Trades are more and more of a reality in the modern NFL.
In the past two weeks, we've seen edge rusher Matthew Judon, wideout Jahan Dotson, cornerback Michael Jackson and center Nick Harris get traded. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was traded about 800 times on social media between the start of training camp and the end of August. Pass rusher Haason Reddick, who was traded to the Jets earlier in the offseason, requested a trade out of New York after it failed to give him a fresh contract.
With the league cutting rosters down to 53 players Tuesday, more trades are coming. Players will be squeezed off rosters. New regimes will decide whether or not they want to keep their predecessors' players around. Guys who might otherwise have been cut and subject to leaguewide negotiations and/or the waiver wire will be dealt to other franchises. It would be a shock if we didn't see at least a couple more deals between now and the start of the season.
Let's look at potential trade candidates by expanding that window just a little further. I've identified 23 players who could be involved in potential deals between now and the trade deadline (Nov. 5). Some of these players are more likely to be dealt over the next week -- especially if they have guarantees that lock in as of Week 1 -- but others might be more likely to head out closer to the deadline.
Subscribe: 'The Bill Barnwell Show'
I've separated these players into groups around cost control. I'll start with the veterans who have been in the league for a number of years and don't have any guarantees remaining on their deals after this season. I'll then move on to 2021 draftees, who also have one year of cost control left, before moving on to 2022 and 2023 draft picks, who could be controlled for years to come.
With the younger players, trades are more likely to revolve around finding a change of scenery for someone who has struggled during his brief pro career. The veterans are more likely to be dealt under specific circumstances, so for them, I'll identify a landing spot that makes the most sense.
Jump to a section:
Vets who could get dealt, and fits that make sense
Fourth-year players | Third-year players
Second-year players who have underperformed
Veterans who could be traded
Jacoby Brissett, QB, Patriots
Financial obligation: $2.4 million in 2024
Why: The Patriots are going to become Drake Maye's team.
Brissett had to figure this might be coming when he rejoined the Patriots in March. While they hadn't yet chosen a quarterback with the No. 3 pick, it was hardly a surprise when they drafted Maye the next month. That move started the clock on Brissett's time as the starter in New England. While there's always fanciful talk about a rookie quarterback sitting for a portion of the season before taking over when the conditions are absolutely perfect, the reality for every team -- besides the Packers -- is first-rounders get in the lineup sooner rather than later.
While Brissett has struggled during the preseason -- and he left Sunday's game against the Commanders with a right shoulder injury -- the more damaging factor for his hopes of starting deep into the season has been Maye's solid play. Maye has looked confident and intentional with his decisions as a passer while also showing flashes of the arm strength and physical talent that convinced the Patriots to tie the future of the franchise to him. Brissett's skill set -- protecting the football, staying on schedule, ending drives with points -- makes him the reliable family sedan of quarterbacks. New England is eyeing the Ferrari it has in the garage, even if it's not sure the engine is fully humming yet.
There's an argument for keeping Brissett to mentor Maye or fill in if the young quarterback isn't actually ready for prime time, but the Patriots probably aren't expecting to compete for a playoff spot, something which was reaffirmed by the decision to trade away Judon. Joe Milton, a rookie sixth-round pick, also has looked good over the past month, albeit while completing 46% of his passes during preseason action; there's a chance the Patriots would turn to him or go get another backup if they dealt Brissett.
Logical landing spot: Browns. Cleveland is not currently in the market for a quarterback; in fact, it reportedly has had trade discussions about second-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who is competing for the No. 3 job with former Ravens passer Tyler Huntley.
However, Deshaun Watson continues to battle arm soreness following shoulder surgery, and if he is forced to go on injured reserve, the Browns would find themselves in the market for somebody. General manager Andrew Berry signed Jameis Winston to take over as the team's primary backup, but bringing in Brissett would give them another option as a high-floor, low-ceiling solution that could fit in with a great defense.
Brissett played for the team under Kevin Stefanski two years ago, so he should already be familiar with the offense. It would only make sense if Watson were sidelined indefinitely; but if that happens, Cleveland would have to give a Brissett deal serious thought.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 49ers
Financial obligation: $14.1 million in 2024
Why: The 49ers don't seem any closer to signing Aiyuk to an extension.
The only way it would make sense for the 49ers to trade Aiyuk now would be if they landed a veteran wide receiver in return. While they could move forward with Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings and rookie first-rounder Ricky Pearsall as their top three wideouts in theory, this team is clearly hoping to win a Super Bowl while Brock Purdy is still on his rookie deal for one more season. Trading Aiyuk (or left tackle Trent Williams, for that matter) doesn't make sense at this point of the offseason.
