6 WR Trades NFL Teams Should Pursue with Tyreek Hill Unavailable
As we approach NFL draft week, we're likely to see a surge in trade chatter involving both veteran players and draft slots. One player who isn't likely to be the subject of speculation, however, is Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
On Tuesday, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier made it clear that he's not actively shopping the 31-year-old playmaker—though he joked that there could be a price too hefty to ignore.
"That is not anything that we're pursuing," Grier said, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. "Who knows? If someone wants to come and give me two first-round picks, we'll consider it."
As great as Hill can be, teams aren't going to offer two first-round picks for a receiver his age. While he's effectively off the table, though, receiver-needy teams will have other options before, during and after the draft.
Here, we'll examine seven realistic trade targets and dive into their current situations, projected price points and potential suitors—based on factors like team needs and cap/contract implications.
Trade for Jets WR Garrett Wilson
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Projected Price Point: 2025 first-round pick/2026 first-round pick and more
We've seen no shortage of receiver movement this offseason. The Washington Commanders traded for Deebo Samuel, and the Pittsburgh Steelers traded for DK Metcalf. Davante Adams and Cooper Kupp were both released and signed with the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, respectively.
Other big names could be on the move before all is said and done.
After releasing Adams, the New York Jets probably aren't eager to move No. 1 receiver Garrett Wilson. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, a "select group" of teams did inquire about Wilson before the 2024 trade deadline, but that was when Adams was on the roster.
However, that shouldn't stop teams from inquiring again. With a new head coach in Aaron Glenn and a new quarterback in Justin Fields, New York is approaching a reset. Wilson, who is extension-eligible this offseason, may or may not be part of the long-term plan.
Wilson is a legitimate difference-maker when at his best, though he's a tier below the league's elite receivers. With the Jets inching back toward rebuilding mode, they may not be eager to meet his contract demands.
The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt reported in February (h/t Bleacher Report's Timothy Rapp) that Wilson is seeking a new contract worth $30 million per year. Theoretically, New York might prefer to reset the contract clock by replacing Wilson with a rookie prospect like Texas' Matthew Golden or Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka—though acquiring Wilson wouldn't be cheap.
Still only 24, Wilson has already produced three 1,000-yard campaigns. He also played with Fields in college, which increases his value to the Jets. A late 2025 first-round pick would likely be the minimum asking price, and the Jets would probably want even more if dealing in 2026 draft capital.
Wilson, however, would be a prime target for cap-rich, receiver-needy teams like the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans.
Potential Suitors: Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans
Trade for Panthers WR Adam Thielen
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Projected Price Point: 2025 fifth-round pick
Adam Thielen remains a productive wide receiver when healthy. Despite dealing with inconsistent quarterback play over the past two seasons, the 34-year-old tallied 1,629 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 27 games over that span.
The Carolina Panthers probably wouldn't get a whole lot in return for Thielen because of his age, but trading him during the draft could make sense.
The Panthers finally appear poised to move forward with quarterback Bryce Young and begin the building phase of their latest rebuild. Thielen, who is entering the final year of his contract, doesn't quite fit the franchise's timeline, and the Panthers should be hoping to get younger at the receiver position.
If Carolina can land a top receiver prospect like Golden or Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan, possibly add another receiver in the draft, and move second-year wideout Xavier Legette into a more prominent role, Thielen would likely be looking at a reduced role.
Thielen, who will turn 35 in August, would be a logical target for two types of teams: those ready to contend now, and those looking to pair a young quarterback with a savvy veteran.
The Philadelphia Eagles could fall into the first category. Though Philly traded for Jahan Dotson last offseason, they're still searching for a reliable third receiver behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. New Eagles passing game coordinator Parks Frazier also coached Thielen as Carolina's passing game coordinator in 2023.
The New England Patriots could look to support second-year quarterback Drake Maye by adding an experienced receiver like Thielen. New England did add Stefon Diggs in free agency, but he's coming off of a torn ACL.
Thielen could give the Patriots a little more veteran insurance, and he has experience under passing game coordinator Thomas Brown, who was the Panthers offensive coordinator in 2023.
Potential Suitors: New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles
Trade for Steelers WR George Pickens
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Projected Price Point: 2025 mid-Day 2 pick
Early this offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired DK Metcalf from the Seahawks in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick and a sixth-seventh round pick swap.
Pittsburgh immediately signed Metcalf to a four-year, $132 million extension, which creates a lot of uncertainty around receiver George Pickens.
Pickens has largely filled the Steelers' No. 1 receiver role over the past three seasons. However, Metcalf should come in as the new top target, while Pickens heads into a contract year without a new deal. The Steelers are unlikely to pay both receivers top-of-the-market value, which could lead to Pickens' departure sooner than later.
According to Bleacher Report NFL Insider James Palmer, the Steelers are "doing a lot of work" on receivers ahead of the draft and could be looking to replace Pickens.
"There's a lot of people that believe George Pickens' time there is limited," Palmer said on his NFL Insider Notebook (beginning around the 4:55 mark).
While Pickens hasn't always been consistently reliable in Pittsburgh, he's still an ultra-talented 24-year-old receiver with the potential to be a perennial Pro Bowler. That said, his up-and-down play and contract status could limit his trade value to the range of a late second-round pick or early third-round selection.
Teams that miss out on a top receiver prospect on opening night and have the cap space to extend Pickens should be interested in making an offer.
Ironically, the Seahawks could be among those teams. Seattle added Kupp but traded Metcalf and released Tyler Lockett. They could use another receiver to help support new quarterback Sam Darnold. Receivers coach Frisman Jackson held the same position in Pittsburgh in 2023—which was Pickens' only 1,000-yard campaign to date.
