Chase Young and 2 other trade options to consider as well…
The 2023 NFL Season is just a little more than a month away and the newly signed veterans and collegiate players around the league have settled into their new homes. However, there are some other players either that are still in the free agent market or via a trade that have yet to decide where their next home will be.
Some pretty big name players have been dealt on post-draft day for future picks and other compensation. Just last year we saw the Eagles trade for star defensive back CJ Gardner-Johnson and a 2025 Rd. 7 pick with a package that gave the Saints the 2023 Rd. 5 and 2024 Conditional Rd. 6 pick.
This year is no different. There are a handful of current NFL players, even some stars, who could see themselves being dealt before the season begins. Could the Chiefs take that similar approach like the Eagles did after a recent turn of events. The Chiefs have lost one of their all-time greats in edge rusher Frank Clark who just signed to the Broncos. Now, there have been rumors about the Chiefs could be one of those teams that still pursue some veteran help to improve their roster.
According to oddsmakers, the Chiefs are among the favorites to land former Ohio State star and current Washington Commanders defensive lineman Chase Young if he becomes available. Let’s take a look at three of the most likely players alongside Young that could be traded before the start of the 2023 season.
3 CHIEFS TRADE TARGETS
Chase Young, Washington Commanders, EDGE:
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer recently reported the Commanders would be willing to listen to offers for Young, as they already have signed Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen to long-term deals, potentially making it tricky to commit to Young as well. When he has been on the field and healthy, Young has shown he can be an absolute problem for offenses. The problem is, that hasn’t happened enough. The 6-foot-5 defensive end had 7½ sacks and 10 tackles for loss en route to the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Since then, he has played just 12 games over the past two years, with 1½ sacks. Young tore his ACL back in November 2021 and didn’t return to the field until Week 16 of 2022, when the Commanders were deep into the season and competing for a playoff spot. Young had five tackles in three games, with zero sacks or TFLs. The Commanders decided to not pick up Young’s fifth-year rookie option, which usually spells the end of a player’s future with a team. The Chiefs opted to use three of their picks within the first six rounds of this year’s draft by selecting both Felix Anudike-Uzomah in the first round, B.J. Thompson in the fifth round and Keondre Coburn in the sixth round.
The Lee’s Summit native Anudike-Uzomah like Young has primarily played defensive end in his career, a spot that the Chiefs have addressed in the draft and with the best defensive line coach in the NFL, Joe Cullen, he has some juice now to play alongside with Karlaftis to form probably the best young defensive line unit in the NFL. So Young could be out of the picture.
Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals, Safety:
I know what fans are going to say, we are not going to waste future compensation on an expensive player like Budda Baker especially with the roster filled up with Justin Reid, Mike Edwards, Bryan Cook, Chamarri Conner and others but listen to this. The five-time Pro Bowler and one of the most versatile defensive backs in the game, Cardinals safety Budda Baker has requested a trade going back in April. Outside of the finances, it’s all about the 27-year-old Baker wanting to play for a contender.
Yes, Justin Reid is our leader in the defensive back room and he played very well all of last season but business is business especially with the fact that Mike Edwards is on a 1-year deal, the Chiefs can opt to not give Reid his guaranteed 3rd year contract money in 2024. Baker’s resume and the fact he’s build in a similar size to Edwards and another former Chiefs safety great, Tyrann Mathieu. The former second-round pick has earned four consecutive Pro Bowl nods and is a three-time All-Pro performer. He can play both safety spots, slot cornerback and even on the outside in a pinch just like the Honey Badger used to do for the Chiefs during the 2019-2021 seasons.
A future trio of Cook, Conner and Baker would be without a doubt the best safety trio in the league and would help Spangnuolo’s defense return to their elite ways. However, the Chiefs filled their safety needs, especially bringing back Deon Bush, and are highly unlikely to give up a first-round pick to invest further in the position. That being said, a package of three day two picks over the next few years might be more tempting to Arizona’s front office regardless of the landing spot.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons, RB/WR/Returner:
The Chiefs have taken care of business especially with offensive additions of drafting SMU All-American receiver, Rashee Rice, signing former Giants receiver Richie James and a undrafted talented rookie running back in Tulsa’s Deneric Prince. Also giving more opportunities for running back Isiah Pacheco, receivers Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney to grow in year 2. However, that’s not going to stop Chiefs general manager Brett Veach and his staff from looking into other options. Enter Cordarrelle Patterson.
The Atlanta Falcons didn’t draft for need with the No. 8 overall pick. Instead, they selected the best player available in running back, Bijan Robinson. This was despite the breakout rookie season from Tyler Allgeier, who set the Falcons’ record for rushing yards in a single season with 1,035. This gives the Falcons two young backs capable of rushing for 1,000 yards. But where does that leave Cordarrelle Patterson? The 32-year-old was considered the No. 1 back for the Falcons heading into last season. But injuries saw him jumped by Allgeier as he broke out in Patterson’s absence. Now with Robinson being added to the room, could that mean Patterson is surplus to requirements?
Patterson would be a strong complement to not only to leading tailback Jerick McKinnon, who is coming off a career-best 803 total-yard and 10 total TD season, Pacheco, Prince and spelling the end of CEH. He could also be a great leader for the receivers in the room and Dave Toub would definitely love this move. Imagine Patterson and Toney returning kicks and punts. Since Patterson is a realistic cut candidate for the Falcons, offering a seventh-round pick should be enough to get this deal done in my opinion. He also is familiar with the region of Kansas and Missouri. Patterson played at Hutchinson (KS) Community College from 2010-2011 before transferring to Tennessee signing as the highly touted JUCO product during that time.
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