Stranger things have happened, though, and there was enough smoke around Aiyuk earlier this month to make it a major news story. If something dramatic happened early in the season -- if the Niners were to have an awful start, if he developed the mysterious back injury Jalen Ramsey had when he was forcing a deal to the Rams a few years ago, if the team suddenly were in position to land a veteran wide receiver who could step in quickly -- they might have to consider trading Aiyuk. More realistically, if they can't sign him to a new contract, the next step would be franchise-tagging him next offseason and working to deal him then.
Logical landing spot: Patriots. Coach Jerod Mayo & Co. were reportedly one of the teams most interested in adding Aiyuk to their roster, but Aiyuk seemingly didn't share their desire. New England still needs a No. 1 receiver for Drake Maye, and if the team looks better than expected early in the season, perhaps Aiyuk could be swayed to change his mind.
Allen Lazard, WR, Jets
Financial obligation: $10 million in 2024
Why: The Jets could better use the money elsewhere on the roster.
Let's start with the obvious: No team is going to want to absorb that $10 million salary Lazard has guaranteed for the season. The former Packers wideout was one of the many close friends of Aaron Rodgers that general manager Joe Douglas added to last season's roster, but he fell out of favor as the year went along and became a healthy scratch by the end of the season. He finished with 311 receiving yards across 14 games.
Now, the additions of Mike Williams and Malachi Corley should limit Lazard's snap totals. As a player who hasn't featured much on special teams since 2019, he doesn't hold much value as the fourth or fifth wideout, as those roles often go to players who line up on kickoffs and punts. Lazard could serve as insurance for the oft-injured Williams as he returns from a torn ACL, but that's an expensive policy for a player who wasn't even in the lineup by the end of 2023.
If the Jets can convince another team to eat even $3 million of this deal, that's cash they could put toward acquiring a more useful player at the deadline at a bigger position of need. Opening up a roster spot at wide receiver would also allow them to target someone more valuable to step in if they want to make a more significant addition at the position. Are there any other ex-Packers who might come available in the trade market by the deadline?
Logical landing spot: Cowboys. Lazard originally joined the Packers during Mike McCarthy's final year with the franchise in 2018, so while there wasn't much crossover between the two, there's at least some level of familiarity. The Cowboys also need depth at wide receiver after cutting Michael Gallup; their top two starters are in the midst of a holdout (CeeDee Lamb) and battling a sore knee (Brandin Cooks).
Acknowledging that the Jets would again be eating a significant portion of the deal, a fresh start for Lazard would make sense for both sides.
Davante Adams, WR, Raiders
Financial obligation: $17.4 million in 2024
Why: The Raiders don't need a 31-year-old wide receiver if they're out of contention.
Much depends on what happens over the next few weeks. If the Raiders get off to a hot start after their solid finish to 2023, they'll hold on to Adams. With five of their first eight games against 2023 playoff teams, however, things are going to be difficult. And while they rarely seem to do the smart or proactive thing when it comes to roster construction, if they're 2-6 or 3-5 after that stretch, they'd have to give serious thought to trading Adams at the deadline, given that his contract jumps north of $36 million (unguaranteed) next season.
Adams also has to deliver. His numbers fell off across the board last season, and while some of that can be pinned on disappointing quarterback play, the same wasn't true for Jakobi Meyers in the same offense. Receivers on the wrong side of 30 age faster than you think, and unless Adams gets back to his 2022 form with Gardner Minshew, there might not be the sort of trade market the Raiders would be hoping to see if they want to justify dealing away their top receiver.
Logical landing spot: Jets. Well, duh. Adams belongs on an all-in team at this point of his career, and reuniting with Aaron Rodgers would just be gravy. The Jets are also more incentivized to overpay for Adams than any other team. If the Raiders are flailing and could land a second-round pick for him at the deadline, that would qualify as a good deal given what they need to do to contend in the future.
Miles Sanders, RB, Panthers
Financial obligation: $4 million in 2024
Why: This will be Jonathon Brooks' backfield.
The only reason Sanders wasn't one of the many players cut by the Panthers after their disastrous 2023 season was his contract, as he had more than $6 million in guarantees remaining on his deal this year. If there had been any interest in Sanders this offseason, team owner David Tepper might have driven the veteran back to the airport himself.
