With the NFL Scouting Combine this week, the NFL offseason is up and running. The next time things will slow down is after the draft in May, and between then and now we’ll have free agency and more than likely a blockbuster trade or two.
You come here for trade rumors and there’s been plenty of that in recent weeks. Back in the fall, we looked at a dozen potential big-name trade candidates and four of those have been making headlines recently:
- Browns DE Myles Garrett hit his breaking point with all the losing in Cleveland and went public with his demand to be traded. Garrett’s the type of player every team in the league will have a conversation about acquiring but some make more sense than others.
- The Rams and QB Matthew Stafford are navigating a tricky situation, as the veteran wants a well-deserved raise but Los Angeles is justifiably leery of committing $50 million a year to a 37-year-old quarterback. There’s a real chance this ends with Stafford playing elsewhere, perhaps for the Giants, Steelers or Raiders. Meanwhile the Rams’ options to replace Stafford aren’t inspiring.
- The 49ers have openly placed WR Deebo Samuel on the trade block, while the Rams have done the same with WR Cooper Kupp. There’s more on what landing spots make sense for Kupp and there’s a fair amount of overlap for teams who could be interested in Samuel, though the two are very different players.
But there are plenty more players to watch. There were a dozen trades completed before the NFL Draft last year. In 2023, that number was 14. A lot more players are available than just the few who have been listed so far.
Here’s a quick look around the NFL at some of the most notable names who could be on the move in the next several weeks. They’re organized by position, so we’ll start on offense and work through to defense.
Raiders QB Gardner Minshew
The Raiders could cut Minshew and save over $6 million in cap space this offseason. With Aidan O’Connell on a rookie contract for two more years and Las Vegas likely to add to the position — either through free agency, the draft or a trade (Stafford?) — it’s hard to find room for Minshew in 2025, even though he already has a little over $3 million of his salary guaranteed.
However, the Raiders also might be able to find a trade market for Minshew. Backup quarterback has become an increasingly important position, and Minshew’s credentials in that department are well-established. If he’s willing to accept a pay cut to his guaranteed number, that would make him more attractive to a new team, and also increase the cap relief for the Raiders who are on the hook for the guarantees otherwise, whether he’s on the roster or not.
Las Vegas might need to hold Minshew through free agency and the draft and get into the summer before a real trade market develops, either from a team that missed out on all of its targets for a backup or one that loses a player or two to injury. Fortunately the Raiders have the second-most cap space of any team, so they can afford to be patient. They don’t need the $6 million in savings before August and it’s worth waiting for the chance to pick up an extra pick.
Bears RB D’Andre Swift
Chicago signed Swift as a free agent last offseason, inking him to a three-year, $24 million deal. He was supposed to add an explosive, big-play element to the Bears’ backfield, and there were certainly flashes of that. PFF charted him with nine breakaway runs of 15+ yards. But Swift averaged 3.8 yards per carry and was remarkably inefficient despite the largest workload of his career. His broken tackles decreased from 23 the previous year with the Eagles to just nine.
The arrival of new HC Ben Johnson is also notable. Swift overlapped with Johnson for two years in 2021 and 2022, his second and third years in the league. Normally past history with a coach is a good thing; and it still could be in Swift’s case. But it’s notable that the Lions traded Swift going into his contract year in 2023 in a wholesale revamp of their running back room. Johnson was the offensive coordinator and not the final arbiter of that decision, but he presumably had some say in the matter.
Johnson could be looking at a similar rework of the Bears’ running back room, with Swift and 2023 fourth-round RB Roschon Johnson the notable backs under contract. The first two years of the contract Swift signed last year were essentially guaranteed, so it does not make a lot of sense for the Bears to outright cut him. However, Swift’s $7 million guaranteed would not prevent a trade if another team was higher on his potential impact than Johnson, or if the Bears just really really want to start fresh in the backfield.
Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet
Seattle surprised a ton of people when it drafted Charbonnet in the second round in 2023 despite using a second-round pick the year before on Kenneth Walker, who proceeded to rush for over 1,000 yards and finish second in the voting for Offensive Rookie of the Year. It was a huge investment for a player who has mostly operated behind Walker when the latter has been healthy. When Walker has been out, Charbonnet has shown he’s quite capable of being a full-time starter as well.
Now the Seahawks have a new play-caller in OC Klint Kubiak who gushed about Walker’s potential in his scheme. Meanwhile the coach who put such a premium on Charbonnet, Pete Carroll, is running the Raiders now — and Charbonnet’s former head coach at UCLA, Chip Kelly, is calling the plays. It just so happens the Raiders have a gaping hole at running back. There will be lots of options for RB-needy teams this year, but there are too many connections between the Raiders and Charbonnet to ignore.
Falcons TE Kyle Pitts
Pitts was one of the 12 players we highlighted at the end of last season to pay attention to as a potential trade candidate, and nothing that’s happened since then has changed things. The Falcons are one of a handful of teams still in the red that need to clear cap space even with the news that the NFL salary cap will be higher than expected. There are cuts and restructures they can make, but Pitts is set to earn $10.878 million fully guaranteed on the fifth year option, all of which could be cleared in a trade. If the NFL still allowed teams to rescind the fifth-year option, it’s not a given the Falcons would pay up.
Even though Pitts hasn’t lived up to the potential he showed in his rookie year, when he topped 1,000 yards receiving and threatened Mike Ditka’s records for the tight end position, the athletic ability is still there. He’s not even 25 years old yet, which is wild to think about. Even if things haven’t worked out in Atlanta, it’s easy to see how a team desperate for playmakers could envision a fresh start for Pitts working wonders.
There’s a chance for this to be a win-win situation. The Falcons could shed salary and add a much-needed draft pick by trading Pitts. Right now they’re last in the league with just four selections and are in the red financially, as noted. Swapping Pitts out for a tight end that fits the offense better could be addition by subtraction. As for Pitts, he gets a chance to reset in a new environment, potentially one better suited to bringing out his talents.
Ravens TE Mark Andrews
The 2024 season wasn’t one of Andrews’ best years. His production dipped to the lowest level since he was a rookie, and his nightmare performance in the playoff loss to the Bills (lost fumble, dropped game-tying two-point conversion) made him as culpable for the loss as any other player. He turns 30 in September and is due $11 million in 2025, the final year of his contract. None of that is guaranteed and $4 million is due in a roster bonus on March 17. That’s put Andrews squarely in focus as a potential cap cut for the budget-limited Ravens.
However, there are alternatives. Andrews could agree to an extension or a pay cut that lowers his salary number and saves the Ravens space. It’s also possible that another team could be interested in trading for the veteran tight end, who still caught 11 touchdowns last year. From Baltimore’s perspective, a trade could be the most appealing avenue since it would free up cap space and give the team a pick in return, even if it’s just a mid-round selection given Andrews’ age and salary.
The Ravens are also set up well at tight end if Andrews doesn’t come back, with Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar who were both fourth-round picks in 2022. They’re entering contract years as well, so this could be a natural turning-the-page moment for the Ravens at the position.
Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill
Hill has walked back his apparent trade request from right after the season ended when his frustration was at its peak and seems back to being on board. Notably, however, Miami has not ruled out the idea of trading him. The veteran receiver saw his production dip last year, and while there were a lot of extenuating circumstances like injuries at quarterback and a wrist injury Hill played through for the whole year, it’s notable given how much Hill is set to make in 2025.
Even if Hill isn’t agitating for a trade anymore, Miami could find the idea of unloading his nearly $28 million in guarantees appealing, particularly if another team is willing to part with a quality draft pick. Hill’s speed, his defining trait, looked like it was still there last year, and that could tempt a team looking for a piece to try and put its offense over the top. Miami wouldn’t get back near what it gave up to acquire Hill, but a Day 2 pick is possible.
The Dolphins wouldn’t save any cap space by trading Hill but they would save a lot of cash, which is important given how top-heavy the roster has become. There’s an off-ramp in Hill’s contract next year, so a split seems like it’s looming at some point. Sometimes it’s better to be a year early.
