The NFL trade deadline is next week and some deals have already gone down. The Arizona Cardinals acquired pass rusher Markus Golden. The Seattle Seahawks acquired defensive end Carlos Dunlap.
Should the Cardinals do more? They already have traded away their 2021 fourth and sixth-round picks.
USA TODAY’s Nate Davis wrote about the players all 32 NFL teams should target. For the Cardinals, he suggests one of the league’s most recognizable stars — Houston Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt. He also believes the Cardinals would be wise to potentially trade for a running back since Kenyan Drake will be out a few weeks.
If it turns out J.J. Watt is in play, they’ve also got room to incorporate him into their salary structure – and imagine him paired with OLB Chandler Jones next year. (Though after losing WR DeAndre Hopkins, Houstonians probably couldn’t stomach any more dealings with Arizona.) But if the Cards do anything, they might be wiser to look for blocking help or – depending on the severity of RB Kenyan Drake’s injury – tailback depth, i.e. Todd Gurley or perhaps Duke Johnson.
If the Cardinals managed to acquire Watt for a second-round pick like in the deal to acquire Hopkins, Cardinals fans would likely be thrilled. Watt is not the player he once was, but he is still an upgrade over pretty much everyone else the Cardinals have on the defensive line.
As for a running back, it seems unnecessary when they feel Chase Edmonds is a starting running back. Last year’s acquisition of Drake was necessitated by the injury to both David Johnson and Chase Edmonds. They are not in the same situation.
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