Five Longshot Reunions Around the NFL

by Mario Granata
There are many moves that happen in a small window at the beginning of the Free Agency period in the second week of March.  Some players will be moved for salary cap reasons, while others because they don't fit the scheme of the new coaching staff.  Whatever the reason, players will find new homes, and some of them will make you say, "Oh, that's why."  Here are 5 Moves that are Longshots to happen once the 2019 League Year officially starts.  

Devante Parker
2018 Team - Miami Dolphins
2019 Team - New York Jets
Parker will look to reunite with his former Head Coach Adam Gase in New York.  Why does this make sense?  Well, Gase now has a quarterback who can understand his offense and by adding Parker, provide a deep threat for Sam Darnold. His current deep threat, Robbie Anderson, is a free agent and this could be more of the 'devil you know' situation for Gase.  He is familiar with Parker, and it could also breathe new life into the former first-rounder.  The Jets have 95.8 million dollars to sign whomever they please, and Parker seems to make sense heading to New York.  It would make sense, financially,  for Miami as well, as they are only 10.7 under the cap and a projected 7.5 million spent on their rookie draft class, freeing up an extra 9.3 (Parker's cap hit) would allow them to sign a few plug-and-play starters.  

John Brown
2018 Team - Baltimore Ravens
2019 Team - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brown was drafted by Arians in 2014 to provide a spark and take the top off the defense.  It would make sense that he would like to reunite with his former coach down in Florida after signing a one-year 5 million dollar deal in Baltimore.  Brown wanted to keep his options open by only signing a one year deal, but the 28-year old has to realize that he would be only able to get that amount with a move to Tampa.  The Bucs are in salary cap jail at the moment, being only 8.4 under the cap, but with cutting JPP and possibly letting Gerald McCoy go, they would save an additional 28 million under the cap.  Early reports out of Tampa say that DeSean Jackson could also be on his way out, freeing up another 10 million.  With the release of Jackson and the addition of Brown (presumably) at half the cost and being 4 years younger than Jackson, that would be a win for Arians and Tampa.  

Desean Jackson
2018 Team - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2019 Team - Atlanta Falcons
I know.  Crazy, right?  Why would a team that just drafted Calvin Ridley, and that has Mohammad Sanu and Julio Jones possibly need or even want Jackson.  Well, the title of the article is "longshot reunions" right, so I will keep with the theme and say that the Falcons, who are 26.6 under the cap, now employ Dirk Koetter as their offensive coordinator.  He was able to get Jackson in space and use him as a deep threat successfully in Tampa.  However, this move is all for the allure of putting Sanu, Jones, Ridley, and Jackson on the field in a 4-wide set and asking defenses "who are you going to cover?" At 31, Jackson wouldn't cost very much and with the possibility that Tevin Coleman won't be resigned, Ridley could fill that role and Jackson could take his place on the outside, and the Falcons wouldn't lose much in their offensive game plan.  

Dion Lewis
2018 Team - Tennessee Titans
2019 Team - Green Bay Packers
New Head Coach Matt LaFleur spend last season as the Titans' offensive coordinator and could provide a wonderful addition to the Packers with Lewis.  Now, Lewis is not a free agent and is locked up in Tennessee until 2021 and while the Titans are not in trouble with their cap situation, the Packers are more than likely going to lose Randall Cobb and their never ending rotation of running backs haven't helped an aging Aaron Rodgers at all.  Lewis could be that stabilizing force in the backfield for A-A-Ron as well as provide him with something he hasn't had in his career: a safety valve.  With the talents of Tarik Cohen and Theo Riddick being showcased within the division, Lewis makes more sense for the Packers.  However, if you think I am crazy, refer back to the title of the article.  

Danny Trevathan
2018 Team - Chicago Bears
2019 Team - Denver Broncos
Yes, Danny Trevathan is coming back to Denver following new head coach Vic Fangio.  (Listen, I know that I am making a lot of these 'longshot calls' because of coaching connections, and there is a reason for it...because it happens...a lot.)  With the overall team to manage, not just one side of the ball, Fangio would like to have a solidifying force over on defensive side of the ball, so that would give him one less thing to worry about.  Now, the Bears (who are 7.3 under the cap) would be able to save around 5.2 million by letting Trevathan go and could easily find his replacement in a defensive heavy draft.   A longshot yes, but one that I like.

Well, there you have it folks.  Five Longshot Deals that could happen once the 2019 League Season officially starts in the second week of March.  Now, are these moves going to happen?  Probably not, but, if they do happen to manifest in some way, you can point to many reasons why they took place.  Are they longshots?  Yes.  Am I insane?  You bet.