Larry Fitzgerald Trade Rumors: New England Patriots, NY Jets Options For Arizona Cardinals If WR Traded?

The Arizona Cardinals may consider a Larry Fitzgerald trade this season if things do not turn around on offense for the WR, as he has a high priced contract and is getting up there in age and teams like the New England Patriots, NY Jets or Miami Dolphins could look at making a deal at the NFL trading deadline depending on how the season progresses.

The Cardinals have not been using Fitzgerald nearly as much as in the past and this season in four games he has only 13 catches, a ridiculously low number for him. According to ESPN.com, the Patriots and the Jets have been identified as teams that could be interested in a deal if Fitzgerald is shopped, but the report says that the teams are not actively looking to make the trade. The Jets left tons of cap room on the table this offseason and with Eric Decker hurt and a disappointment so far, the team could get desperate and make a move.

The Patriots don't usually make moves like that and that is likely why it won't happen, but for two seasons now they have been mentioned as the team that makes the most sense. Fitzgerald is one of the op receivers in the league and since losing Wes Welker, Tom Brady has not had the quality of WRs that he is used to having. Julian Edelman has emerged as a great player, but he is no superstar and adding someone like Fitzgerald could help transform the offense.

Fitzgerald is getting paid a ton of money and that will only go up over the next couple years and that is another reason why the Cards may trade him. Fitzgerald never would say it publically, but he has to be frustrated at the way the Cardinals have handled the QB situation since Kurt Warner left. Carson Palmer has been very solid, but he is old and injury prone and after the year he spent with the three headed monster of John Skelton, Ryan Lindley and Kevin Kolb, he could be ready to move on eventually.

Fitzgerald is a consummate pro and will not complain about the situation, but through four games this season one of the best wide receivers in history has just 13 catches. Having Michael Floyd emerge as an option has not helped things either and Fitzgerald appears to be getting targeted less and less. Part of that has to do with the injuries, but after putting up monster numbers nearly every season from 2005 until 2011, the last couple years have to be frustrating to Fitzgerald.

The Patriots have draft picks to move and while they may not want to break the back (as they showed with Wes Welker) this could be a Super Bowl making move. Fitzgerald has only 13 catches this season and over the past two weeks he has as many catches as he had in Week 2 and if things don't get better, his name will keep coming up in trade rumors. The Jets and Patriots could be options and Fitzgerald will have plenty of suitors if he hits the trade market.