As training camps wind down and we get set for the second weekend of preseason action, we’re about to see a flurry of roster movements. Final cuts are due by August 30 and teams will be rushing to get injury replacements, add key depth, or shore up a position of weakness as we continue to approach the start of the season.

Though the preseason is one of the busiest times for trades on the NFL calendar (along with the trade deadline and the draft), the truth is most of them just aren’t that exciting. For every earth-shattering Micah Parsons deal, there are 15 moves for defensive backups and WR4s. But these small trades can sometimes yield starters and important contributors for their respective teams, and Super Bowls are often won in the margins.

With that in mind, today I’m proposing seven different preseason trades. They vary in significance, but I worked hard to accurately estimate the compensation and reflect trades that could reasonably go down between now and the start of the season.

Bears Get Real Pass Rush Help

Cardinals Get: 2027 third-round pick, 2028 fifth-round pick

Bears Get: ED Josh Sweat, 2027 seventh-round pick

When one Sweat isn’t enough, why not add another? The Bears did quite well for themselves a few years back, getting Montez Sweat from the Commanders and immediately making him their top pass rusher. He’s been well worth the price in Chicago, anchoring their pass rush and producing at a high level since he arrived. However, he needs a viable running mate across from him to take the defense to another level. 

Josh Sweat had a breakout 2024 season in Philadelphia and signed a big free agent contract with Arizona last season, but it’s been a tough road for him with the Cardinals. Though he’s been good when on the field, he’s battled injuries and isn’t a fan of his current situation. The Cardinals are embarking on yet another rebuild and their timeline no longer fits Sweat. It makes sense to move him, especially considering how awkward this summer has been with Sweat’s absences.

The Bears are coming off a monumentally successful season, winning 12 games, the NFC North and a playoff game. To take another step forward, however, Chicago needs more from its defense. The early returns on that aren’t great — adding Sweat would be a good step in the right direction.

Sweat is coming off a 12-sack season, the second double-digit sack season of his career, which pushes his value into the range of a Day 2 pick. He’s 29 years old and might need an updated contract, which drags his value down a little bit. The Vikings got two third-round picks for veteran OLB Jonathan Greenard, who was also 29, which was pretty strong. Arizona might not be able to do quite as well, but Sweat should still fetch a real return if and when they decide to move him. 

Raiders Add A Weapon On The Outside

Browns Get: 2027 sixth-round pick

Raiders Get: WR Cedric Tillman, 2027 seventh-round pick

To illustrate how far the Browns receiving corps has come in just one offseason: Tillman was Cleveland’s second-best receiver last season. He might not make the team this year. Jerry Jeudy, Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion are all solidified ahead of him on the depth chart. Boston, in particular, fills his exact role at receiver. And with Tillman not really contributing on special teams, he’s at a disadvantage against the likes of Isaiah Bond and Gage Larvadain, even if he’s better than them in a vacuum.

Meanwhile, the Raiders have issues of their own at wide receiver. Tre Tucker’s put in a solid camp and Jalen Nailor provides a stable floor, but Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton have been wildly disappointing. The recent Noah Brown signing provides some insurance, but adding Tillman would be a cheap move to dramatically raise the floor at the X-receiver position. 

Saints Add Some Running Back Depth

Giants Get: 2027 fifth-round pick, 2027 seventh-round pick

Saints Get: RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., 2027 sixth-round pick

That was fast. The Giants signed Najee Harris earlier this week and by Thursday he was running with the second unit on offense. The fact that he didn’t last with the Steelers overshadows the player he’s become: a reliable between-the-tackles runner who produces at every stop and is more effective as a receiver than he gets credit for.

Harris’ addition puts Tracy in a weird spot. He went viral for a blown blitz pickup that got his quarterback leveled, which is about the biggest no-no you can have as a running back — and the fastest way to the bench, besides maybe fumbling. Tracy is a solid and versatile back but this coaching staff didn’t draft him and he may be on the move.

The Saints just lost Alvin Kamara for at least the next month and all of a sudden lack depth at running back. Tracy’s game-day role might all but disappear when Kamara returns, but trading for him gives New Orleans more options in the meantime, plus a pass-down back under contract in 2027. Tracy can also contribute on special teams as a kickoff returner.

