The Five Quarterbacks Most Likely to Get Traded in 2014 By David Guidera May 29, 2014 7:23 pm 
Quarterback trades are exceptionally rare in the NFL these days… well, outside of Oakland anyway.The Raiders traded for Carson Palmer in ’11, then dealt him to Arizona in ’13. They traded for Matt Flynn in ’13, traded away Terrelle Pryor and acquired Matt Schaub via trade this offseason.There was only one trade of significance involving a QB apart from the Raiders in ’13: Alex Smith to Kansas City from San Francisco. Otherwise the moves involved only marginal talents in Thad Lewis—from Detroit to Buffalo—and Colt McCoy—from Cleveland to San Francisco.The key to all moves, big and small, are depth at the position for the seller coupled with the need for depth or a starter for the buyer.It might seem simple, but make a wrong move and an already struggling franchise just saddled itself with an albatross. Meanwhile, a strong franchise gets stronger by unloading depth at the most costly position in football in exchange for an infusion of younger, cheaper players.The following five quarterbacks are the most likely to be moved before the ’14 trade deadline…
Josh Freeman Freeman bounced around in ’13 as well, but not via trade. Tampa Bay released him a month into his fifth year as yet another in the long line of failed Buccaneers quarterbacks.Minnesota picked Freeman up and immediately shoved him into the starting lineup with disastrous results: 20 of 53 for 190 yards and a pick in a 23-7 loss to the New York Giants. Well, I guess the Giants saw something they liked within that debacle, because they signed Freeman to back up Eli Manning while he recovers from offseason ankle surgery. Ryan Nassib took second team reps most recently during OTAs, and Curtis Painter spent last year as Manning’s primary No. 2. So Freeman could go anywhere from on the trading block to releasable, depending on how this summer progresses. 
Kirk Cousins When Kyle Shanahan joined Cleveland as their new offensive coordinator, many speculated it was “when” not “if” Cousins would follow him from Washington. Trading Robert Griffin III’s overhyped backup seemed reasonable now that Mike Shanahan was gone and Cleveland owned two first round picks to Washington’s zero. The Browns did deal No. 26, but it was to move up to take Johnny Manziel instead
Case KeenumThe second-year gunslinger out of the University of Houston was thrown to the wolves by the Houston Texans. Keenum captained the Texans rapidly sinking ’13 campaign to eight losses, but played admirably given the downbeat circumstances: he completed 137 of 253 for 1760 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions. He compiled a 78.2 passer rating despite 19 sacks.But the QB moves don’t bode well for Keenum since Bill O’Brien took over for Gary Kubiak. The Texas shipped Schaub to Oakland, signed Ryan Fitzpatrick away from Tennessee and drafted Tom Savage in the fourth round out of Pittsburgh. Keenum should attract some attention if he’s the odd man out.
Ryan MallettMallett was another subject of heavy draft day trade speculation, specifically with the Houston Texans. Houston didn’t bite, but New England did on Jimmy Garoppolo in the second round out of Eastern Illinois—Go Panthers!Mallett’s future as a Patriot seems numbered given the high pick spent on Garoppolo, Tom Brady’s favorable contract and Bill Belichick’s history of only keeping two QBs on the active roster.But, any trade rumors involving Mallett should be considered as just that until he is actually moved out of New England.
Christian Ponder The former No. 12 overall pick in ’11 watched Matt Cassel, Josh Freeman and now Teddy Bridgewater roll into town to vie the starting role many believed he wasn’t ready for when the Vikings reached on the Florida State product. Minnesota claims Ponder’s presence on first team reps is due to the open competition for the starting job.You can bet they don’t mean the starting job for the VikingsLINK
