Arizona Cardinals: 3 Huge Trade Predictions

The NFL Draft is always the unpredictable machine that surprises and disappoints fans

With the Arizona Cardinals, it seems very fitting that the Cardinals will be in the market for more talent this offseason, and we of Raising Zona have already discussed the possibility of adding through the draft and through free agency. I felt the urge to project a big trade, or maybe a 3 big trades type of article. The Arizona Cardinals don’t typically make trades, they did make some big noise by trading for Carson Palmer, and they typically are very active during the draft.

This article will feature both, in draft trades (mostly first round) and franchise changing trades, all of which would change the landscape of the playoffs. The Cardinals seem like their a few pieces away from being maybe the championship contender that they worked so hard to get to. I want to say that the compensation equals the player/pick, but sometimes it’s very one-sided. It’s just a bunch of guess-work, and it’s made for the fan to enjoy.

Arizona Cardinals receive:
Kyle Williams – DT

Buffalo Bills receive:
Alex Okafor – OLB
2017 6th Round Selection

What We Got: There is just something so gratifying about picking up quality pieces that fit your exact scheme, and make your team a hell of a lot better.  The Cardinals struggled mightily to stop the running game in the playoffs, had absolutely no penetration, and lacked the ability to stop the run game. Kyle Williams is certainly in the midst of the chop block that Buffalo is being forced to do, and it almost seems like Buffalo was changing the scheme anyways. The Bills were trying to play a Rex Ryan-friendly scheme, 3-4, but the Bills already have Marcell Dareus playing mostly a nose tackle type of thing. Kyle Williams has been a tough man, but his days are numbered in Buffalo because of his cap space, and the lack thereof in Buffalo (estimated at -$7,965,786 under the cap, at $162,125,508 active deals), and Kyle Williams counts to $8 million of that cap. If the Cardinals were able to grab Kyle Williams from Buffalo, they do it with the possibility of getting a playmaker on defensive line, and if next year they don’t like what he brings to the table, they can cut him with only $1.5 million in dead space. Worth it to me.

What They Got: The Bills got the much needed cap space, plus an expiring rookie contract that they get to try out this year. Rex Ryan loves his blitzing linebackers, and he fills an immediate need with the impending free agency of Manny Lawson (if he is released) and Nigel Bradham. This free agency is very important to the Bills, if they don’t get rid of the cap stranglehold. the Bills will not be able to get to the next level (playoffs). The Bills don’t receive a pick this year, but they do receive a 6th round selection for next year. It really works out for both teams, one team gets themselves a starter while the other team gets rid of their aging star. Alex Okafor as also been in the doghouse, and we don’t know how long he’ll be in there. It almost feels like he could use a new start, on a team that is defense first, and a team that can be patient with him.

Projected stats: 

Kyle Williams – NT – 27 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception

Alex Okafor – OLB – 41 tackles, 6 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery

Final Notes: In this final stat sheet, it almost seems like a win-win, let me deny that, the Cardinals won a little bit more then the Bills in this trade. Remember, Kyle Williams would be coming in as a nose tackle, so seeing anything from 2-6 sacks is a success. Rodney Gunter, the teams starting nose tackle last year only had 1.5 sacks, pretty normal for a nose tackle. On the other hand, Alex Okafor would have an average year for a mostly blitzing linebacker, and in my opinion, this earns him another contract with the Buffalo Bills. Now consider this, the Cardinals would essentially be taking the injuries that might be coming with Kyle Williams. Is the risk worth the reward?

Next: Ohio State runs a muck