The decision to draft Brooks in Round 2 in April just reaffirms Sanders' time with the organization is short. The Panthers could cut the 27-year-old before Week 1 and accept they'll be on the hook for what he's owed (minus potential offsets in his contract), but they'll likely be interested if another team calls them and is willing to send anything to acquire him. They will still be eating most of the $4 million base salary that is left to pay him, but even a conditional seventh-round pick and a few hundred thousand dollars in savings would be a pleasant surprise.
Logical landing spot: Colts. Another reunion, this time between Sanders and former Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen. (Sanders was a little peeved about not getting the ball frequently enough in Super Bowl LVII, but a season with the 2023 Panthers has a way of putting things in perspective.)
The Colts aren't going to shell out much to acquire Sanders, but there isn't a lot behind star back Jonathan Taylor, as Zack Moss is in Cincinnati, and nominal replacement Trey Sermon has been battling a hamstring injury throughout camp. Sanders would be some low-cost insurance to mix in with Taylor for an Indianapolis team that should run the ball plenty with Anthony Richardson at quarterback.
Robert Woods, WR, Texans
Financial obligation: $6.5 million in 2024
Why: The Texans are stacked at receiver.
It's a bit of a surprise the 32-year-old Woods is still on the roster, given that the Texans are clearly set at receiver with their top trio of Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs. They also re-signed Noah Brown, who had back-to-back games with more than 150 receiving yards in November last season, and general manager Nick Caserio likely wants to find a way to keep 24-year-old John Metchie, a 2022 second-round pick who returned to the field in 2023 after being diagnosed with leukemia and missing his rookie season.
Woods feels like the odd man out. Teams don't typically keep wide receivers making $6.5 million on the roster if they're going to be the fourth or fifth man up, and only $1.5 million of his compensation is guaranteed. The rest would become guaranteed if he is on the roster in Week 1, which puts a deadline on this deal. The veteran could take a pay cut to stay with the team, given that he won't be earning $5 million on a new deal elsewhere. He might want to agree to a smaller salary (say, $3 million) that would be split between the Texans and another team, especially if Houston is willing to send him to a contender.
Logical landing spot: Lions. OK, OK, one more reunion. General manager Brad Holmes was in Los Angeles when Sean McVay & Co. signed Woods in free agency, and while Holmes was focused on college scouting, I'm sure he caught a Rams game or two during his tenure.
Detroit hasn't really replaced departed wideout Josh Reynolds, and Woods' reliability and blocking make him the type of player coach Dan Campbell covets. He's not going to take snaps away from Jameson Williams, but in a rotation alongside Kalif Raymond and Donovan Peoples-Jones, Woods would see more playing time in Detroit than he would in Houston.
James Bradberry, CB/S, Eagles
Financial obligation: $1.2 million in 2024
Why: He has been squeezed out of his natural position.
After an excellent season on Philadelphia's Super Bowl team in 2022, Bradberry signed a three-year, $38 million deal to stay with the Eagles the following March. Year 1 was something close to a disaster. Bradberry's passer rating allowed in coverage jumped from 51.6 in 2022 to 114.3. According to Pro Football Reference, he allowed 11 touchdowns in coverage, the most of any player.
The Eagles promptly used their top two picks on cornerbacks in April's draft, leading Bradberry to move to safety, an experiment that might not last through the end of training camp. Even though they have already paid Bradberry a $9.6 million option bonus for 2024 and owe only an additional $1.2 million in guaranteed base salary, there are reports Philadelphia could cut him to help them get down to 53 men.
Logical landing spot: Steelers. The 31-year-old Bradberry wouldn't command much more than a conditional draft pick in a trade given those circumstances, but we're talking about a cornerback who was playing at an All-Pro level two years ago. I have to imagine the 49ers would give serious thought to signing him if he hits free agency, but would the Eagles trade him to a conference rival? Philadelphia might prefer to send him to an AFC team such as the Steelers, who have questions in the secondary.
2021 draftees
These are all players entering the final years of their rookie deals who haven't worked out on their first NFL teams for various reasons. Unlike the veterans above, who would have significant salaries and only be on the move in very particular circumstances, these would mostly be opportunities for teams that want to take a flier on a young player for little in return, so there won't be clear landing spots for many of these players. (I'll still try to find logical destinations where I can.) Many are in danger of not making the 53-man roster, so the "why" is pretty clear, too.
Ernest Jones, LB, Rams
Financial obligation: $3.1 million in 2024
Why: He has been allowed to seek a trade.
I have to admit that when I've thought about this 2024 Rams defense and what its identity would look like after losing Aaron Donald to retirement, the first player that has come to mind is Jones. The only other defensive starter left from the team that won the Super Bowl two and a half years ago is Darious Williams, and even he left for two years in Jacksonville before returning this offseason. Jones had been the green-dot defender for the Rams, and heading into the final year of his rookie contract, it seemed likely the team would sign one of their best young players to an extension.
