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NFL teams shaking things up a bit?

The NFL Regular Season is upon us, and some teams need some help. What possible moves can some teams make to help turn their season around or, at least, keep them on pace for a successful 2017 campaign? The NFL is generally not the major sport for huge trades, but there are quite a few free agents and a few possible trade scenarios that could benefit several teams.

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The most obvious one is Colin Kaepernick. Despite his stance on social issues, the guy is a major talent and should be on an NFL roster. There is a lot of noise about the Bengals possibly scooping him up soon because of the offensive struggles in Cincinnati. Many Bengals players are rumored to want Kaepernick, and if Andy Dalton and the rest of the offense continue to struggle, Kaepernick would be the best option for the Bengals, in terms of free agents. The Bengals running back trio also needs gutted. It is not possible to expect Joe Mixon, Giovanni Bernard, and Jeremy Hill to all succeed in a loaded backfield. It would be beneficial for the Bengals to trade one for some offensive line help or some corner and linebacker depth.

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The Saints have a similar situation with Mark Ingram, Adrian Peterson, and Alvin Kamara. The cannot expect to continue to use all 3 of them successfully and also for them to not all get frustrated with constantly sharing the ball. Adrian Peterson or Mark Ingram need to get traded, and soon. They have both expressed their disapproval of the Saints offense, and these are two backs that need the ball in their hands a lot to succeed. I think Adrian Peterson should be traded more than Ingram because he’s injury prone, older, and he has less familiarity with the organization than Ingram. Peterson should be targeted by teams like the Lions, Cardinals, and Giants, who all have or have had problems running the football in the recent past.

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The Carolina Panthers could also use a tight end, particularly with Greg Olsen on the shelf for several weeks. Greg Olsen is a top 5 tight end, and Cam Newton uses him a lot in their offense. Lance Kendricks and Brent Celek are two tight ends that could fit in well for Carolina in Olsen’s absence. These are two guys who used to be more involved in the offense, but have faced declining roles this season already. They could help pick up the slack some if Carolina gave them a shot, and decided they absolutely need a tight end who is passable for the next 4-6 weeks.

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The last trade or transaction that I would personally like to see happen is a new kicker for the San Diego Chargers. Younghoe Koo may be an internet sensation, but the Chargers need someone they can rely on to make clutch kicks. The Chargers are so close to being great, but the slow starts, injuries, and inconsistent kicking has really came back to bite them over the last several seasons. Dan Carpenter, Mike Nugent, and Roberto Aguayo are all options the Chargers need to try out as soon as possible to help regenerate their season and provide some clutch and consistent kicking.

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While some of these moves are more likely than others, all of these moves could really provide a benefit for several teams. The trade deadline is about 5 weeks away, and it will be interesting to see what a few teams decide to do with their players in the coming weeks. Will any of the teams discussed do anything significant to their rosters in the coming weeks? Only time will tell. Stay tuned, as it is going to be a compelling ride to the trade deadline.

9/26/2017

By Nate Steis, Staff Writer

Adrian Peterson and Jeremy Hill are among the top candidates to be traded from their teams.

Photo by USA FTW

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