The Arizona Cardinals had a good run, but their blowout loss to the Green Bay Packers could be the final straw that signals a James Conner trade. After going 3-5 with a rusty Kyler Murray last year, some analysts believed Jonathan Gannon’s squad could surprise with Murry healthy and paired with first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. While the offense has been mostly adequate, the defense has struggled to do much of anything. Now sitting at 2-4, the Cardinals could look to the future and deal some of their older veterans for future draft picks.
When looking at Arizona’s roster, running back James Conner seems to be one of the most likely trade targets. The former Pittsburgh Steeler is still a reliable player, but the 29-year-old is on the older side and probably will be past his prime before Arizona is ready to seriously compete. Additionally, the Cardinals used a third-round pick on running back Trey Benson, and they should use the remainder of the season to see what he has in his tank. Arizona doesn’t need a short-term starter like Conner, but several contenders around the league could use a steadying presence in their backfield.
Cardinals Could Trade James Conner After Blowout Loss to Packers
The Dallas Cowboys have arguably the weakest backfield in football. Led by career backup Rico Dowdle and a well past-his-prime Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas needs a more consistent playmaker to compete in a stacked NFC East. While running back is far from the most important position in football, it’s hard to think of a team that could benefit more from a James Conner trade. Dowdle hasn’t been an active liability by any stretch of the imagination, but Elliott’s reduced workload is creating the wrong type of media attention. By releasing Elliott and bringing in Conner as a starter, the Cowboys will have two reliable backs for the remainder of the season.
The Chargers, meanwhile, need more bodies to properly implement head coach Jim Harbaugh’s vision. With Gus Edwards on the injured reserve, Los Angeles turned to sixth-round rookie Kimani Vidal to back up J.K. Dobbins. The Troy product played well on Sunday, but the Chargers could benefit from a James Conner trade. Nobody believes in running the ball more than Harbaugh, and Conner’s dual-threat ability as both a runner and a receiver makes him an ideal choice for an offense that needs more pass-catching talent. Even if youngsters Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston fully recover from their respective injuries, Conner could be the third option for a team that needs more offensive firepower.
Possible Backup Work
James Conner is a starting-caliber back, but the Ravens could still trade for him and make him a backup. Despite his age, superstar Derrick Henry remains one of the best running backs in football and was one of the league’s best free agent signings. The two-time rushing leader entered Week 6’s matchup averaging 6.0 yards per carry and only added to those numbers with a 24-carry, 132-yard, and two-touchdown performance.
Henry will be the workhorse back as long as he’s healthy, but what happens if injury strikes? Justice Hill is an adequate backup and former undrafted free agent Keaton Mitchell had his moments as a rookie, but Baltimore lacks a proven Plan B. A James Conner trade might seem strange on the surface, but adding another back who can handle a high workload could make a difference when January comes around.
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