Brand New Landing Spots for NFL's Top 2025 Trade Targets

With the start of the 2025 NFL regular season roughly a month away, most teams are focused on making the most of their current rosters. As practices and preseason games progress, however, some teams will inevitably decide that their current rosters aren't good enough.

Between now and August 26 roster cuts, some teams will look to plug glaring roster holes or offload contracts via the trade market.

In other words, the trade frenzy that we've seen this offseason—with notable players like Geno Smith, DK Metcalf, Deebo Samuel, Laremy Tunsil and George Pickens on the move—probably isn't over just yet.

While late-preseason trades aren't always of the headline-grabbing variety, they do occur. Back in 2019, for example, the Houston Texans dealt franchise-tagged pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney to the Seattle Seahawks on August 31.

There are no disgruntled franchise-tagged players who could be dealt this offseason, but a few very notable players could, theoretically, still be on the move. Here, we'll examine the top remaining trade candidates, who could be interested and how a blockbuster trade might look.

Edge Trey Hendrickson to Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Stew Milne

Lions Get: Edge Trey Hendrickson

Bengals Get: 2026 2nd-round pick, 2027 4th-round pick

Edge-defender Trey Hendrickson has spent most of the offseason trying to get either a new contract or a trade out of the Cincinnati Bengals. He has received neither, and while he did end his holdout and report to camp, the reigning sacks leader remains unhappy.

"Things are exactly the same," Hendrickson said, per Fox 19's Jeremy Rauch. "What I'm not going to do is be a distraction."

The Detroit Lions weren't among the teams mentioned when Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski examined potential trade packages for Hendrickson back in March. They should be mentioned now. Detroit has needed a quality pass-rushing complement to Aidan Hutchinson since the start of last season and didn't address that need in free agency or the draft.

Detroit's "big" move on the edge was re-signing Marcus Davenport, who appeared in only two games last season.

Hendrickson and Hutchinson would give the Lions a championship-caliber pass-rushing duo. This hypothetical trade would give Cincinnati a fair return while sending Hendrickson outside of the conference.

WR Jauan Jennings to Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Commanders Get: WR Jauan Jennings

49ers Get: 2027 3rd-round pick, WR Noah Brown

Though the trade buzz surrounding San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings has died down some, it hasn't completely dissipated. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Jennings informed the 49ers in mid-July that he wanted a new contract or a trade. After a breakout 975-yard, six-touchdown campaign, the 49ers couldn't have been surprised.

Despite the request, Jennings reported to training camp. And while he is dealing with a lingering calf injury, he should interest receiver-needy teams.

Bleacher Report's Alex Kay examined four logical landing spots for Jennings after his request became public. The Washington Commanders weren't listed, possibly because they already traded for one 49ers receiver this offseason.

Even with Deebo Samuel now in Washington, though, the Commanders could have interest in Jennings. General manager Adam Peters came from San Francisco's front office, and Washington may have a need after Terry McLaurin officially requested a trade.

Hypothetically, a McLaurin-for-Jennings swap could work, but that feels unlikely, given McLaurin's desire for a new contract. San Francisco just paid Brandon Aiyuk last offseason and got out from under Samuel's contract earlier this year.

However, the Commanders could include Noah Brown, who racked up 453 yards in 11 games last season before suffering a lacerated kidney. He's entering a contract year but would help San Francisco replace Jennings.

TE Cole Kmet to Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/David Dermer

Jaguars Get: TE Cole Kmet

Bears Get: 2026 3rd-round pick, 2027 5th-round pick

Unlike some players on this list, there hasn't been substantial trade chatter involving Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet—aside from the team's instance that it isn't looking to trade the 26-year-old.

Kmet has been a valuable piece of Chicago's offense since being drafted in 2020, and he's amassed 2,592 receiving yards in his Bears career. However, Chicago just used the 10th overall pick on tight end Colston Loveland, which caused the Bears to defend Kmet's role.

ESPN's Courtney Cronin reported back in April that the Bears "are adamant" that Kmet remains a part of the long-term plan. Of course, this doesn't mean that a solid offer couldn't pry him away—especially since Chicago could save $10 million in cap space with a trade.

Kmet landed on B/R's post-minicamp trade block big board, though we didn't have the Jacksonville Jaguars listed as a potential suitor.

However, the Jaguars would be wise to inquire about Kmet. They have a budding tight end in Brenton Strange, but they also lost Evan Engram in free agency. The Jags should be looking to put as much talent around Trevor Lawrence as they can this season, and they do have some coaching ties to Chicago.

