News came Tuesday that tight end Rob Gronkowski was coming out of retirement and that the Patriots were trading him to the Buccaneers to reunite him with Tom Brady. This might be the blockbuster trade of the offseason, let alone the week. But it likely won't be the last trade of the week.
Veteran trades always seem to be a part of NFL draft week, and this year should be no exception. Some are disgruntled and want out. Some have become too expensive for their teams to afford. Some don't fit the new scheme. But every year, a couple of high-profile veterans end up on the trading block during and around the draft.
Last year, a couple of days before the draft, the Seahawks traded franchise player Frank Clark to the Chiefs, who were willing to give him the long-term deal Seattle wasn't. That worked out pretty well for Clark. During last year's draft, the Cardinals traded 2018 first-round pick Josh Rosen to the Dolphins. That didn't work out as well.
The point is, there's likely to be a trade or two involving current NFL players this week, in addition to all of the usual trades for picks. And with that in mind, we put together a list of 10 players who have a shot to be moved during or around the 2020 NFL draft. In no particular order:
Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
It was either Vince Lombardi or Bum Phillips who said, "The best way to get yourself traded is to rip the owner's son on social media." Ngakoue has made no secret of wanting out of Jacksonville, and he took the bridge-burning to new levels Monday in a Twitter feud with Jaguars executive Tony Khan. The Jags designated Ngakoue their franchise player last month, but he doesn't want to play for the one-year, $17.8 million tag. He would like a new deal, and he'd like it to be with a team other than the Jaguars.
Ngakoue just turned 25, and he has 37.5 sacks in his first four NFL seasons. The reason he hasn't been moved yet is that Jacksonville's price has been too high for teams that know they also have to sign him long term. It's possible his market could pick up once Jadeveon Clowney signs and the teams that missed out on Clowney get desperate. It's also possible Jacksonville could take the best offer on the table Thursday or Friday to make sure they get 2020 picks for Ngakoue, instead of 2021 ones.
Regardless, don't expect Ngakoue to be playing for the Jags this season. The list of potential suitors is extensive and includes Seattle, Tennessee, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Detroit and the Giants, to name just a few.