Jaguars WR Christian Kirk or Gabriel Davis
The Jaguars are bringing in a completely new regime with HC Liam Coen, GM James Gladstone and head of football operations Tony Boselli. It took owner Shad Khan some time but he finally seems to be embracing a clean slate approach. That will mean major changes for the roster, especially because former GM Trent Baalke leaned on free agency more than most executives to build the team.
Kirk is first up on the potential chopping block with an out in his contract this offseason that would save the team more than $10 million in cap space and $16.5 million in cash. The veteran is a favorite of QB Trevor Lawrence and at 28 years old should still have some prime years remaining, but has missed 14 games over the past two seasons. He won’t be back in Jacksonville on his current contract most likely.
That said, Kirk could have trade value for other teams looking for a reliable No. 2 option in the passing game. The connection with Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury from their time in Arizona together is notable, and the Steelers attempted to trade for Kirk before he was injured last season. Teams know the Jaguars could cut Kirk, so they wouldn’t get a whole lot back in any hypothetical trade, but Kirk’s trade value also isn’t zero.
Davis is another big free agent move for Jacksonville, arriving last year on a three-year, $39 million deal. Unfortunately that signing did not go nearly as well as the Kirk deal. Davis had just 20 catches for 239 yards and two scores in 10 games. Because the Jaguars guaranteed his $11.5 million base salary and option bonus in 2025, they can’t cut him to net any savings.
That doesn’t mean they’re locked into keeping him, though. Gladstone comes from a Rams organization that has a strong history of cutting its losses to move on from mistakes. Davis would have minimal trade value but it probably wouldn’t be zero, especially if the Jaguars can find a team that is confident it’s a better fit, either from a scheme perspective or a coaching connection. Jacksonville could eat some money if it means getting back a draft pick as well.
Rams OL Jonah Jackson/RT Rob Havenstein
The Rams are pondering big changes with franchise cornerstones like Stafford and Kupp potentially on the move. So nothing should be off the table for Los Angeles. Jackson was just signed this past offseason as the second part of a major double dip at the guard position. However, he finished the year as the team’s sixth offensive lineman. That’s not tenable for someone making $9 million, with a guarantee on that number vesting in March. The Rams could cut Jackson and save a little over $3 million, but it’s also possible a team in need of offensive line help could be interested in a trade to skip the line in free agency. As a starter, Jackson’s salary is reasonable.
Havenstein is another veteran player the Rams could look to move on from as they turn the page wholesale to their youth movement. He’s in the final year of his contract and due $11.5 million in 2025. While he’s been a mainstay on the right side his entire career, injuries have started to eat into his availability. Cutting him would save a little bit of cap space but also leave the Rams in need of potentially two new starting tackles, as Alaric Jackson and Joseph Noteboom are both set for free agency. Moving on via trade is a more palatable outcome, especially if the Rams find a tackle-needy team willing to give them a solid pick.
Titans DT Jeffery Simmons
Tennessee got calls about Simmons last year before the trade deadline and elected to hold onto him. Since then, the Titans have fired GM Ran Carthon who negotiated Simmons’ major extension in 2023, and had already fired the coach who drafted and developed him into one of the league’s top defensive tackles. It doesn’t seem like the talent-needy Titans are rushing Simmons out the door but at the same time, he’s probably not untouchable if there’s a team interested.
Simmons is going into his age-28 season and while he’s still been a productive player, there has been a slight decline in his pass-rushing numbers. He went from 16 combined sacks from 2021 to 2022 to 10.5 over the past two seasons. PFF has also charted him with fewer pressures the past two years, though last year he returned to his former prowess as a run stuffer.
The veteran is set to make $17.5 million in 2025, $6 million of which is guaranteed with another $5.5 million guaranteeing in March. He’s under contract for two more years after that at $20 million and $23 million salaries, with about $6.5 million in 2026 salary becoming guaranteed this year.