Former Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron now serves as Jacksonville's passing game coordinator.

WR Terry McLaurin to Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Derik Hamilton

Steelers Get: WR Terry McLaurin

Commanders Get: 2026 2nd-round pick, WR Calvin Austin III

As previously mentioned, Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin has officially requested a trade out of Washington. Bleacher Report's Moe Moton dove into five hypothetical trade packages for McLaurin shortly after the news broke.

None of Moton's scenarios involved the Pittsburgh Steelers, who added Metcalf this offseason but also traded away Pickens. Of course, the four-year, $132 million extension Metcalf signed upon joining the Steelers serves as a potential obstacle for Pittsburgh.

According to Schefter, McLaurin may want a bigger deal than the one Metcalf received.

"I wouldn't think that Terry is willing to take less than that," Schefter told The Pat McAfee Show (beginning around the 40-second mark). "And I think he wants considerably more than that."

Adding McLaurin would likely mean paying two receivers over $30 million annually. For a franchise without a long-term quarterback plan, that could be problematic.

Through one lens, though, the move would make sense. Pittsburgh is clearly going all-in with Aaron Rodgers this year, and McLaurin's precise route-running and breakaway ability would mesh well with Rodgers. Looking beyond this season, the Steelers would then have two terrific pass-catchers to help support their next signal-caller.

Washington could get back speedy receiver Calvin Austin III in this hypothetical deal while sending McLaurin outside of the NFC.

Edge Micah Parsons to Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Cardinals Get: Edge Micah Parsons

Cowboys Get: 2026 1st-round pick, 2026 2nd-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, 2026 3rd-round pick, Edge Zaven Collins

McLaurin became arguably the biggest trade target on Thursday when his request became public. Less than a day later, Dallas Cowboys pass-rusher Micah Parsons supplanted McLaurin with his own trade request.

Parsons broke the news himself on social media.

I examined five teams and five hypothetical trades for Parsons shortly after his request was made. At the time, I didn't include the Arizona Cardinals, who have taken multiple steps to improve their pass-rush this offseason.

The Cardinals signed both Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell before using the 16th overall pick on  Walter Nolen III.

However, there are a few reasons why Arizona would be wise to make a run at Parsons. For one, Nolen is dealing with a calf injury and may not be ready for Week 1. Secondly, head coach Jonathan Gannon is entering his third season with a 12-22 record and really needs to start racking up some wins.

Lastly, while Campbell remains productive, he'll turn 39 in September and isn't a long-term answer on the edge.

Now, Parsons is likely to demand a contract extension worth more than the $41 million-per-year deal T.J. Watt recently signed. That could be tricky with Sweat making $19.1 million annually.

With $37.9 million in cap space available, though, the Cardinals could probably make it work. They could offload promising-but-inconsistent pass-rusher Zaven Collins to give Dallas back some depth while saving $4.4 million in additional cap space.

Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux to Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Bills Get: Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux

Giants Get: 2026 2nd-round pick, DT DaQuan Jones

Though the Buffalo Bills are clearly looking to capitalize on their Super Bowl window, I didn't include them as a top suitor for Parsons either. Buffalo simply doesn't have the financial flexibility needed to hand out a market-leading pass-rusher contract.

Buffalo is currently over the cap.

If the Bills were interested in bolstering their pass rush ahead of Week 1, though, they could target New York Giants' standout Kayvon Thibodeaux. The 2022 first-round pick has tallied 21 sacks in three seasons and is set to carry a cap hit of only $10 million in 2025. He may also be viewed as expendable after New York traded for Brian Burns in 2024 and drafted  Abdul Carter in April.

There haven't been any firm trade rumors involving Thibodeaux. However, Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon examined hypothetical trade packages for Thibodeaux just before the draft. Buffalo didn't make Gagnon's list.

Partnering Thibodeaux with Joey Bosa, Gregory Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa would give the Bills a potent pass-rushing rotation, however. And Buffalo could look to offload pricey defensive tackle DaQuan Jones as part of the deal.

Dumping the final year of Jones' contract would save $7.8 million in cap space while making room for offseason additions Larry Ogunjobi, T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker—though Ogunjobi faces a six-game suspension.

Pairing Jones with Dexter Lawrence would give New York a terrific defensive line rotation and would make some sense schematically. Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen was an outside linebackers coach for the Tennessee Titans during Jones' last three years with the franchise.

*Cap and contract information via Spotrac.