Early Bold Predictions for the 2025 NFL Trade Deadline

The 2025 NFL trade deadline is still more than four months out, but with most of the offseason wheeling and dealing complete, it's possible to project the next wave of potential moves. 

That has to do with which veterans remain in tenuous situations, as well as which teams are destined to be sellers based on their current trajectories. 

With that in mind, here are some bold, super-early predictions for the November 4 deadline.

New York Jets Acquire QB Kirk Cousins from Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Mike Stewart

If by midseason, sophomore Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has established himself as the clear-cut guy under center there, the team could more comfortably field offers for Kirk Cousins. 

And as quarterback-related developments take place throughout the league, there's a good chance the interest in the veteran quarterback will ramp up. Any contender that loses its QB to an injury could be in on the 37-year-old, despite the high price tag. 

Since it's impossible to speculate on injuries, though, let's instead throw out a Jets team that has a considerable amount of salary-cap space and could well give up on Justin Fields by November.

The Jets also employ senior football advisor Rick Spielman, who is connected to Cousins from their shared time in Minnesota. 

If the increasingly desperate Jets are competitive in spite of Fields at that stage, dealing for an established veteran from the NFC could make some sense.

Pittsburgh Steelers Acquire QB Baker Mayfield from Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

In this case, it's the same idea as above but if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fall off a cliff and Baker Mayfield is at the center of that collapse. 

It's possible considering the team is generally over the hill and the talented but inconsistent Mayfield tied Cousins with a league-high 16 interceptions in 2024. 

Could a contender with quarterback issues decide to roll the dice on him taking off following a change of scenery? We won't speculate on injuries, but the Steelers and Vikings both come to mind in the event that either the Aaron Rodgers experiment blows up quickly or J.J. McCarthy gets off to a horrible start in Minnesota. 

We’ll lean toward the Vikes having a longer leash with their young quarterback, because who knows what will happen with the 41-year-old Rodgers. 

Arizona Cardinals Acquire CB Jalen Ramsey From Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith

The NFC West could be wide open this year, and the up-and-coming Cardinals could be in the thick of it if Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. can make a leap together. 

That could leave the cap-rich Cards in position to be buyers to improve a still-evolving defense at the deadline, and it would make a lot of sense for them to pursue Ramsey to bolster a secondary that has already lost Sean Murphy-Bunting for the season. 

It's still possible the Dolphins stick with the 30-year-old seven-time Pro Bowler, but a trade has seemingly been in the works for a while. Plus, they appear to be losing ground to Buffalo and other key AFC rivals, and they could be out of it at this point. 

Of course, there's also a chance Ramsey is dealt long before we hit the deadline. In which case, we are still looking at Arizona as a prime potential landing spot.

Green Bay Packers Acquire Edge Trey Hendrickson from Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Stew Milne

Trey Hendrickson could ultimately land a long-term extension with Cincinnati, but the reigning NFL sack leader does seem serious about his current contract stalemate.

And we have seen the notoriously frugal Bengals bail on guys in situations like this before. 

Keep in mind they just drafted edge Shemar Stewart in the first round, the jury’s still out on third-year first-rounder Myles Murphy, and veteran Joseph Ossai is there too.

The most realistic scenario involves several NFC pass rush-needy contenders pursuing Hendrickson, as Cincinnati would probably want to avoid dealing him within the conference.

It works out well that the Commanders, Packers and Lions are probably the teams that best fit the need profile here. 

The Packers have more of a need here than the Lions and more cap room than the Commanders. Ergo, they win these sweepstakes. 

Detroit Lions Acquire Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux from New York Giants

AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.

A potential Kayvon Thibodeaux trade has made sense ever since the New York Giants drafted Abdul Carter to team up with Brian Burns.

However, having three good pass-rushers isn't a bad thing and it's possible the Giants hold on to their 2022 first-round pick for a while. 

Still, considering shortcomings elsewhere, trading Thibodeaux to address a larger need would be logical, especially if the team is still alive as the deadline approaches.

I get the feeling that will actually be the case, as Russell Wilson could have a redemption season in him thanks in part to the emergence of Malik Nabers. 

If that's how things go down, we are again looking at Washington, Green Bay and Detroit. In this case, Thibodeaux is the consolation prize because he's not close to as established as Hendrickson.

The Lions have more money to spend than the Commanders and may feel the need to at least outbid them here to keep up with the Joneses in the NFC North.