5 Trades That NFL Teams Can Make for Cap Space Relief
In 2024, NFL teams will have $255.4 million in cap space. While that gives some clubs enough room to maneuver the cap for free-agent signings in March, several front offices will need to cut or trade players to get under the required cap-space threshold before the new league year.
Over the past week, teams started to trim rosters or notify players about their imminent release. Among the most notable potential cuts, the Miami Dolphins plan to part ways with All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard (h/t NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Peter Schrager).
Like Howard, several veterans will hit the open market as cap-space cuts, but we could also see teams trade roster assets in exchange for 2024 draft capital to load up on rookie talent.
Let's take a look at five realistic trades for teams that are over the cap-space limit as of Monday.
We didn't include players like quarterback Russell Wilson, wide receiver Stefon Diggs or cornerback Marshon Lattimore, because potential pre-June 1 trades that involve those players seem unlikely or their respective teams wouldn't gain much cap relief with a pre-June 1 transaction.
Bills Trade CB Rasul Douglas to Lions
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Buffalo Bills receive: 2024 third-rounder (No. 92 overall pick)
Detroit Lions receive: CB Rasul Douglas and 2024 sixth-rounder (No. 206 overall pick)
The Buffalo Bills should attempt to trade Tre'Davious White before they shop Rasul Douglas, but the former may not have many suitors with his injury history. White has missed 24 games over the past two years.
Douglas likely has more trade value with his playmaking ability. In the previous three seasons, he's recorded 40 pass breakups and 14 interceptions.
Before the 2023 trade deadline, Buffalo acquired Douglas and a 2024 fifth-round pick from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick. The ball-hawking cornerback suited up for nine games with the Bills and led the team in interceptions and tied for second in pass breakups.
So, why would the Bills trade Douglas?
Well, Douglas turns 30 years old in August, and he only has one more year on his deal. Buffalo can save $10 million in cap space, potentially acquire a Day 2 pick in the 2024 draft and find a cheaper replacement for him.
Though the Bills would lose their best perimeter cornerback, they need to find a younger starter at the position anyway. White isn't reliable anymore, and 2022 first-rounder Kaiir Elam hasn't panned out as a reliable starter yet.
The Bills should think about moving Douglas before his production dips as he ages, especially if they're able to get a third-rounder in return for him.
The Detroit Lions may want to take a swing at a ready-made starter following their run to the NFC Championship Game. If the Lions intend to open their Super Bowl window, they must strengthen their pass defense, which ranked 27th last season.
Douglas would make an immediate impact on the back end of Detroit's defense as the best playmaker among its cornerbacks. The Lions can afford to give up one of their two third-round picks to patch up a glaring weakness.
Broncos Trade WR Jerry Jeudy to Patriots
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Denver Broncos receive: 2024 fourth-rounder (No. 104 overall pick)
New England Patriots receive: WR Jerry Jeudy
Aside from all the discussion around quarterback Russell Wilson's future with the Denver Broncos, the team may decide to part ways with one of its wide receivers as well.
Remember, a potential trade deal that involves Wilson could have significant complications and seems unlikely with the structure of his contract, which includes a no-trade clause and doesn't provide much immediate cap relief. The Broncos may have to unload one or two other veterans to get under the cap threshold.
As a former first-round pick, Jerry Jeudy hasn't met expectations. While some of his struggles stem from inconsistencies at the quarterback position, he's yet to record a 1,000-yard receiving season, and his pass-catching numbers dipped over the past two years.
Last offseason, the Broncos acquired head coach Sean Payton from the New Orleans Saints, and they selected Marvin Mims Jr. in the second round of the 2023 draft. Mims flashed his upside with 22 receptions for 377 yards and a touchdown; he also earned a spot on the Pro Bowl roster as a special teamer.
Denver may choose to move forward with Courtland Sutton, Mims and perhaps Tim Patrick if he can stay healthy.
Sutton has been the team's most reliable receiver in recent years, and he caught a career-high 10 touchdown passes in 2023. Jeudy may be the odd man out, because Patrick doesn't have much trade value after missing the past two seasons with a torn ACL and a torn Achilles.
According to The Athletic's Jeff Howe, the New England Patriots inquired about Jeudy last offseason. Even though the Patriots moved on from Bill Belichick and his coaching staff, they still have front-office holdovers from the previous regime.
Denver could revisit those trade talks in an attempt to clear about $13 million in cap space, and New England may be open to acquiring Jeudy in order to bolster its bottom-tier wide receiver group.
Browns Trade OT Jedrick Wills Jr. to Rams
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Cleveland Browns receive: 2024 fifth-rounder (No. 153 overall pick)
Los Angeles Rams receive: OT Jedrick Wills Jr.
Nine offensive tackles rank within the top 100 prospects in our latest big board for the 2024 draft class, which means teams may look to ditch underperforming veterans for rookies with upside.
The Cleveland Browns may have seen enough of left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr., who struggled through an injury-riddled 2023 campaign.
