6 Veteran Players That NFL Teams Should Pursue in Trades
Now that free agency has settled down, the NFL draft is over and OTAs are about to get going next week, surely we're done talking about trades in the league, right? Nope!
Around this time last year, there were rumors surrounding the Arizona Cardinals attempting to deal All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. While Hopkins ended up getting released in late May before eventually signing with the Tennessee Titans, the point is there still are big names on the trade block at this point in the offseason.
Post-June 1 contract clauses often incentivize clubs to hold onto players longer in the offseason before sending them elsewhere as the organization gets more cap relief by waiting to make a deal.
Here, we'll dive into six players teams should try to trade for, three on offense and three on defense. Also included are a few potential landing spots and a brief explanation of why each destination would make sense.
Brandon Aiyuk
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Brandon Aiyuk has been the subject of trade rumors all offseason largely because he's entering a contract year and extension talks between him and the San Francisco 49ers' brass seem to have hit an impasse in negotiations, according to the San Francisco Chronicles' Adam Silver.
"Aiyuk, as per the terms of his rookie deal, is scheduled to play on the 'fifth-year option' in 2024, which would pay him $14.1 million," Silver wrote on April 23. "Sources around the league believe he is seeking a contract with an annual average of well over $25 million and that the 49ers have been reluctant to meet that price."
The 49ers added more fuel to the fire when they spent the team's first-round pick on wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. Additionally, San Francisco only has $3.6 million of cap space available, per Over The Cap, and hasn't agreed to terms with Pearsall yet. Moving Aiyuk would free up over $14 million with no dead cap.
So, there are plenty of reasons why the 49ers could trade the 2023 second-team All-Pro.
Potential Destinations: New England Patriots, Washington Commanders, Las Vegas Raiders
According to OTC, the Patriots currently have the most cap space available in the NFL ($50.6 million) to take on Aiyuk's contract and then work out an extension. The offense also needs a lot of help at wide receiver and adding a veteran of his caliber would be a great way to support the new future of the franchise, Drake Maye.
The Commanders are in a similar spot with a new quarterback (Jayden Daniels) and a boatload of funds available ($43.4 million). While Terry McLaurin is a Pro Bowl-caliber wideout, the rest of the receiving corps leaves something to be desired, making the 26-year-old a good target. Also, Aiyuk and Daniels played together at Arizona State.
Speaking of the Sun Devils, there were rumors early in the offseason that the wideout might be interested in reuniting with former ASU recruiting coordinator, Antonio Pierce. The Raiders currently have about $18.4 million of cap space available and will get more room once Jimmy Garoppolo's contract comes off the books next month.
Granted, Las Vegas does have Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers out wide, but Adams turns 32 in December and Meyers is only signed through 2025. So, this could be a move made with an eye toward the future, especially if the Silver and Black are looking to add a quarterback during next year's draft.
Najee Harris
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At the beginning of the month, the Pittsburgh Steelers declined Najee Harris' fifth-year option. That signaled the running back isn't in the team's future plans and they would get a little more than $2.4 million of cap relief while taking on roughly $1.7 million of dead cap, according to Over The Cap.
Additionally, the Steelers have quite a bit of depth in the backfield with Jaylen Warren, who broke out last season, and free-agent signing Cordarrelle Patterson. The offense also has a couple of quarterbacks who can support the running game in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.
In other words, adding some draft picks by dealing Harris wouldn't be a bad idea. They'd be losing a player who will likely leave in the offseason anyway to help build the team for the future.
Potential Destinations: Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints
While the Cowboys shot down trade rumors surrounding them and Harris, there's no denying that the offense could benefit from the back's presence. After letting Tony Pollard walk, the position group is one of the team's weaknesses and adding Ezekiel Elliot, who is passed his prime, doesn't change that.
New Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald should know Harris well seeing as Macdonald spent the last two seasons in the AFC North as the Baltimore Ravens' defensive coordinator, and the running back rushed for over 100 yards in two out of four outings against him. Also, Seattle could use some depth at running back behind Kenneth Walker III.
In a similar situation, New Orleans has Alvin Kamara as the offense's lead back but could use a bruiser between the tackles. While Jamaal Williams was signed last year to fill that role, Williams underwhelmed in 2023 with under three yards per carry and just one touchdown, and that lone score infamously came during garbage time in the last regular season game.
Courtland Sutton
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While the Denver Broncos reportedly have no plans to trade Courtland Sutton despite other teams inquiring about the wide receiver, the Broncos would be wise to entertain those calls and see what they can get for him.
The 28-year-old, who turns 29 in October, is seeking a new contract as his current deal is set to expire after the 2025 campaign. Meanwhile, Denver is in a rebuilding phase where adding draft picks would be a smart move and the team would get over $13.5 million in cap relief this year and $14 million next year with a post-June 1 trade, per Over The Cap.
The Broncos also have a good amount of depth at wide receiver with second-year pro Marvin Mims Jr., free-agent signing Josh Reynolds, fourth-round pick Troy Franklin and veteran Tim Patrick on the roster. So, the team could afford to give up Sutton, especially if he isn't in their long-term plans.
Potential Destinations: Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers
While the Packers have a stable of young wideouts, Christian Watson has struggled to stay healthy. They could use a veteran presence in the position group like Sutton and have enough cap space available -- about $21.3 million -- to make this happen. That would give Jordan Love a good contested catch target to help make a playoff run this fall.