Patriots Swing For Proven Backup Passer

Saints Get: 2027 sixth-round pick, 2027 seventh-round pick

Patriots Get: QB Spencer Rattler, 2028 seventh-round pick

The Saints may have already settled on their backup passer, and it doesn’t look like Rattler won the job. New Orleans signed Zach Wilson during free agency and the two quarterbacks largely split reps with the No. 2 offense during training camp behind Tyler Shough as the unquestioned starter.

This week, that started to change, culminating in Wilson taking all of the snaps with the second-team offense in the Saints’ joint practice with the Rams. If Wilson is indeed going to be the primary backup to Shough this year, it makes sense for New Orleans to try to get something in return for Rattler, who has a decent amount of starting experience — with solid results — under his belt.

The Patriots signed Tommy DeVito to be their backup, but he’s in the midst of a very up-and-down stretch of camp. Drake Maye is a star and this team is ascending, but Rattler is a better player than DeVito with more recent good play on tape. It probably wouldn’t take much to upgrade the most important depth player on the team.

Colts Make A Play For A Linebacker

Dolphins Get: 2027 fifth-round pick

Colts Get: LB Tyrel Dodson

Linebacker is not a deep position for the Colts. Five different players received snaps with the starters during camp, and only second-rounder C.J. Allen appears to have a starting spot locked down. Except… Allen has missed most of the summer with two different injuries, leaving Indianapolis in flux with the rest of that unit.

If Allen gets back by Week 1 and stays healthy all year, Indy can cobble together enough around him to get by. But this team has higher aspirations than just getting by, and that’s presuming Allen doesn’t miss any time in the regular season anyway, which would be a bold bet to take. Dodson is a proven starter who can play next to Allen or at middle linebacker in his absence.

For the Dolphins’ part, they just signed Jordyn Brooks to a big extension and drafted Jacob Rodriguez in the second round. Brooks is a star and Rodriguez is having a fantastic camp. Miami could clear a spot for him to start and get back a draft pick for a player who isn’t likely to be on the team next year either way.

Packers Beef Up Their Secondary

Cowboys Get: 2028 sixth-round pick

Packers Get: CB Caelan Carson, 2028 seventh-round pick

This trade may be born out of necessity for both sides. The Cowboys made a lot of headlines for the wrong reasons over the last two weeks, with multiple fights breaking out at all of their joint practices with other teams. Carson is often in the middle of the worst of the scrum and started several of those skirmishes himself. Dallas HC Brian Schottenheimer repeatedly expressed his displeasure with these dust-ups and the Cowboys are suddenly deep at cornerback after making several additions this offseason. Carson is fighting for a roster spot, but instead keeps fighting the other team (and sometimes his own teammates, too).

On the other side, the Packers have a cornerback depth problem. Second-rounder Brandon Cisse continues to impress, but multi-year starter Keisean Nixon is starting to run with the second unit while giving some unfortunate quotes to the media. He’s clearly displeased with this development. Benjamin St-Juste appeared to lose the starting battle to Cisse, but is now getting some reps ahead of Nixon.

Carson wouldn’t be brought in to start, but he’d be important depth on a Packers team with a concerning cornerback room. Outside of Nixon, Cisse, St-Juste, and maybe Carrington Valentine, Green Bay doesn’t want any of their other corners seeing the field. Carson would slot in as the fifth corner and would give the Packers at least another option to try if they needed it.

Texans Replace Jayden Higgins

Patriots Get: 2027 fifth-round pick

Texans Get: WR Kayshon Boutte

These are often the unfortunate circumstances that spark movement on preseason trades. The Texans lost second-year WR Jayden Higgins to a torn ACL this week, dealing a major blow to their passing attack. Higgins was set for a big role in Houston’s offense after a strong rookie season, but his injury leaves the Texans scrambling behind star WR Nico Collins. The next two receivers up are Tank Dell, who’s coming off a major knee injury, and Jaylin Noel, who primarily contributed on special teams last year.

Meanwhile, Boutte asked for a trade a while ago, but the Patriots have yet to grant his request. Boutte is a valuable player, but his role in New England’s offense will be mostly absorbed by big-ticket free agent signee Romeo Doubs. Given Boutte won’t see the field much on game days and doesn’t play special teams, it makes sense to get something in return for him. That said, the Patriots don’t want to just give away a big piece of their AFC-winning offense, either.

The Texans have a need for a receiver with Boutte’s skill set, with Higgins set to miss the season, and there’s a way for them and the Patriots to find a sweet spot with a big enough offer for the Patriots to move Boutte. This one almost makes too much sense not to happen.