NFL: 5 players that should be traded before season

Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills running back

Boy, they certainly don’t make ’em like Fred Jackson anymore. A tough, dependable veteran back, Jackson is the heart and soul of an oft-rudderless Bills squad, providing invaluable leadership on and off the gridiron.

While the 33-year-old is seeing first-team reps in training camp, it’s obvious he’s not in the team’s long-term plans. Jackson signed a one-year extension this offseason that included no guaranteed money, meaning he’ll hit the open market in 2015. Buffalo’s intentions became even clearer when they traded for former Eagles back Bryce Brown, a young and explosive talent.

The Bills are highly unlikely to unload Jackson, an every-down player that excels in all phases of the game. Starter C.J. Spiller is highly injury-prone, so Jackson inevitably will be a significant factor this season. It’s arguable that he deserves a legitimate shot at a championship, however. In a perfect world, he’d stay in the AFC East — as a member of the Patriots.