With Puka Nacua's emergence last season, the Rams have a good No. 2 receiver behind Cooper Kupp. But Kupp has missed 13 games since filtering with the 2,000-yard mark two years ago and hasn't had a 1,000-yard campaign since then.
Worst case, Sutton gives Matthew Stafford a third wideout to throw to and helps the 36-year-old quarterback make one more push for another Lombardi Trophy. Plus, we all know general manager Les Snead isn't shy about trading away draft picks for proven players.
The Steelers traded away Dionte Johnson this offseason likely because they weren't going to sign him to a long-term deal. However, the offense's No. 2 receiver this year is either going to be Van Jefferson or third-round pick Roman Wilson. The Bronco would be an immediate upgrade over those two and Pittsburgh has about $18.3 million of cap space available.
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Marshon Lattimore
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Just a few days ahead of the NFL draft, New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis was asked if cornerback Marshon Lattimore is available for a trade and gave an interesting response.
"You ask questions, and you have the right to ask the question, but you know, listen: Everybody is tradable, it just depends on the offer that you get," Loomis told reporters. "And yet, that's not very common. … I don't like trading players that have been contributors for us.
"... There's too many 'what if' things here. If there was something imminent, well, I still wouldn't tell you."
While the GM didn't explicitly say he's open to dealing Lattimore, he also didn't exactly shoot down those rumors in his reply. Additionally, Paulson Adebo had a breakout campaign in 2023 with an 80.5 coverage grade and 69.9 passer rating when targeted, per Pro Football Focus, and Loomis used a second-round pick on cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.
The Saints would only save just under $4 million of cap space this year by trading the four-time Pro Bowler after June 1, but they would get over $20 million in cap relief in each of the next two seasons, according to Over The Cap. Plus, the return would be pretty big seeing as he has three years left on his contract.
Potential Destinations: Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Raiders have a lot of question marks at cornerback as Jack Jones is currently projected to be their top starter and only has five career starts. The defense could use a No. 1 corner like Lattimore and the front office has plenty of funds available to take on his contract.
Arizona is in a similar spot as Las Vegas, needing to add some talent in the secondary. The Cardinals also have about $28.5 million of cap space available and can afford to give up a 2025 first-rounder -- if that's what it takes -- since they have a quarterback in place. The latter is where they might have an advantage over Las Vegas to get a deal done.
Darious Williams was the Jaguars' top cornerback last season, but Williams went back to the Rams in free agency. That leaves Jacksonville with a need at the position and the front office has the third-most funds available (about $34.2 million) in the league to take on the Saint's contract.
The Jags are looking to bounce back after a disappointing season and adding a veteran corner would help accomplish that goal, especially since the defense lost one of its best players in the offseason.
Budda Baker
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Budda Baker asked for a trade last year but the Arizona Cardinals ended up giving him a raise and he remains on the team amid speculations that a move could happen ahead of the draft. But the Cardinals should at least entertain the thought of trading Baker seeing as the 28-year-old is on the last year of his deal.
Not that Arizona needs it, but it would save them $15.1 million, per Over The Cap, by trading the defensive back in addition to getting a player of future asset back for a guy who might leave for nothing next spring. Also, it would be a bit of a surprise if the Cardinals are much of a playoff contender even with Baker in the tough NFC West.
Potential Destinations: Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles
This would take some financial maneuvering since the Ravens are up against the cap with under $6 million available, according to OTC. But if the front office can make it happen, Baker would be a nice complement to Kyle Hamilton and join the organization's history of good safeties.
Unlike Baltimore, Detroit can afford to make this happen easily financially and on the field. The Lions currently have the fourth-most cap space available (about $31.1 million) and the Cardinal would be an upgrade over Kerby Joseph. Also, the organization is in a spot where it can take on a one-and-done contract as the team is eying a Super Bowl run.
While Reed Blankenship is a solid player, the three-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler is the better of the two, and the Eagles could potentially include Blankenship in a trade offer to get some cap relief. Also, he's only signed through 2025 anyway and Philadelphia is in a similar spot as Detroit with $27.2 million in cap space and Lombardi Trophy aspirations.
Matthew Judon
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Matthew Judon turns 32 years old before the regular season starts and only has one year left on his contract. Given that, his fit with the rebuilding New England Patriots is questionable and it makes sense for the team to give more reps to Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings. Also, Judon would probably rather play for a playoff contender at this stage.
While the veteran pass-rusher is coming off a torn bicep, he did have four sacks in as many games last season and 43.5 sacks to go along with four Pro Bowl bids the four years prior to that. So, it's not as if he can't be a productive player when healthy.
Potential Destinations: Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs
After re-signing Kyle Van Noy and using a third-round pick on Adisa Isaac to go along with Odafe Oweh on the edge, the Ravens don't necessarily need another pass-rusher. However, they've never been shy about stockpiling at the position so a reunion in Baltimore shouldn't be off the table.
If the Bears think the team is good enough to make a push for the playoffs with Caleb Williams as a rookie, it couldn't hurt to pair Montez Sweat with Judon on the other edge. The defense has DeMarcus Walker to play on first and second downs while the sack artist can come in on passing situations. Also, Chicago has $22.7 million in cap space right now.
Kansas City isn't quite as flush with cash ($16.1 million) but they could still afford Judon and they have a spot for him on the edge, especially if Charles Omenihu isn't ready to begin the regular season. Also, Chris Jones and the Patriot would be a fearsome duo for the back-to-back champs.
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