Teams have traditionally been conservative around the trade deadline. But we can always imagine what could happen if general managers were more bold
The NFL’s trade deadline is nearly upon us. You know what that means: it’s fake trade season.
Given the structure of the NFL, the deadline is often a nothing affair. Compared to its equivalents in baseball and basketball, it arrives a tick too early for a team to fully declare that it’s out on the year, dumping any spare parts for future draft picks and the hope of tomorrow. Plus, the league’s compensatory draft pick system encourages even bad teams to hold on to costly veterans.