Predicting the Biggest NFL Trades That Could Shape the 2024 Offseason
The 2024 NFL offseason is inching closer. With it could potentially come some blockbuster trades that see some of the league's biggest stars on the move.
There are several players who stand out above the rest for their likelihood to be dealt this spring. Whether they are owed too much money on their current deal, set to sign a massive new contract, haven't been a fit with their current club or some combination of those factors, these stars could soon find themselves playing in a new uniform. These star-studded deals could end up shifting the NFL's power structure in the process.
With that in mind, here are some predictions for the biggest NFL trades of the upcoming offseason.
Davante Adams to New York Jets
1 of 5
Jets Receive: WR Davante Adams
Raiders Receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 10 overall)
Davante Adams proved he can still be an elite NFL receiver without Aaron Rodgers, but he hasn't found any team success since the dynamic duo broke up after the 2021 season. The Las Vegas Raiders have missed the playoffs in each of the two seasons since trading for the superstar wideout and are facing an uphill battle to become contenders in 2024.
ESPN's Dan Graziano noted that Adams hasn't requested a trade but is an "obvious" choice to get dealt before free agency even opens. Graziano pointed out that the regime that brought the superstar to Vegas is no longer around, nor is quarterback Derek Carr, Adams' collegiate teammate and one of the main reasons he initially wanted to play for the Raiders.
Rather than have Adams expensively languishing on a rebuilding franchise in the twilight of his career, the Raiders could opt to ship him off this offseason and recoup some of the draft capital they gave up to get him.
The 31-year-old still has three years left on the blockbuster five-year, $140 million contract he signed after landing in Las Vegas, and while he's tallied up an impressive 2,660 yards and 22 touchdowns on 203 receptions since the start of the 2022 campaign, could be best utilized as trade chip by the incoming regime.
Reuniting Adams with Rodgers should be atop the New York Jets' offseason to-do list.
Gang Green didn't truly get a chance to see how Rodgers would fit with the current crop of pass-catchers in the Big Apple, but there is little doubt that Adams would take this offense to another level. He clearly still has plenty left in the tank and could help Rodgers return to MVP form and win another Super Bowl during a comeback season.
Jonathan Allen to Green Bay Packers
2 of 5
Packers Receive: DT Jonathan Allen
Commanders Receive: 2024 second-round pick (No. 41), 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 125)
The Washington Commanders are a good bet to be active in the trade market during the 2024 offseason. The team is coming off a disappointing 4-13 campaign—its worst since 2019—and now have a new general manager in place in Adam Peters. While Peters' first task will be finding the organization's next head coach, he'll soon get to work on crafting a roster that can contend.
While Washington has nine picks in the 2024 draft—four in the top 67—it could use more to overhaul a pockmarked lineup. Dealing veterans to free up salary-cap space and add more draft capital to the coffers should be a priority for Peters. Due to this shift in focus, Jonathan Allen, the team's standout defensive tackle, could be on the way out after seven seasons with the club.
Allen has some of the most trade value on the team after making back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2021-22. While his 5.5 sacks this year were his lowest total since 2020, he still had a strong individual season and appeared in at least 15 games for the seventh straight year.
Allen had openly expressed frustration with how the Commanders were faring during a trying 2023 campaign. He's previously admitted that despite growing up as a fan of the team in Virginia, he's given thought to playing elsewhere and wants to be part of a winning franchise. While he hasn't officially requested a trade, it's possible he won't have to if the team implements a full-blown rebuild.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said that teams had been inquiring about Allen's availability leading up to the deadline and noted that Washington could "strip things down to the studs" this spring. With Allen owed just $29.5 million in total over the next two seasons, there should be no shortage of interest if he's shopped around.
The Green Bay Packers will want to throw their hat into the ring for Allen's services. While they've quickly started flourishing in the post-Aaron Rodgers era, the Packers could use more help on the defensive front. Even on the heels of a strong regular season finish and Wild Card round victory, the Packers still have a real need in the defensive trenches after allowing a lowly 126.3 rushing yards per game and tallying a middling 45 sacks in 2023.
Allen would be an ideal solution to both issues and can slide over to defensive end in Green Bay's 3-4 front. It would likely cost the club the better of of its two Round 2 draft selections this year plus more to get a deal done, but parting with these picks would well be worth the value Allen will add to this defense.
Justin Fields to Atlanta Falcons
3 of 5
Falcons receive: QB Justin Fields
Bears receive: 2024 second-round draft pick (No. 43 overall)
The Chicago Bears are at a crossroads and have a tough decision to make during the 2024 draft. The team holds the No. 1 overall pick—as well as the No. 9 selection—and must decide if it will utilize this capital to bring in a potential franchise quarterback to replace Justin Fields. The choice won't be easy after Fields orchestrated a strong finish to the 2023 campaign, winning four of his final seven starts and never losing by more than one score.
