Top Trade Targets for QB-Needy NFL Teams amid Kirk Cousins, J.J. McCarthy Rumors

The NFL's quarterback carousel continues to spin. For teams without clear-cut 2025 starters, like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns—the free-agent pool is getting shallow.

Aaron Rodgers is still out there, though there's been little to suggest that he'll make a decision soon. Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco and Ryan Tannehill and are experienced signal-callers who could fill the bridge role.

Ultimately, though, teams looking for more than a one-year placeholder may need to pivot to the trade market. 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy has generated interest this offseason, but, the Minnesota Vikings have rejected trade calls, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

While McCarthy may be off the board, teams aren't out of potential trade targets who could have long-term value. Here, we'll run down the top options based on factors like experience, upside, recent performance and any relevant recent buzz.

Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

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If a team likes Kirk Cousins and is willing to take on his contract, the 36-year-old can likely be had. The Atlanta Falcons are ready to turn the page to 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. and are reportedly eager to offload their $40 million backup.

"They can't keep Cousins—just can't," one unnamed general manager told Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz. "So I think [GM Terry Fontenot] is trying to find a trade partner willing to take on at least part of Kirk's salary."

Cousins didn't play well late last season and was eventually benched for Penix. However, it's worth noting that he suffered a torn Achilles in 2023 and has said that he suffered shoulder and elbow injuries in Week 10.

Entering Week 10, Cousins was coming off a 222-yard, three-touchdown performance and had a 6-3 record as a starter.

Of course, it's hard to know how healthy Cousins actually was in 2024, and there's the fact that his contract carries a no-trade clause—meaning Cousins would have to sign off on any deal. The Browns would make the most sense for him, given his Vikings connection with head coach Kevin Stefanski.

However, if Cousins is truly healthy, ready to buy into a program and able to return to the Pro Bowl form we last saw in 2022, he could be more than just a bridge for any QB-needy team.

Joe Milton III, New England Patriots

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The New England Patriots appear to have their long-term quarterback in Drake Maye. However, Maye wasn't the only signal-caller the franchise drafted last offseason.

New England used a sixth-round pick on Tennessee product Joe Milton III, and he looms as an intriguing option.

"This is a really interesting name in this quarterback carousel we're talking about because he has trade interest," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said on SportsCenter (h/t Bleacher Report's Andrew Peters).

Milton oozes physical potential with a powerful arm and a 6'5", 246-pound frame. He flashed his upside while starting the Patriots' season finale, throwing for 241 yards and a touchdown and notching 16 rushing yards and another score.

According to Fowler, the Dallas Cowboys have shown interest in Milton as a long-term backup. Teams considering developmental quarterbacks in the 2025 draft class could also view Milton as a reasonable alternative.

The 2025 class appears to have few high-end QB prospects—Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders were the only first-round quarterbacks in the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's latest mock draft. Teams considering, say, Mississippi's Jaxson Dart or Alabama's Jalen Milroe as a quarterback to develop for the future might want to consider Milton too.

The No. 1 or No. 2 Overall Pick in April's Draft

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Miami QB Cam Ward

Ward and Sanders are this year's top two QB prospects, and they appear to be a full tier above prospects like Dart and Ohio State's Will Howard. The B/R Scouting Department mocked Ward and Sanders to the Tennessee Titans and Browns, respectively, and that may well be how the early draft unfolds.

According to The Athletic's Joe Rexrode, Tennessee is a team that has "talked itself into" taking Ward at No. 1.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Thursday's edition of Get Up that his "sense" is that Cleveland would prefer Ward over Sanders. If that's true, the Browns may have to move up to No. 1 to secure him.

Other teams interested in Ward would also need to move up to No. 1, because there appears to be virtually no chance that he makes it past both Tennessee and Cleveland. Teams interested in Sanders may have to trade up to No. 2, even if the Browns miss out on Ward and opt not to take a quarterback.

Schefter believes that if Ward isn't available at No. 2, the Browns will likely take Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter or Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter instead of Sanders. However, the New York Giants sit at No. 3 and need a new long-term quarterback plan.

