t owe the organization anything to stay for 3 or 4 years and to mentor Xavier Legette and to hope that by the time he’s 31 or 32 years old – that this team may be able to make a deep postseason run. Because what I think needs to be remembered about the Panthers in this trade is – they’re not close to competing. They’re not a player or two away.
Diontae will turn 29 next July and he is a free agent this offseason anyway. I think this makes a lot of sense for New England because the receiving corps isn’t very good and like with Amari – Diontae is a solid player and has a very high floor at the receiver position. We’ve seen New England strike out on big receivers over the past few offseason like Brandon Aiyuk or Deandre Hopkins- and sure Diontae isn’t on their level – but he is better than what they currently have. I liked what I saw from Drake Maye in his debut and I know the big thing with New England is going to be fixing the offensive line – which I think they will in the 2025 offseason – whether it be through free agency or with their first round pick – but why not bring in a veteran receiver that’s not a KJ Osborn, or a Kendrick Bourne and see what your rookie quarterback can do with Diontae. Diontae of course isn’t going to fix every problem the Patriots have – but if he liked what he saw from Drake Maye for the remainder of the 2024 season – he may stay and play there for another year or two which would be huge for Drake Maye’s development. The cost would be very low and I think New England should try and make it happen. The main reason for Carolina trading him would be due to the benching of Bryce Young, as Diontae was brought in to work with him and we all know how that played out