Seattle ranks in the top 10 in terms or remaining 2025 cap space, as do the Green Bay Packers. While Green Bay traditionally prefers to build through the draft, it could use a legitimate No. 1 receiver, and Pickens might be able to fill that role.
Green Bay might also have a path to acquiring Pickens that doesn't involve draft capital. The Packers have listened to trade offers for cornerback Jaire Alexander, though no deal is "imminent," according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Potential Suitors: Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks
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Take a Flier on Titans WR Treylon Burks
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Projected Price Point: 2025 fifth-round pick
While receivers like Pickens, Thielen and Wilson would be able to help a team right away, Titans pass-catcher Treylon Burks would come in as a project. The 2022 first-round pick has struggled to stay on the field or make much of an impact when he's been on it.
Through three seasons, Burks has caught just 32 passes for 699 yards and one touchdown. Most of his trade value resides in the fact that he's a 25-year-old former first-rounder with a ton of physical upside.
"The unique skillset Burks has at his size and with his athleticism makes his potential sky high," Nate Tice wrote for the B/R Scouting Department back in 2022. "And he could be one of the more dynamic weapons in the NFL if he goes to the right team with a creative play-caller and a little bit of patience."
A team that believes it can get more out of Burks could be willing to take a flier before the final year of his rookie deal—we'll assume that Tennessee won't pick up his fifth-year option before the May 1 deadline.
The Titans could be willing to move Burks for Day 3 compensation too. They're widely expected to use the No. 1 overall selection on Miami quarterback Cam Ward, and trading Burks could open up playing time for a more reliable receiver—possibly, another highly-drafted rookie.
Burks would make the most sense for teams with established quarterbacks and creative offensive play callers. Both the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs would be logical suitors.
In Kansas City, Burks (6'2", 225 lbs) could bring size to the receiver lineup to help replace DeAndre Hopkins, who signed with the Baltimore Ravens in free agency. In Buffalo, he could develop as an ancillary target behind receivers like Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer and Khalil Shakir.
Potential Suitors: Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs
Trade Up for Colorado WR Travis Hunter
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Projected Price Point: Varies
While the Titans are expected to stay put at No. 1 and take Ward, the Cleveland Browns could be open to moving the No. 2 overall pick. Given the team's multiple needs, Cleveland should at least consider trading down, even if they might add an All-Pro talent by simply taking Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter or Penn State edge-rusher Abdul Carter.
Hunter is a particularly intriguing prospect, since the reigning Heisman winner is a two-way player who hopes to maintain that status in the NFL. Receiver-needy teams should be interested in what he can do on the offensive side of the ball.
"That’s just what we think he’s better at," Browns general manager Andre Berry said, per The Athletic's Zac Jackson.
Hunter is a prospect worth trading up for early in the draft, though the cost to acquire him could be steep. The No. 1-ranked prospect on the B/R Scouting Department big board is about as close to a "sure thing" as there is in this draft class.
Convincing the Browns to move out of the No. 2 spot could require paying a premium on top of what is considered fair trade value. According to the Drafttek trade value chart, for example, moving from No. 4 to No. 2 would cost the equivalent of a late first-round pick (21st overall, specifically). In this case, a future first-round pick and multiple Day-2 selections could be the minimum price, even for teams picking in the top six.
The New York Giants and the Patriots—who hold the third and fourth picks, respectively—are two teams that might be able to secure Hunter at a "fair" price. Swapping picks with the Giants would still allow Cleveland to take Carter. Moving to four would, likely, still give them a shot at the top QB not named Ward or a prospect like Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham or LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell.
Hunter could give the Patriots the sort of dynamic No. 1 receiver they currently lack, while he and Malik Nabers could pair to give New York one of the most explosive receiver tandems in the league.
For the Giants and the Patriots, trading up for Hunter is a move worth considering. And while it's hard to envision the Browns trading down much further in Round 1, teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 5), Raiders (No. 6) and Panthers (No. 8) should see if a deal is feasible too.
Potential Suitors: New England Patriots, New York Giants
Trade into Late Round 1 for a Rookie Receiver
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Projected Price Point: Varies
Hunter went to the Browns in the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's latest mock draft. McMillan and Golden were the only other receivers to go in Round 1 of the three-round exercise.
This doesn't mean, however, that Hunter, McMillan and Golden are the only receivers worthy of first-round consideration. The scouting department's grades don't show a substantial gap between Golden (8.0) and receivers like Egbuka (7.9), Mississippi's Tre Harris (7.9) and Missouri's Luther Burden III (7.8).
Egbuka and Harris were both top-40 picks in the scouting department's latest mock.
If a team likes a receiver enough to take him at the top of Round 2, it should strongly consider trading back into the first round in order to gain access to the fifth-year option. The going rate for good receivers will only go up, and having an extra year of team control could prove to be incredibly valuable.
The fifth-year option was, presumably, Carolina's reason for trading from 33rd overall to take Legette 32nd overall in last year's draft.
New England is a very logical candidate to move back into Round 1 for a wide receiver—assuming it can't make a play for Hunter at the top of the draft. According to Drafttek's trade value chart, moving from No. 38 to No. 32 would cost the equivalent of a mid-fourth-round pick (No. 112). That's a fair price to get the fifth-year option with a receiver like Harris.
"With his route running, strength, and football IQ, Harris projects as a productive starting receiver at the next level," Dame Parson of the B/R Scouting Department wrote.
The Raiders could also be interested in moving back into the first round for a future No. 1 receiver, especially if they use the sixth overall pick on a prospect like Campbell, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson or Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
Pairing a receiver like Harris, Egbuka or Burden with Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers would give Las Vegas a very strong supporting cast for new quarterback Geno Smith.
Potential Suitors: Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots
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