Trade Match-Maker: Johnthan Banks

It appears the time has come for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to part ways with cornerback Johnthan Banks. Could he potentially be traded rather than cut?

It’s unfortunate, to say the least. Many people – whether it’s fans or media – believed Johnthan Banks was poised for a breakout year after getting a second chance with Mike Smith and the new defensive scheme. We all thought he would return to the player we saw in his first two seasons, not the one stuck in Lovie’s doghouse all of last year. But, is there any way to trade him before he winds up getting cut from the final 53-man roster?

I think so.

Look, teams are always looking to improve heading into a season by scooping up players released from other teams. With Banks, there is bound to be a few teams that would take the risk in hopes they could “fix him” and tap into that talent that made him a second round pick. It’s not like he would be cut from the Bucs and never play another down. He’ll end up on someone’s roster. So if a team is keeping an eye on him now, wouldn’t it make sense to try and get him before other teams get involved?

Trade Generator: Johnthan Banks to the Indianapolis Colts

Yes, the Indianapolis Colts should be the team to trade for Banks, and here’s why;

The Colts just signed Antonio Cromartie to a one year deal and are still a starting corner short. Vontae Davis has a sprained knee, Patrick Robinson has an injured groin, Darius Butler has a hamstring injury, and D’Joun Smith is dealing with knee problems. That leaves their cornerback depth at Cromartie and undrafted rookie Darius White.

So why not take a chance on Banks? I mean, this is the same team that sent a first round pick to Cleveland for Trent Richardson.

That’s not to say Jason Licht should ask for the moon and the stars, but a conditional seventh round pick is more than ample. I realize fans see anything less than a fourth rounder for any player on their team and think it’s not enough, but anything they can get at this point is a win.

If the Bucs were able to get a seventh round pick that escalates to a sixth should Banks start “x” number of games or be on the field for “x” percent of snaps, that is a win for both sides. Why? Well, it would mean the Bucs got something for a guy that wasn’t going to make the team and the Colts were able to improve their decimated cornerback situation to the point where Banks got enough playing time that the compensation improved.

Johnthan Banks has 109 tackles, 17 passes defensed, seven interceptions, and a touchdown in his career. All seven interceptions came in his first two seasons as Lovie Smith only started Banks in seven games, but always gave Banks the shortest of leashes. One mistake, one slip, he was back on the bench not to be heard from the rest of the game. So it’s not like this kid can’t play, it just looks as if he won’t be playing here.

Next: Stop Stressing Over Bucs' WR Depth

Yes, fans always covet their own players to a fault at times, but looking at it from a realistic perspective – not the rose colored Glennon glasses we were all wearing during those trade rumors – you’d find that this offer is not only fair, but very doable for both sides.