Should the Arizona Cardinals trade Larry Fitzgerald before the 2018 NFL trade deadline?

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Larry Fitzgerald to the Patriots in a trade? NFL pundits are talking about it ... again.

After issuing a statement Wednesday, it appears that Patrick Peterson will remain with the Arizona Cardinals.

But other prominent Cardinals players are being discussed as possible trade candidates before the NFL trade deadline on Oct. 30 by writers who cover the league.

One name that keeps coming up: WR Larry Fitzgerald.

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NFL.com's Adam Rank says that Arizona should trade Fitzgerald.

Adam Rank writes: "Larry Fitzgerald looks lost in Arizona. He looks as uncomfortable with this current crop of Cardinals as Rusty Ryan in that opening scenes of "Ocean's Eleven" when he's cold-decking a bunch of "Teen Beat" cover models in a game of poker. Fitzgerald deserves some respect for what he's done for the Cardinals organization -- and the best thing they can do is set him free. It makes sense for the rebuilding Cardinals to want to keep other good players like Patrick Peterson, but Fitzgerald is coming to the end of his career -- and he deserves one last chance to get that ring which barely eluded him in Super Bowl XLIII. And selfishly, we need some spiciness at the trade deadline, too."

Rank listed five teams that would make sense for Fitzgerald: The Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles.

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The NFL Network's Kay Adams says the Cardinals should trade Fitzgerald to the Saints.

SI.com lists Chandler Jones going to an AFC South team as a trade we might see before the deadline.

Conor Orr writes: "While the Cardinals seem to be recoiling from the idea of a rebuild, which is something you do when the coach and general manager are fighting for their jobs, their 28-year-old pass rusher would make an awfully nice chip for a few teams fighting for playoff positioning. Why the AFC South in particular, you ask? I think there are a lot of teams there built on a defense-first philosophy—a construction that could take a huge hit if one of their marquis pass rushers went down. Jones could be protection and a wonderful change of pace for Jacksonville (Campbell, Fowler, Ngakoue). The same goes for the Texans, who are relying on excellent but injury-prone rushers across the board. Then, there is Mike Vrabel in Tennessee, who has spent year working in a Bill Belichick-inspired system with the Texans. Jones could be a nice addition to their young core, who are still relying heavily on Jurrell Casey to provide quarterback pressure. Jones’s contract is prohibitive, but can be wriggled out of after the end of next season."

Orr also lists Larry Fitzgerald to anywhere as a trade he would love to see.

He writes: "It’s a well-worn trope to suggest a retiring legend would chase one more championship elsewhere at the trade deadline. For some valuable perspective here, I’d re-read Jenny Vrentas’s interview with Joe Thomas about what it was like rebuilding in Cleveland, and the prospect of chasing a ring at the end. Larry Fitzgerald may not want to go anywhere. The idea of retiring a Cardinal may be more attractive than, say, joining the Patriots and losing in the AFC title game. But if that’s not the case, a move makes sense from a strategic standpoint. Fitzgerald is a great route runner who blocks well down field and doesn’t drop many balls. What is more valuable in January?"

CBS Sports' Will Brinson, in a story about 10 trades contenders should make for a Super Bowl, listed Larry Fitzgerald and Chandler Jones (in addition to Peterson) as Cardinals players he would like to see traded.

The first, of course, is Fitzgerald going to the Patriots.

Brinson wrote: "How about they throw their Hall of Fame wideout a bone and send him packing to a contender? The Patriots are loaded with weapons already, but Fitz would be a superb complement to what they have as a physical possession receiver who would display the kind of sure hands and work ethic that fits perfectly with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. This is strictly a ring-chasing move: ship Larry out so he can try and win a Super Bowl. No one will mind that he puts on a different uniform if he tacks on a title to his already sterling resume."

Brinson also would like to see Jones on the Jets.

He wrote: "This would be a major white flag for Arizona, but if you're the Cardinals, why wouldn't you consider giving up a stud pass rusher in order to bolster the long haul chances of your franchise by getting draft picks? The Jets need pass rush help and they're not out of it when it comes to the AFC playoff race. If the Cardinals are willing to deal Patrick Peterson, why wouldn't they be willing to deal Jones as well? He led the league in sacks last year and dealing both guys could, as La Canfora pointed out, help the Cards get involved in battling the Raiders for the most draft picks in upcoming drafts."

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USA TODAY Sports' Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, in his story about 15 NFL players with trade buzz, listed Peterson and linebackers Deone Bucannon and Haason Reddick as players who should be on the move.

He wrote: "Even as Arizona's defense has come unglued, Wilks has made it clear he has little use for two of the team's recent first-round picks. The disappearance of the "moneybacker" role has left Bucannon in no man's land, and Reddick hasn't tapped into his pass-rush ability despite taking on a larger role in October. Getting a chance in a new scheme would do each good while allowing the Cardinals could cut their losses."

In a separate piece, Middlehurst-Schwartz listed the Cardinals as potentially being a big seller at the trade deadline.

He wrote: "Take first-year coach Steve Wilks and owner Michael Bidwill at their word, then Peterson isn't going anywhere. Yet even though it might be tough for a 1-6 team to part with a perennial Pro Bowler and defensive cornerstone, this might be Arizona's optimal window for cashing in on a player uninterested in waiting for the team to return to contending status. At the very least, Arizona should see if it can ship off some of its other ill-fitting pieces. Linebacker Deone Bucannon has only received 13 defensive snaps in the last three weeks, while Haason Reddick also seems to have fallen out of favor. There's almost assuredly no market for Sam Bradford barring a rash of injuries in Week 8, but any potential deal for the third-string quarterback would be welcomed given he isn't even active on game days so Arizona can avoid bonus clauses in his contract."

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The Ringer discussed Peterson as a trade candidate, but also weighed in on a trade it would like to see: Fitzgerald to the Patriots.

Danny Heifetz wrote: "Larry is 35 years old, on the cusp of accruing the most receiving yards of anyone not named Jerry Rice, and the best player in Arizona franchise history. He deserves better than this. Since 2016, he has been forced to catch passes from Drew Stanton, Blaine Gabbert, Sam Bradford, and rookie Josh Rosen. He’s so thirsty for a QB that he tried recruiting Kirk Cousins in the offseason. Let him have one Super Bowl run to remember what good quarterback play is like so he can retire in peace."

CBS Sports listed Fitzgerald, Bucannon and Peterson as candidates to be moved before the deadline.

Sean Wagner-McGough wrote of Fitzgerald: "Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald: A future Hall of Famer, Fitzgerald shouldn't be forced to spend his final days on a team that has a better shot to wind up with the first pick in the draft than a playoff spot. According to CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora, Fitzgerald is one receiver that contending teams are eyeing. That being said, it won't be surprising if Fitzgerald chooses to finish his career with the Cardinals even though they're not close to contending."

He wrote of Bucannon: "As La Canfora reported, "the Cardinals are also seeking a trade for safety/linebacker Deone Bucannon, a former first-round pick who has not fit in their new defensive scheme (a trade is likely, sources said)." At 1-6, the Cardinals aren't anywhere close to playoff bound. They might be in total sell mode as they try to build around Rosen."

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