It’s time for crazy offseason lists that get fans hoping for the borderline impossible, if not entirely impossible. NFL.com Around the League writer Chris Wesseling has listed 10 players whom he believes are ideal candidates for summertime trade candidates. Among those 10 players are two Tennessee Titans: offensive tackle Michael Roos and defensive end Derrick Morgan.
Here are Wesseling’s reasons and projected landing destinations for each player:
"4. Michael Roos, OT, Titans: When the Titans surprisingly selected Taylor Lewan at No. 11 overall, speculation immediately surfaced that Roos would hit the trading block. Roos, 31, is set to earn over $6 million in the final year of a six-year, $43 million deal as the anchor of Tennessee’s offensive line. Much like the Flowers situation, his salary is an obstacle to a trade.Potential landing spots: Panthers, Ravens7. Derrick Morgan, DE, Titans: A prototypical 4-3 defensive end, Morgan is stuck in no man’s land in Ray Horton‘s 3-4 defense. The 2010 first-round pick is penciled in at outside linebacker, a position he’s never played before. The Titans have gone on to sign Shaun Phillips and restructure Kamerion Wimbley‘s contract, leaving Morgan’s status up in the air. Much like Graham, he could be a bargain acquisition for a team with a 4-3 scheme. He went to college in Atlanta, and the Falcons just happen to need a pass rusher.Potential landing spots:Falcons, Buccaneers, Seahawks, Patriots, Bengals"
It’s funny to see Morgan as “stuck in no man’s land in Ray Horton’s 3-4 defense.” Then Wesseling lists the Atlanta Falcons as a potential landing spot. The Falcons are starting a transition to a 3-4 defense. Morgan won’t fit in the Titans’ 3-4 defense but he’ll fit in Atlanta’s 3-4 defense…okay. Supposedly, the idea is that the Falcons would trade for Morgan anyway because he played college football in Atlanta (Georgia Tech). So Atlanta would/should take the chance that Tennessee won’t/shouldn’t as a 3-4 pass-rusher because Morgan played college football in Atlanta…makes no sense.
A Morgan transaction won’t happen. Might as well call for Jurrell Casey trade. If management and coaches didn’t believe that Morgan would fit in Coach Horton’s defense, then they would’ve already traded him. Morgan has spent the last couple of seasons as the Titans’ best edge-rush specialist. Even if he moves to outside linebacker, he’ll probably just rush the quarterback most of the time, similar to Clay Matthews. Phillips and Wimbley are both over age 30 and don’t play into this equation.
Speculation surrounding Roos isn’t new. Let’s be realistic though: how much is a soon-to-be 32-year-old offensive tackle on the downside of his career gonna net in a trade? If very lucky, a sixth-rounder. Late-rounders rarely pan out. Teams overvalue draft picks. No reason to think that Roos would break that trend. Plus, trading Roos would mean that Byron Stingily is the leading candidate to serve as a backup left tackle. Probably not a good idea when the oft-injured Jake Locker or even Zach Mettenberger are taking snaps.
Giving Lewan a year-worth of knowledge from Roos > the chances of a late-round pick making anything more than a special-teams impact.
My other minor concern with dealing Roos: can they afford it? Not financially, but just trading another well-recognized player whom fans admire. They’ve already parted ways with Alterraun Verner and Chris Johnson. They angered much of the fan base when they went Taylor Lewan instead of Johnny Manziel, C.J. Mosley, and some other candidates.
Trading Morgan is a no. Trading Roos only happens if a team surprises me. That would happen with a desperate offer…like a 2015 fourth-rounder or higher.
Are you pro/con trading either of these players? Give us your take in the comments or social media.