Over the past couple of seasons, the NFL has seen multiple players rise to stardom, alongside the league’s long time stars. However, some of the NFL’s stars would be better off in a different uniform.
Here are five players who should be on a different team:
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers
Over his first three seasons in the NFL, McCaffrey has developed and become the league’s best RB. He is does it all with his legs and his hands as he is undoubtedly the best dual threat running back.
This past season, McCaffrey rushed for 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns, along with 1,005 yards and 4 touchdowns receiving on 116 receptions.
McCaffrey led the league in scrimmage yards (2,392) and receiving yards by a running back (1,005), tied for the league-best in total touchdowns (19), and third in rushing yards (1,387). He was named to his first Pro Bowl and named First-Team All-Pro.
With his insane 2019 campaign, McCaffrey became the third player in NFL history to finish with over 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards, joining Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk. He also broke his own NFL record with his 116 receptions on the season. McCaffrey also finished with third-most scrimmage yards in one season in NFL history.
Despite his production and play, the Panthers finished last season with a 5-11 record, placing them in last place in the NFC South. Over his three years, the Panthers have a combined record of 23-25, making one playoff appearance in 2017, losing in the Wild Card Round.
The Panthers do not look like they will be a strong contender this season. McCaffrey has evolved the RB position and is on one of the league’s bottom teams. McCaffrey would still shine and be the top RB on any other team but could have a supporting cast that would get him a winning record and into the playoffs.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
Rodgers has been one of the league’s top QBs for the past 11 years. Since taking over as the starter, Rodgers has led the Packers to an overall 113-60-1 record.
Rodgers is an 8-time Pro Bowler, two-time First-Team All-Pro, two-time league MVP, and a Super Bowl Champion.
Rodgers holds nine records in Packers history as well:
- Most completed passes in one season (401)
- Most completed passes in one game (39)
- Most passing yards in one game (480)
- Most touchdowns in a single game (6)
- Highest completion percentage in single-season (68.3%)
- Most passing touchdowns in one season (45)
- Most passing yards in one season (4,643)
- Highest single-season QB rating (122.5)
- Highest career completion percentage (65.1%)
However, the past couple of seasons, the Packers have not done anything to help Rodgers. In 2018, the Packers finished with the worst record with Rodgers as a starter with a 6-9-1 record.
This past season, the Packers made an NFC Championship appearance. However, Rodgers relied on WR, Davante Adams. Adams led the team with 997 receiving yards and five touchdowns. The receiver with the second most yards was Allen Lazard, who only has 477 yards. RB Aaron Jones, had the second-most receptions on the team with 49.
Going into the draft, the most glaring need for the Packers was WR. In the first round, the Packers traded up and drafted former Utah State QB, Jordan Love. In the second round, they selected RB A.J. Dillon out of Boston College.
In this year’s NFL Draft, 35 receivers were drafted, and Green Bay did not draft one.
Rodgers will be left with the same receiving core with the addition of WR Devin Funchess, who is coming off a broken collarbone, and the loss of TE Jimmy Graham.
Rodgers would excel on any other team and with the Packers drafting his future successor and failing to add a weapon to his receiving core, the Packers are only hurting Rodgers. Rodgers is trending towards the end of his career, and he should be on a team that will help him and will compete.
Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions
Matthew Stafford has been with the Lions for all 11 years of his career. Throughout his career, he has been one of the league’s most consistent QBs.
However, Stafford has not has the best fortune of teams. Over his career, Stafford has an overall record of 69-79-1, and has only three playoff appearance, losing all three games.
Stafford suffered a season-ending back injury this past season, playing in only eight games. Before his injury, Stafford had made 139 consecutive starts for the Lions, displaying his durability.
The Lions traded franchise star, Darius Slay, to the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, and the team’s top three receivers (Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr., and Danny Amendola) are all free agents at the end of the 2020 season.
Stafford is one of the league’s QBs that needs a change of scenery to a team that can compete right away, giving him a chance to win and contend. Stafford could go to a contending team and make them better with his durability and consistency.
A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
A.J. Green has been a cornerstone of the Bengals franchise for the past 9 years. Over that time, Green has accumulated six seasons of over 1,000 receiving yards. Green made the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons in the NFL.
However, over the past two seasons, Green has missed 23 games due to injury. Over that time, Green has been rumored in trade talks, but Cincinnati had been adamant about keeping Green. In doing so, they used the franc his tag this offseason to keep control.
Green, 31, has only a few years of his prime left, if he can return to full health and elite-level play. If he can’t return to his top play, he can still be a solid WR2 option.
The Bengals are holding onto Green for Burrow, but they won’t be a contender this season. Green is at the point in his career where he should join a contending team to win and chase a Super Bowl.
Jamal Adams, S, New York Jets
Jamal Adams is another player who has quickly developed and become one of the league’s best safeties. Over his short, three-year career, Adams is a two-time Pro Bowler and named First-Team All-Pro in 2019.
Adams has been linked to trade rumors since last offseason and has recently hit a snag in negotiations for a contract extension with the struggling Jets team.
Adams has not seen the playoffs in his career and the Jets look like they are not going to be contending for a spot this season.
Adams has the ability to get PAID next offseason and the Jets don’t seem to be showing a ton of loyalty to him. Adams can leave the Jets and go to a team who is ready to compete and be a centerpiece for years to come.
