Tracking the NFL offseason Trades
by Bosun Akinpelu
Now that the 2020 NFL Draft is over, it’s time to take a look at some of the biggest offseason trades.
Arizona Cardinals (March 16)
The Cardinals found their quarterback of the future in Kyler Murray and spent the offseason trying to get him some help. With Kenyan Drake providing the team with consistency at the running back position last season, they traded running back David Johnson and a second round draft pick to the Houston Texans for All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins and a fourth-round pick.
Baltimore Ravens (March 15, 16)
The team that finished with the best record in the NFL last season hasn’t been standing pat so far. They traded their fifth-round pick in this year’s draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars for defensive tackle Calais Campbell, giving them more depth on the defensive line.
Since they had plenty of depth at the tight end position, the Ravens shipped off Hayden Hurst and their fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft to the Atlanta Falcons for their second and fifth-round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Buffalo Bills (March 16)
The Bills decided to give quarterback Josh Allen another weapon when they traded for former Minnesota Vikings receiver Stephon Diggs. The team had to give up first, fifth, and sixth-round picks in the 2020 draft as well as its fourth-round pick in the 2021 draft.
Carolina Panthers (March 4, 23)
The Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers did a straight-up swap for offensive linemen, sending Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner to Los Angeles in exchange for Pro Bowl tackle Russell Okung.
A few weeks later, the Panthers sent backup quarterback Kyle Allen to the Washington Redskins for Washington’s fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Allen, who played for Redskins head coach Ron Rivera in Carolina, gives the Redskins an experienced backup that is familiar with Rivera’s playbook.
Chicago Bears (March 18)
The Bears are looking for consistent play from the quarterback position and haven’t been getting it from Mitch Trubisky. The team traded its fourth-round pick in the 2020draft to Jacksonville for Nick Foles. Foles lost his starting job to Gardner Minshew after suffering an injury in their season opener last year and is expected to compete for the starting job when training camp begins.
Denver Broncos (March 3, 18)
The Broncos added some depth to their secondary when they acquired cornerback A.J. Bouye from the Jacksonville Jaguars for a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft. They also picked up defensive lineman Jurrell Casey in a trade with the Tennessee Titans, allowing them to improve their defense heading into next season.
Detroit Lions (March 18, 19)
The Lions added some depth to the safety position with the acquisition of Duron Harmon from the New England Patriots. A day later, they traded cornerback Darius Slay to Philadelphia for a third and fifth-round pick in this year’s draft.
Houston Texans (April 9)
After trading away DeAndre Hopkins in a widely panned move, Houston’s head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien traded the team’s second round pick in the draft to Los Angeles for wide receiver Brandin Cooks and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The move gives the Texans a reliable replacement for Hopkins on a team-friendly deal.
Indianapolis Colts (March 16, April 25)
The Colts significantly improved their defensive line with the acquisition of defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who has emerged as one of the best defensive linemen in the league. However, they had to give up their first-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers.
With the team having a lot of depth at the cornerback position, they shipped Quincy Wilson off to the New York Jets for a sixth-round pick in the 2020 draft.
Miami Dolphins (April 25)
The Dolphins found their quarterback in the draft and decided to add some depth to the running back position by trading for Matt Breida. The team gave its fifth-round pick in the 2020 draft to the San Francisco 49ers to seal the deal. Brieda played well for the 49ers last season, finishing with 623 rushing yards while splitting duties with two other backs.
New England Patriots (April 21)
The Patriots sent tight end Rob Gronkowski to Tampa Bay for a fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft. Since Gronkowski had previously said he wouldn’t play for the team, getting a fourth-rounder for the former Pro Bowler was a good deal for the Patriots. The move reunited Tom Brady with one of his favorite weapons and makes the Buccaneers a scary offensive team on paper.
San Francisco 49ers (April 25)
The 49ers were informed shortly before the draft that offensive tackle Joe Staley was thinking about retiring. The team found his replacement in a deal with the Washington Redskins, trading their fifth round pick in this draft and their third-round pick in the 2021 draft for Trent Williams.