Last offseason, Cleveland exercised the fifth-year option in Wills' rookie deal and restructured it, but he hasn't quite played up to expectations as a top-10 pick from the 2020 draft.
"We already knew the Browns took the wrong offensive tackle prospect in the 2020 NFL draft. But Wills always had the potential to be a solid LT. Gotta think he's now entering that first-round bust territory," B/R's Brent Sobleski said on X.
Wills has experienced his ups and downs, but he's shown glimpses of solid play before a rough 2023 term, and teams may be willing to roll the dice on him because of his draft pedigree.
The Los Angeles Rams may lose Alaric Jackson, who played most of the snaps at left tackle for the club in 2023.
The Browns would save $12.8 million in cap space if the Rams or any other team is willing to take a flyer on Wills in a trade deal.
While that price seems steep, the Rams may miss out on top prospects at the position with the No. 19 overall pick. On top of that, the 2024 free-agent tackle class lacks depth. So, this transaction may be worth consideration.
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Chargers Trade WR Mike Williams to Bears
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Los Angeles Chargers receive: 2024 fourth-rounder (No. 111 overall pick)
Chicago Bears receive: WR Mike Williams
The Los Angeles Chargers have a new regime in place led by general manager Joe Hortiz and head coach Jim Harbaugh. Together, they have to figure out how to cut costs on an aging roster.
The Chargers have four players who have contracts that carry a cap hit of $32.5 million or more, and three of those high-profile veterans have an extensive injury history. Within that trio, Mike Williams may be the most expendable because of the team's depth at wide receiver, his inability to stay healthy last season and the $20 million in savings if a team acquires him via trade.
Yes, Los Angeles can save $23-plus million if it trades Khalil Mack or Keenan Allen, but the former is coming off arguably his best season with a career-high 17 sacks and the latter has been a more productive receiver over the past two years.
In 2023, the Chargers selected Quentin Johnston in the first round of the draft. Though he had an underwhelming rookie campaign with 38 catches for 431 yards and two touchdowns, the new coaching staff isn't likely to give up on a 22-year-old with his potential.
Fellow wideout Joshua Palmer filled in adequately in place of Williams and Allen, who battled injuries throughout the 2023 term. Palmer hauled in 38 passes for 581 yards and two touchdowns. He's due $3.4 million going into the final year of his contract.
The Chargers could move forward with Allen, Johnston and Palmer at a modest cost and add another pass-catcher (a tight end or a wideout) in the upcoming draft. Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman has a history of establishing the run game, and based on his comments during his introductory press conference, he'll do the same in Los Angeles.
"We want to have an identity as an offense," Roman said. "And we want that to be a strong, powerful identity. And that's what we're working on."
The Chargers can use the pick acquired in exchange for Williams to draft a running back or offensive lineman in the middle rounds of the draft.
As wideout Darnell Mooney prepares to test free agency, the Chicago Bears need a No. 2 wideout to complement DJ Moore. Williams, if healthy, can attack defenses over the top and serve as the primary red-zone target for whoever starts at quarterback in Chicago next season.
By the way, the Bears have a projected $78.3 million in cap space. They can easily absorb Williams' contract.
49ers Trade WR Brandon Aiyuk to Texans
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San Francisco 49ers receive: 2024 first-rounder (No. 23 overall pick) and 2024 third-round pick (No. 86 overall pick)
Houston Texans receive: WR Brandon Aiyuk and 2024 sixth-rounder (No. 215 overall pick)
After the San Francisco 49ers' Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk left the door open for speculation about his future when a reporter asked if he wanted to remain with the team.
"If it's the right move," Aiyuk said.
Last offseason, the 49ers exercised the fifth-year option in Aiyuk's contract. His deal carries a $14.1 million cap hit for the 2024 campaign, but like many top players going into a contract year, he probably wants an extension after posting career-high numbers in the preceding season.
ESPN's Dan Graziano believes the 49ers could trade their top wideout and draft his replacement.
"The most likely way this shakes out is Aiyuk ends up getting traded to a team where he's the clear No. 1 wideout and where he can get the extension he wants, leaving the 49ers to draft his replacement in the first round. That's the cleanest way for them to address all of their needs. I see San Francisco extending Hufanga and coming to some sort of arrangements with Juszczyk and Greenlaw that keep them both around."
San Francisco should prioritize its best wideout over an All-Pro fullback, an off-ball linebacker or an All-Pro safety, but general manager John Lynch may see things differently from a roster-building perspective.
If the 49ers trade Aiyuk, they can likely get first- and middle-round picks in a deal that compares to the A.J. Brown trade between the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles two years ago.
In this trade scenario, the 49ers would get an earlier third-round pick than the Titans received from the Eagles, which would allow them to fill another hole on their roster with a rookie who could play right away.
The Houston Texans would acquire an ascending big-play receiver who has room to grow in a lead role after racking up 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Quarterback C.J. Stroud would love this deal, and Houston can afford to sign Aiyuk to an extension with 67.6 million in cap space.
NFL cap space information is provided by Over the Cap.
NFL draft details are provided by Tankathon.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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