Trade Deadline: Buyers & Sellers

Oddly enough, our Better League season is caught up to the real-life NFL trade deadline.  That inspired me to put together a little content for the league that captures who should be buyers to compete in season one playoffs & who should be sellers looking to improve their draft capital moving into Season 2 of the Madden 22 cycle.  This could probably encompass far more teams but to make it more of an easy read I am going to limit it to 3 teams on each side of the spectrum.

 

Buyers

1.) Packers:  One of the more pleasant surprises thus far in Madden 22.  Sitting on top of the NFC North & in prime position for a playoff run.  The issue I see at the moment for the Packers is an unreliable #2 WR & lack of real talent on the defensive line.  Arguably, the best #2 option in Madden terms is K.J. Hamler but comes in at 5'9 & only 73 overall.  On the other end of the ball, I look at a defensive line lacking any player over 74 overall excluding Kenny Clark.  Recommendation, look to trade for another DT & potentially a star WR.  I hear Allen Robinson, OBJ, Chris Godwin, etc. have been getting shopped around.

 

2.) Colts:  One of the potential breakout teams/users in Madden 22.  Albeit they had an underwhelming performance last night coming off a big win against the Texans.  From an outsider's perspective, this team needs to be looking for some more defensive help.  When your top three corners are all 89 speed you are asking to get toasted.  I've liked a couple of their moves notably acquiring Fletcher Cox who is an elite interior defensive lineman that can clean up the run defense.  We don't know what next season holds for the Colts & therefore I think they should try to make some moves for that win-now mentality.  Recommendation, trade for an impact DB.  A couple of older ones on the block that might get traded for a mid-round pick this year or next.

 

3.) Bills: Another one of those, you love to see it stories going around BL this season.  I think I speak on behalf of most of the league when I say we love to see Coach Cam having success.  The Bills roster is solid in a multitude of positions but has some very underwhelming talent Madden wise at HB based on who they have at HB1.  The recommendation would be to go get yourself a HB1.  Matt Brieda is more of a short-term fix unless given the appropriate development focus to get his dev trait up.  Otherwise, you have Singletary, Higdon, Moss who don't even come close to being speed burners.  I've heard names such as Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt, Derrick Henry have been on the block.  Perhaps those are some good fits.

 

Sellers:

1.) Chiefs:  One of the best Madden teams offensively... but lacking on defense.  The Chiefs are ranked 32nd on defense.  Frankly, it just might not be their year.  Sitting at 1-5 you become a trade deadline "seller".  I'd look to recuperate some of those draft picks lost in the Chase Young deal with WFT just due to the state of the defense elsewhere.  The recommendation would be to flip the Honey Badger, Mecole Hardman, and who knows maybe Patrick Mahomes & jumpstart a crazy rebuild around artificial intelligence.  If you trade those guys, you are realistically looking at 3-4 first-round picks + impact players.

 

2.) Cardinals:  I think we all know the potential this roster has with weapons such as Kyler, Taylor, & a great WR core in Arizona. Sitting at 2-4 in a division with CODYyoungSON & 9 teams with better records at the halfway point.  This might be a good time to sell on guys who are aging & need new contracts.  Primarily Chandler Jones, Rodney Hudson, & JJ Watt.  To me, that is sort of the plan in Arizona anyways.  Trade for some young players or draft picks & build a team that fits the long-term plan.

 

3.) Texans:  This is simply a full rebuild.  This is not to say Ben doesn't have a shot at making a little noise this year.  User skill-wise it's always a possibility.  Additionally, you have one of the top five GMs in Better League at the helm to get the job done.  You know it's bad when you are looking for "ground chips" before every game & nabbing up 31-year-old 77 overall defensive linemen.  There aren't too many significant pieces to trade but you might be able to acquire some additional 2nd round/3rd round picks for the future with guys like Redwine, Zach Cunningham, Brandon Cooks, & Philip Lindsay. 

 

Best of luck to all the rest of the way & hopefully y'all enjoy the content!  And obviously, this is not all-encompassing but these were the rosters/teams that stood out to me.