New York agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with Jameis Winston on Friday, according to Pelissero, though that feels very much like a placeholder deal. The Giants could be tempted to move up a spot to secure Sanders, and trading into the top three may be necessary for any other interested franchise.

"Several sources told me Sanders has a real shot to be a top-three selection," ESPN's Field Yates wrote.

The Steelers may be picking too low to have a realistic shot at either QB prospect, but if, say, the Las Vegas Raiders want to develop Sanders behind trade acquisition Geno Smith, trading up may be their best option.

According to The Athletic's Tashan Reed, the Raiders have not ruled out drafting a quarterback after adding Smith as their 2025 starter.

Aidan O'Connell, Las Vegas Raiders

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The Raiders have their quarterback of the present in Smith, and there's a non-zero chance that they add to their QB room in April's draft. So, where does that leave third-year signal-caller Aidan O'Connell?

That's a question other QB-needy teams should be asking. While Las Vegas never committed to O'Connell as a full-time starter in 2023 or 2024, he has flashed starting potential when given the opportunity.

The Purdue product has gone 7-10 as a starter over the last two seasons and has a respectable 85.1 quarterback rating. He proved to be a more efficient quarterback than 2024 free-agent addition Gardner Minshew last season, and he could be viewed as a serviceable bridge option for another team.

O'Connell has two years left on his rookie contract and, at worst, would be a good backup on a bargain deal. The Raiders may prefer to hang onto him for those reasons, but other teams should at least check in on his availability.

While O'Connell doesn't possess elite physical tools like Milton, he has good size for the position (6'3", 210 lbs) and has shown a good sense of anticipation and timing. Teams looking to add experienced depth to their quarterback room could do worse than adding O'Connell.

Sam Howell, Seattle Seahawks

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After dealing Smith to the Raiders, the Seattle Seahawks made their own quarterback move in free agency. During the legal-contact window, Seattle and Sam Darnold agreed to a three-year, $100.5 million contract.

According to ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio, the Seahawks can get out of the deal after one year and at the cost of $37.5 million should he struggle. However, Seattle undoubtedly hopes that the 27-year-old will become its long-term signal-caller.

This raises questions about the future of backup Sam Howell, a 2022 fifth-round pick who was acquired from the Washington Commanders last offseason.

Howell is entering the final year of his rookie contract and could be available if the Seahawks aren't planning to keep him beyond this season. He won't get a chance to compete for the starting job in Seattle, but he might be a viable option elsewhere.

While Howell never played well enough to make the Commanders consider skipping the 2024 rookie quarterback pool—in which they found star Jayden Daniels—he did flash some ability with the franchise.

The North Carolina product started all 17 games for Washington in 2023 and threw for 3,946 yards with 21 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. That's obviously not a sustainable turnover rate. However, the Giants just added Winston knowing that interceptions will be part of the equation.

Turning just 25 in September, Howell is another young quarterback who could be viewed as an alternative to the 2025 QB class.

Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

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After two seasons, a 2023 shoulder injury and a bizarre instance of taking himself out of a game, Anthony Richardson has yet to cement himself as the Indianapolis Colts' quarterback of the future.

The Colts added Daniel Jones this offseason to provide Richardson with competition. Indianapolis is clearly not sold on Richardson, a player it drafted fourth overall just two offseasons ago.

At this point, a fresh start could make sense for both Richardson and the Colts, though the quarterback has no plans to seek a trade, according to Pelissero. Other teams, however, should see if the Colts are willing to cash in Richardson and start over.

While the Florida product carries questions about his leadership, accuracy and durability, he also boasts immense physical upside. The 6'4", 244-pound dual threat is as athletically gifted as any quarterback in the 2025 class and will only turn 23 in May.

"Speeding up his process a bit and ironing out his accuracy will be necessary, but Richardson is a young player with plenty of room to grow, and hopefully, the right environment can foster that growth," Derrik Klassen wrote for the B/R Scouting Department ahead of the 2023 draft.

Indianapolis, to this point, hasn't given Richardson the environment he's needed to succeed. That doesn't mean he can't still emerge as an above-average NFL starter. Given his age, the relative lack of QB depth in the 2025 class and the shrinking list of available veterans, it would behoove quarterback-needy teams to at least see if Richardson can be had.