The NFL used to be a quiet market for trades during the offseason. But in recent years, that’s changed with some teams willing to be more aggressive to acquire players and others becoming bolder in getting out of big veteran contracts.
In 2022, quarterback Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson were the biggest names on the move, but wide receivers Tyreek HIll, Davante Adams and A.J. Brown ended up stealing the show for new faces trading places. Expect 2023 to also light up the marquee with a few blockbusters.
Hers’s a look at the eight most likely players to be dealt, starting with the superstar in Green Bay.
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NFL trade rumors 2023
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
Rodgers’ darkness retreat is a sign that he’s ready for seeing the NFL in a new light. There also are rumors the Packers’ organization is throwing more shade at in his direction. They seem ready to turn the page to Jordan Love and giving Rodgers the fresh late-career opportunity he wants.
The Raiders, with Adams under offensive-minded coach Josh McDaniels and the Jets, needing only a competent QB to be a complete contender, are the natural two hottest suitors. They each have clear vacancies at the game’s most important position. It just comes down to which team can make the more attractive offer to help the Packers stockpile draft capital to help build a winning team around Love.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Cardinals
The Cardinals are moving on with new coach Jonathan Gannon under new GM Monti Ossenfort. Hopkins, soon to be 31, has two more pricey seasons left on his contract with his second team.
There will be a need to be a restructured deal with his potential third team and the Cardinals would also take big hit in dead money ($22.6 million) vs. cap relief ($8.15 million), but with his no-trade clause no longer in effect, shipping him out for the best draft pick return still makes sense. The Giants and Bears should be two interested suitors to help their young QBs.
Brandin Cooks, WR, Texans
Cooks has been consistently productive when healthy during his four stops in the NFL. He is also no stranger to trades, with the Saints, Patriots and Rams all moving him that way. Cooks got checked out of Houston’s problematic passing game and at 29, can still help a contender or a team just needing a reliable veteran. Watch the Bears and Giants here, but also throw in the Patriots, Panthers and Raiders.
Jalen Ramsey, CB, Rams
The Rams’ playoff and championship window might be a closed for a little while under Sean McVay after crashing down from the peak of winning Super Bowl 56. Defensively, they’ve fallen off quickly. Aaron Donald hasn’t retired yet, but he’s on the brink at 31.
At 28, Ramsey still has a few top seasons left in him, which means he has high trade value. Although the Rams would get limited cap relief ($5.6 milion) vs. dead money ($19.6 million) in 2023, they would get ahead on freeing up more cap room ($18.5 million) in 2024. They also could get some needed high draft capital back.
Could Brad Holmes, the Rams’ former college scouting director, pull another big GM-to-GM trade with Les Snead? This time, the Lions would be the contenders with Ramsey filling a huge need at corner.
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Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos
Sean Payton is going to work on the Broncos’ offense to make it much more productive and efficient with Wilson. Jerry Jeudy, Wilson’s true go-to guy, and Tim Patrick, coming off a torn ACL, might fit better into the new wide receiver plans while Payton looks for someone more versatile on the cheap.
Sutton would have immediate appeal for yes, also the Bears and Giants. The Jets, whose offense is coordinated by former Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett, could also see him as an upgrade from Corey Davis, who can be easily cut for mega cap relief. Sutton would quite the companion trade piece with Rodgers.
Josh Allen, OLB, Jaguars
The Jaguars invested a ton in the second level of their 3-4 defense last offseason, signing tackling machine Foyesade Oluokun and using first-round picks on Travon Walker and Devin Lloyd. Allen is going into the final year of his rookie contract as the team’s first-rounder (No. 7 overall) in 2019.
Allen had a big rookie year in making the Pro Bowl with 10.5 sacks, He’s blossomed into a stronger all-around playmaker the past two seasons, but he might be too expensive to keep in 2024 and beyond with a big deal for QB Trevor Lawrence just around the corner. Allen would fit a lot of teams looking to round out their edge rush as a sneaky trade target.
Tee Higgins, WR, Bengals
With Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase in line for mega contracts in back-to-back offseasons as their high first-rounders and primary QB-wide receiver combination, it will be a challenge for the Bengals to also extend Higgins, their 2020 second-rounder, with a worthy market value contract.
Higgins should command $20 million per season and there’s a chance the Bengals can crunch the numbers to figure it out once they’ve taken care of Burrow and prepared for Chase. They could also let Higgins stay unsigned for 2024 during 2023 and try to work out a re-sigining before free agency starts in that year. But there’s a chance some team could offer a high first-rounder to tempt Cincinnati to just move on and look for his replacement in the draft.
Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
Jackson is the only one here in a tag-and-trade scenario. The number for a one-year all-guaranteed quarterback tender is $32.4 million for 2023. The Ravens would like to bring back Jackson at his high market value, but giving him a deal with pleasing parameters is a challenge, thanks to the Browns guaranteeing all $230 million of Watson’s five-year $46 million annual deal last offseason.
Jackson, who represents himself, is looking for a massive commitment from the Ravens to leave no doubt they want to lock into him as their franchise QB long-term. The talks could sour with Baltimore to the point a breakup might be the most beneficial. Should the Ravens trade Jackson, the Falcons would be the No. 1 destination and ideal fit, with the Jets coming in as a distant second.