That said, this season further proved that Fields still has plenty of development left as a passer. He only completed 61 percent of his throws for a middling 2,562 yards and 16 touchdowns across 13 starts. He was responsible for nine interceptions, lost four of his 10 fumbles and was sacked a concerning 44 times. While he's still an elite rusher at the position—tallying up 657 yards and four scores on 124 attempts—Chicago's brass could easily opt to draft USC's Caleb Williams or UNC's Drake Maye at the top of the order.
Should the Bears elect to take that path, Fields would be best utilized as a trade chip. While he almost certainly won't return anything in the neighborhood of the first-round pick the team used to tap him in 2021—plus the additional first-rounder the Bears gave up to move up the board that year— ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Courtney Cronin noted that the consensus around the league is that Chicago could get a "second- or third-round pick" for the signal-caller.
The Atlanta Falcons should be willing to part with the No. 43 overall selection to land a quarterback after their 2023 campaign was derailed by instability under center. Neither 2022 third-rounder Desmond Ridder nor journeyman Taylor Heinicke was able to elevate the offense, leading to a lost season despite an immense amount of skill position talent on Atlanta's roster.
Fields could potentially unlock this offense, pairing with the dynamic backfield tandem of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier to give the Falcons a formidable rushing attack. That could open things up for the likes of Kyle Pitts and Drake London to do damage when the team does elect to throw.
Justin Jefferson to Arizona Cardinals
4 of 5
Cardinals receive: WR Justin Jefferson
Vikings receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 4 overall), 2025 first-round pick, 2024 third-round pick (No. 71 overall)
The idea of trading the consensus best receiver in the league just as he's entering his prime may seem inconceivable, but a longtime Minnesota Vikings beat writer believes the franchise could give serious credence to dealing Justin Jefferson this offseason.
According to the Pioneer Press' Charley Walters, a "full-scale rebuild" could occur in the Twin Cities this offseason. Walters noted that it wouldn't make sense for Minnesota to give Jefferson an extension estimated to be worth around $30 million annually if the team is expecting to endure some lean years over the majority of the contract's duration.
Minnesota could instead look to capitalize on Jefferson's immense trade value—Walter's estimates it would be "more than two first-round picks"—to jump-start the type of rebuilding process that the NFC North rival Detroit Lions recently underwent by trading away star quarterback Matthew Stafford.
A franchise like the Arizona Cardinals could be highly interested if Jefferson becomes available. Arizona is loaded with draft capital this year, owning 13 selections overall with six of them coming in the top 90 and two in the first round. Converting some of those picks into a player of Jefferson's caliber would be a shrewd move for a franchise looking to contend again with a healthy Kyler Murray at the helm.
Given Arizona's leading pass-catcher was tight end Trey McBride (81 receptions, 825 yards and three touchdowns) this past season, it's obvious the squad needs to bring in an elite receiver to round out the offense. Drafting someone like Marvin Harrison Jr. could be an option at No. 4 overall, but using that pick to land a sure-thing in Jefferson via trade should be even more alluring.
Jerry Jeudy to Cleveland Browns
5 of 5
Browns receive: WR Jerry Jeudy
Broncos receive: 2024 second-round pick (No. 54 overall)
Few, if any, players have been involved in trade rumors as frequently as Jerry Jeudy has been throughout the past few seasons. The wide receiver has been a constant source of offseason and deadline buzz, and while the Denver Broncos have been reticent to deal Jeudy in the past, this spring could finally bring a change of heart.
The 2020 first-round pick is coming off his worst healthy season as a pro. Jeudy caught just 54 passes for 758 yards and two touchdowns, a noticeable regression from the 67-catch, 972-yard, six-touchdown line he put up during his breakout 2022 campaign. That step backward could lead the Broncos to come down from their reportedly high asking price for the 24-year-old.
Denver's brass has also made it clear they plan to make some moves to stockpile more picks in the upcoming draft. The organization currently only has six selections, but general manager George Paton teased the potential to acquire more during an end-of-season press conference.
The Cleveland Browns may still be willing to part with at least one selection to snatch Jeudy away from the Mile High City. According to ESPN's Jeff Legwold, the Browns made "multiple runs at acquiring Jeudy" in 2023 and could once again push to acquire the pass-catcher.
If the Broncos are willing to take a Day 2 selection—Cleveland has decent picks in the second (No. 54) and third (No. 86) rounds—for Jeudy, the cash-strapped organization can shed some salary and get some much-needed capital back.