If the Titans think Simmons might decline further and another team puts a quality draft pick on the table, perhaps something like a second-round selection, they might be willing to consider a reset. The people that drafted and extended Simmons are gone and he’s been frustrated with the losing in the past couple of years. The new brain trust has talked about getting more Day 2 picks, and sometimes teams have to give up worthwhile pieces to acquire those. A reunion with former HC Mike Vrabel with the Patriots stands out as a potential landing spot for Simmons.
Commanders DT Jonathan Allen
News broke Tuesday at the Combine that the Commanders had granted Allen permission to seek a trade with other teams, which was a little bit surprising. Washington is not short on cap space and can easily afford the $17 million Allen is due this upcoming season. When healthy, Allen is one of the better defensive tackles in football, and it was impressive how he worked his way back from a torn pectoral that was reported as a season-ending injury.
However, Allen is going into the final year of his contract and has been pursuing an extension since last year. At 30 years old and coming off a year in which he played just eight games, it’s clear the Commanders are wary of giving him the type of big deal he’s seeking. Allowing him to seek a trade gives both sides clarity about what the market could be, and could allow the Commanders to flip Allen for a draft pick in what’s viewed as a historically deep class for defensive tackles.
At the end of the day, new regimes want their own players. Allen is an established player, but he’s one of the few remaining holdovers from the previous regime in Washington and was not able to make an authoritative case to stay in 2024.
Jaguars DT Arik Armstead
Armstead was a major acquisition by the Jaguars last year, arriving in a trade from the 49ers and getting a new contract as a part of the deal. The transition was rockier than both sides hoped, and Armstead had just two sacks as the Jaguars’ defense struggled mightily.
There’s hope Armstead could be better under a new coaching staff in a different scheme but he’ll be owed $14 million guaranteed in his age-32 season in 2025. Should the Jaguars get trade interest from another team willing to take on that cash, it would make sense for them to explore that. He’d have more value than Davis, which would be almost a pure salary dump in any trade. But the idea is the same — cutting bait from past personnel mistakes and not falling prey to the sunk cost fallacy.
Dolphins OLB Bradley Chubb
Chubb didn’t play at all this past season as he recovered from a knee injury late in the 2023 season. He had 11 sacks that year but it’s always tough when players miss a whole year to get back in the swing of things. Complicating matters is his hefty 2025 salary, with Miami set to pay him over $20 million in cash. The injury and salary would be significant drags on any trade value.
Still, teams are always looking for pass rushers, and the Dolphins are hard up for money at the moment. If they get trade interest in Chubb, they almost have to consider it. They have to balance the pick and potential savings against whatever Chubb might be able to contribute on the field in 2025.
Eagles DE Bryce Huff
Huff was one of the biggest free agent flops of this past offseason, signing a three-year, $51 million deal with the Eagles and proceeding to notch just 2.5 sacks, falling almost completely out of the rotation at edge rusher. Huff was not a good fit in DC Vic Fangio’s scheme and Fangio isn’t going anywhere in 2025. Cutting Huff isn’t really an option either, as his $16.75 million 2025 salary is already guaranteed.
The only option is to find a trade partner. Trading Huff would decrease the Eagles’ cap space in 2025 but it would save them cash if they can find a taker. Huff has shown enough as a pass-rushing specialist that there could be a market. The 49ers and Falcons are teams to watch with big needs at edge rusher and former coaches who worked with Huff when he was with the Jets, though Philadelphia might need to eat a bit of salary to facilitate a deal. Most of his contract is in the form of an option bonus that’s due early in March. Once that’s picked up, Huff becomes much more tradable because he’s on a minimum contract.
Of course, that lessens the motivation for the Eagles to trade him since they’re not saving the cash anymore. They could just treat the whole contract as sunk cost and look to cash out for a draft pick at that point, or they could keep Huff in 2025 and hope they can find a role for him before moving on in 2026.
Cowboys LB Micah Parsons
The Cowboys are probably not going to trade Parsons. Let’s get that out of the way. Dallas will probably drag its feet on an extension like it always does, taking things right up until the start of the season. Parsons could even end up playing out this season before getting the franchise tag in 2026. At this point, there’s too much precedent to ignore with how the Cowboys handled contract situations for QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb.
