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Let the trading commence

DB, OL swaps start things off

We're crawling toward the start of a new league year, with a couple of trades getting things going. First the Jaguars sent A.J. Bouye to Denver. Then yesterday the Chargers and Panthers swapped a pair of veteran linemen. Making themselves better, or tanking? Debatable.

Carolina acquired Russell Okung from the Chargers for guard Trai Turner. Okung has been one of the league's better left tackles when healthy, while the Panthers have really struggled there the last two years -- Greg Little, Matt Kalil. Perhaps the idea is to have a strong blindside protector for an offense that allowed a league-high 58 sacks last year, and more hits on their quarterback than all but six teams.

OFFENSIVE LINE PERFORMANCE, 2019
Team Sacks QB Hits
Oakland Raiders 2952
New Orleans Saints 2558
Baltimore Ravens 2859
Cleveland Browns 4167
Minnesota Vikings 2868
Arizona Cardinals 5069
Kansas City2571
San Francisco 49ers 3673
Pittsburgh Steelers 3278
Los Angeles Rams 2279
Denver Broncos 4184
Jacksonville Jaguars 4284
Cincinnati Bengals 4884
Green Bay Packers 3685
Chicago Bears 4586
Dallas Cowboys 2387
Buffalo Bills 4087
New England Patriots 2890
Detroit Lions 4392
Los Angeles Chargers 3493
Houston Texans 4993
Indianapolis Colts 3295
Washington5097
Tennessee Titans 5699
Philadelphia Eagles 37100
Carolina Panthers 58102
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 47106
New York Jets 52106
Seattle Seahawks 48111
New York Giants 43119
Atlanta Falcons 50136
Miami Dolphins 58147

The argument against that rationale is that Okung is 31 years old and in the final year of his deal. So this may be a case of a salary dump by Carolina, which will have Okung off the books a year from now. Contrast that with Turner, who's one of the league's best guards, 26 years old, and under contract for the next two seasons.

So while Carolina is getting the more marquee position of left tackle, the Chargers are getting the younger, better player who's under team control for the next two seasons. Hmm.

What Carolina ultimately decides to do with Cam Newton will be a sign of the team's 2020 plans: competing, or tanking. If they bring him back, which seems to be the current guess, they're maybe hoping Okung makes the overall line better and the team competes for a playoff spot.

If they ship him out and embark on a Kyle Allen-Will Grier quarterback competition, the tank for the 2021 NFL Draft may well be on.

As for the Chargers, who can't afford a non-competitive season, at least an intentional one, this deal should make their line better (although they'll need to figure out a left tackle solution). I think the idea that they're going with Tyrod Taylor as their starter at quarterback is laughable; they're either going hard after a free agent, or hoping to draft one early in the first round and chuck him into the lineup.

In other news, the players are apparently voting on the proposed CBA. Once that's complete, if it passes, there might be a flurry of additional trades, cuts and other activity. Stay tuned.

--Andy Richardson

9 Reader Comments:

David Kennedy

Steamburg, NY
2020-03-05T14:39:59Z
This has to hurt CMC stock. I think Barkley should be the number one fantasy draft pick this year.

Andy Richardson

Port Chester, NY
2020-03-05T15:29:14Z
Apart from maybe the run blocking being worse, I can't imagine the new coach giving CMC 403 touches again. But...considering how far ahead of the 2nd-place running back he was last year, I still find it hard to argue against him as the No. 1 pick. In PPR he was 10 points per week better than the No. 2 running back. Kind of a lot.

JEFF ZWIERS

Bellingham, WA
2020-03-05T18:04:33Z
Speaking of the CBA, will you post a write-up of all the rule changes it entails when it is passed? Will the RB still be hurt by it etc? Thanks.

Paul Desimone

Hayward, CA
2020-03-05T18:32:36Z
I think the trade is a win-win. Chargers get one of the better interior linemen to replace a players rep the team management was eager to show the door anyway. And Tepper gets to further demolish a franchise that looks destined to become the Jaguars II.

Andy Richardson

Port Chester, NY
2020-03-05T18:47:01Z
I’ve read over a lot of stuff on it without seeing a lot of fantasy impact. Not for 2020, anyway.

There will be 2 more playoff teams. Maybe this will mean fewer teams resting players down the stretch, maybe not.

The schedule will expand to 17 games and 19 weeks. That’s significant, but won’t happen until 2021.

Marijuana use won’t be as heavily penalized. That could benefit fantasy teams; less chance of losing starters for minor or first-time offenses.

Other changes involve roster size, profit sharing and the ability to bring back a 3rd player from IR. Only the IR one really affects fantasy coaches.

Supposedly teams will only have one tag available, so more untagged players. One report I saw said that would start in 2021, though I think that’s incorrect- most have said 2020 (so Dallas can’t tag both Prescott and Cooper).

If I’m missing some important change hopefully someone will let me know.

Ben Hogevoll

Siletz, OR
2020-03-05T22:04:28Z
17 games season games might happen or not happen.Right now its a toss up.Players don't want it.14 teams in playoffs will happen.In my opinion fewer teams will rest players..14 teams in playoffs will add a 3rd game to wildcard weekend.The 3rd game would be between each conference's 2nd seed and the new 7th seed.Last year the Rams and steelers would have made the post season.1st rd byes will be HUGE!!I think 7 consecutive Super Bowls have been contested by teams that had 1st rd byes.4 pitted two #1 seeds against each other.

Andy Richardson

Port Chester, NY
2020-03-05T22:24:47Z
At this point players only get to vote yes or no on the entire CBA. They don’t get to say, “Yes, but we don’t want to play 17 games.” Either the whole thing passes or it doesn’t. I think it’s going to pass, because if they vote no there’s no guarantee the next deal will be better for them. A No vote would delay the start of the new year and start to hit players in the wallets. So I think 17 games is coming, whether we like it or not.

Jim Kontopoulos

Northbrook, IL
2020-03-06T00:43:57Z
The longer the season the better!!

Ben Hogevoll

Siletz, OR
2020-03-06T01:00:33Z
Andy I agree but the 17 season is negotiable on when it starts so 17 games could be 3 or 4 years away with the 14 team playoffs next season.
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