The NFL trade deadline is coming up and that means it's time for people to propose crazy trade ideas that will never happen and here is another one, as brought up hypothetically on ESPN.com, with the Arizona Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald in a possible trade with the Green Bay Packers or San Diego Chargers heading into the Week 9 deadline.
The trade was brought up by Greg Garber on ESPN.com and while it is a wild idea, he puts it together quite well and for a team that usually doesn't make big deals, this could be one, as he says that for the round two draft pick along with rookie running back Johnathan Franklin and receiver Jordy Nelson, a deal could be had for Fitzgerald. This seems a bit crazy because the Cardinals love Fitzgerald and he is their best player, but the team is limited with what it can do because of his money and with Carson Palmer looking like a shell of himself, maybe it's time to get some picks for him and some talent back in return.
The fact that Fitzgerald has been limited over the past two seasons is not his fault at all, as the team has used names like Kevin Koln, Ryan Lindley and John Skelton at quarterback before Palmer, but moving to a team like the Packers would change all that. The team has the arguable best quarterback in the league in Aaron Rodgers and even though they would lose a talent like Jordy Nelson in this deal, he is worth the price of admission.
The Packers side of it sees a wide receiver at 30-years-old and they may not want to do it, but after losing Randall Cobb to a serious injury and James Jones as well, that Super bowl window is closing and after losing to the San Francisco 49ers and the Giants in disappointing fashion in the playoffs, that championship seems farther and farther away. Fitz makes a nice amount of money with an $18 million cap hit next season when his salary goes up, but what is a Super Bowl worth?
Fitzgerald is already one of the best receivers in the league and with the protection terrible for Palmer, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for Fitzgerald to change up some scenery. Fitz has been a very durable player, not missing a game since back in 2007 and even with a crappy quarterback last season, he still made 71 catches for nearly 800 yards and before that he had five straight 1,000 yard seasons and only one of those he had under 90 receptions.
Fitzgerald has played in seven games this season and has just 32 catches for 422 yards and while he has already tied his touchdown total from last season, he hasn't been in double digits for three years. The trade could be costly for the Packers, but they have the depth to deal with it and even though it would be hard for Fitzgerald to leave the only team he has played for, he also wants to win a championship and after getting to the Super Bowl with the Cards, that likely is the one chance he had in Arizona.
Sure, this is a crazy deal that will never happen, but what the hell right?