But the Cowboys have already done something interesting with Parsons that they didn’t do with Lamb or Prescott. NFL Media reported Dallas has had internal discussions mapping out potential scenarios for the roster if they traded Parsons. The Cowboys could have and probably did have those internal discussions about Lamb and Prescott, too, but they never leaked.
There have been other breadcrumbs from various Cowboys reporters about Dallas having some trepidation about tying up so much money in just three players. Prescott leads all quarterbacks at $60 million a year, Lamb is right under the top of the receiver market at $34 million a year and Parsons could easily come in higher than that. Even with the salary cap likely to top $300 million by 2026, that’s a lot of commitment.
There probably won’t ever be a repeat of the legendary Herschel Walker trade that jump-started the Cowboys’ peak in the 1990s but if the Cowboys decided to trade Parsons, they would get a haul. The bidding would probably start at multiple first-round picks, even with Parsons’ contractual desires factored in. That doesn’t seem likely from where things sit today but it also doesn’t seem like the door is completely closed either.
Seahawks CB Riq Woolen
Woolen looked like a future star after his rookie season when he tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions, broke up 16 passes and made the Pro Bowl. He was a classic Seattle corner at 6-4 and 210 pounds but had legitimately freaky speed at 4.26 seconds in the 40-yard dash. It was remarkable he slipped all the way to the fifth round.
Since then, Woolen has been much more inconsistent — or at least he hasn’t taken a step forward like people expected. He was actually benched at one point this past season, though he ultimately started 14 games and played 90 percent of the snaps. As he enters the final year of his rookie contract, Woolen is set to be one of Seattle’s starters at outside cornerback.
Seattle could just as easily keep him and play out the final year of his rookie contract to see if he can find his groove. But if Woolen tries to force the issue on a contract or if the Seahawks think they can find a better fit for their system at outside cornerback, there would probably be a solid amount of trade interest in a player with Woolen’s physical gifts.
Browns CB Greg Newsome
Newsome is under contract in 2025 as a former first-round pick under the fifth-year option and is owed $13.377 million, guaranteed. That’s actually Cleveland’s seventh-highest cap hit right now. The Browns could sign Newsome to an extension or add void years to his deal to bring that down, but a trade would clear all of it if Cleveland is having a hard time finding a common value on a new deal. The Browns are hard up for cap space, so while Newsome would probably only return a mid-round pick in a deal, the combination of savings plus a pick could be appealing at some point.
Wrapping Up
As noted earlier in the piece, we looked at 12 trade candidates back in the fall. Some ended up on the block, others are in situations where there are dominoes still to fall. Here’s where things stand with the rest:
- Raiders DE Maxx Crosby – Crosby seems excited about the team’s prospects with Carroll, and as long as Las Vegas addresses his contract which has two years remaining with no guaranteed money, it doesn’t feel like he’ll try to push his way out.
- Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf – Entering the final year of his contract, Metcalf seems like a big part of Seattle’s plans this year. If talks hit a snag, that could change things, but that probably won’t start to percolate until later this summer.
- Steelers WR George Pickens – Pittsburgh hasn’t indicated any desire to get ahead of Pickens’ contract year and trade him, and it seems like they might be more open to doing a deal for him than they have other receivers in the past.
- Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson – Cincinnati has indicated it wants to re-sign its Big Three this offseason, including Hendrickson. Unless talks break down, it feels like Hendrickson is on track to remain with the Bengals.
- Chiefs G Joe Thuney – While the veteran is entering a contract year, the way the Chiefs lost the Super Bowl makes it impractical to consider trading a key piece from the offensive line.
- Chargers OLB Joey Bosa – At his salary a trade market would be difficult to find, so the Chargers will either cut Bosa or work out some kind of pay cut.
- Packers CB Jaire Alexander – It’s possible the Packers might be able to trade Alexander but his injury history and salary are more than likely non-starters for other teams, who instead will wait out Green Bay to see if Alexander is released.
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