Dolphins Trade Idea Sends Stud Edge Rusher To The Bucs
The Miami Dolphins fell to 1-5 on the season this past weekend when they fought hard against a contending Los Angeles Chargers team, but ultimately lost 29-27.
Now down All-Pro wide receiver, Tyreek Hill, and with head coach Mike McDaniel’s fate already quite possibly sealed, general manager Chris Grier could look to make some deals as the league approaches the deadline – offloading some good players for slightly inflated prices for contending teams desperate to find that last piece of the puzzle.
This is the view of CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell, who suggests that Miami send edge rusher, Jaelan Phillips, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dolphins Encouraged To Move Off Elite Pass Rusher
“The Dolphins are off to a disappointing 1-5 start, All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill is out for the season after a gruesome knee injury and coach Mike McDaniel is on the
“That’s why it would make sense for the fire sale to begin in South Beach. Oft-injured edge rusher Jaelan Phillips is only 26 years old and a pending free agent. Plus, his 20 quarterback pressures this season are the same as Houston Texans Pro Bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter.
Podell argues that Tampa Bay would benefit from the addition of a proven rusher off the edge like Phillips, to try and get the defense – which has been below average in the league this season – to match the high-powered offense.
“The Buccaneers are off to a 5-1 start and the NFC’s top overall seed, so they should be doing everything to bolster their roster. Boosting their pass rush with the addition of Phillips is a crucial and necessary move so that their 24th-ranked scoring defense (25.2 points per game) can do a better job of complementing their sixth-ranked scoring offense (27.5 points per game).”
Why the Week 3 Kirk Cousins to Falcons Trade Talk is Pure Nonsense
A new update on the Atlanta Falcons’ stance about a Kirk Cousins trade before next month’s trade deadline is elite-level foolishness.
Despite giving him a massive $180 million contract a year ago, the Falcons needed just 14 games to end the Cousins era in Hot-lanta. However, even before he started his first game, the organization showed its lack of confidence when it used a 2024 first-round pick on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. That ended up being the right choice.
- Kirk Cousins contract (Spotrac): Four years, $180 million
Cousins’ surgically repaired Achilles did not help him recapture his previous Pro Bowl form, and the former Washington star has looked like a young signal caller with the potential to be a franchise QB. It’s why it seems like a no-brainer for the Falcons to trade Cousins, especially when there are several teams starting backups in Week 3.
Yet, Atlanta has been resistant to a trade. However, a new report claims they are open to a deal, but for a ridiculous price.
Atlanta Falcons still want ‘premium pick’ in Kirk Cousins trade
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Falcons are absolutely open to a trade for Cousins, but they want to “ask for a lot in return,” including the team that gets him “eating” a good amount of his salary and getting a “premium” pick in return.
If Cousins had lost his starting job due to an injury, but looked good up until that point, the Falcons’ stance would make sense. Since competent NFL QBs are hard to find. However, in his 14 starts last season, the 37-year-old looked like a shell of himself. Furthermore, a report this week suggested many teams around the league believe Cousins “is done.”
- Kirk Cousins stats (2024): 7-7 record, 3,508, 18 TDs, 16 INTs, 88.6 rating
So there aren’t many teams kicking down the door to take Cousins and his remaining contract. The idea of getting a premium pick for him at this point is laughable. The best thing the organization can do is try to move as much of his contract and take whatever they can get in terms of draft compensation.
He is owed $35 million a piece for the next two seasons, and if he is cut after this year, it comes with a huge dead cap hit. If Atlanta could even slash $20 million a year of that off their payroll, it would benefit them greatly in improving other areas of the roster. However, Falcons owner Arthur Blank is not ready to admit how bad the deal is and is stupidly trying to hold out hope they can save face in a trade.
