Trade for Cincinnati: Rivers is an above average linebacker when healthy, but the Bengals have a good depth of linebackers already (Maualuga, Manny Lawson, Thomas Howard, and 2011 3^rd rounder Dontay Moch) and they had one of the best defenses in the league last season without Rivers playing a snap. Rivers is an injury risk going forward and would likely not be resigned as a free agent next offseason so it does make sense that the Bengals would get something for him (5^th round pick).

Grade: B

Trade for NY Giants: The Giants will be moving Michael Boley inside to middle linebacker so Rivers will fill their need at outside linebacker. He’s an injury risk, but the Giants are only giving up a 5^th round pick for a player who was ranked 9^th by ProFootballFocus at a major position of need for the Giants. If he can’t stay healthy, 2^nd year players Mark Herzlich and Greg Jones would probably split time there.

The Giants don’t have a ton of needs so they may have been better off using an early pick on more of a sure thing at outside linebacker and someone with more of a future (Rivers is a free agent after the season) than using a 5^th rounder to trade for Rivers. If Rivers gets hurt, they could be in big trouble at the position, though they were in pretty big trouble at the position last season and they still won the Super Bowl.

Grade: B