That doesn't appear to be happening. After negotiations on a new deal failed, the Rams have allowed Jones and his representation to seek a trade, just days before the season begins. The timing isn't ideal for both player or team, but perhaps it speaks to Los Angeles' future. In the past, knowing it wasn't likely to spend much on compensatory-eligible players in free agency, the team has let players such as Cory Littleton go at the end of their deals, recouping compensatory picks in the process. The Rams allowing Jones to seek out a trade now as opposed to letting him play out the end of his contract suggests they intend to be active in the free agent market next year, as they were this past spring.
While we saw the Ravens trade a second-round pick to land Roquan Smith in midseason two years ago, it's tough to see an easy fit for a team willing to pay similar draft capital to acquire Jones, integrate him into its defense quickly enough to make an impact and then sign him to a big deal. My best guess is he ends up staying with the Rams, but who knows? Former defensive coordinator and new Atlanta coach Raheem Morris spoke glowingly about Jones during his time with the organization; with the Falcons already needing last-minute cram courses for August additions Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons, maybe Jones can sneak in, too.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Edge, Buccaneers
Financial obligation: $2.2 million in 2024
Why: The Bucs declined his fifth-year option.
Tryon-Shoyinka is entering what amounts to a lame-duck season in Tampa Bay, as the Bucs decided against picking up the 25-year-old's fifth-year option for 2025. Tryon-Shoyinka hasn't been terrible -- he has 13 sacks over three seasons with the Bucs -- but the 2021 first-round pick lost his starting job to Yaya Diaby during the second half of 2023 and was a situational player the rest of the way. With the Bucs adding Chris Braswell on Day 2 of April's draft to replace the departed (and later retired) Shaq Barrett, there isn't a clear path for Tryon-Shoyinka to regain a starting role.
Dumping Tryon-Shoyinka for the sake of moving on doesn't really seem like a logical move, but if another team expresses interest in acquiring a player who has had some modest success as a pass rusher, the Bucs should be willing to pick up the phone. They could use another off-ball linebacker, depth along the offensive line or a tight end in a potential swap. I thought the Bears might have been a clear trade partner before they acquired Darrell Taylor from the Seahawks.
Azeez Ojulari, Edge, Giants
Financial obligation: $1.6 million in 2024
Why: Other deals make it clear he won't be back in 2025.
General manager Joe Schoen and the Giants made their long-term plan at edge rusher clear this offseason. They traded a second-round pick to the Panthers as the primary return for Brian Burns, who then signed a five-year, $141 million extension. With Kayvon Thibodeaux locked in on the other side of the defense, they have their two starting edge rushers in place for the next several seasons.
That likely means Ojulari's future is elsewhere. Selected by Dave Gettleman in the final draft of the prior regime in New York, Ojulari got off to a promising start as a rookie, racking up eight sacks and 13 knockdowns. Since then, injuries have limited him to eight sacks across 18 games over the past two seasons.
He could be a useful player to hold in reserve, but the Giants might want to recoup some of the draft capital they sent the Panthers for Burns if they can get a good offer in Ojulari's final season before free agency. The Cardinals employ Ojulari's younger brother, BJ, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in early August, so they have a need for edge-rushing help.
Tutu Atwell, WR, Rams
Financial obligation: $1.5 million in 2024
Why: He's being pushed out of the lineup.
While Atwell moved into the starting lineup more regularly last season, the results weren't there. With Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp commanding massive target shares, Atwell had 39 catches for 483 receiving yards over 687 offensive snaps. During the Rams' hot stretch to end the season, he was a bit player, dropping down to single-digit snap rates late in December and a 14% rate during the postseason. He also hasn't returned a punt or a kick since the 2021 season.
Demarcus Robinson took over the third wideout role from Atwell late in the season and was re-signed to a one-year, $4 million deal. Rookie sixth-round pick Jordan Whittington has also looked excellent in camp, which could squeeze Atwell into the fifth wideout spot. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that the Rams don't want to trade Atwell, but with their offensive line already battling multiple injuries and left tackle Alaric Jackson suspended for two games, needs elsewhere might change general manager Les Snead's mind.
Jamin Davis, LB/Edge, Commanders
Financial obligation: $2.5 million in 2024
Why: The new Washington regime is moving on from the remnants of the old regime.
We've already seen general manager Adam Peters trade away one first-round pick from the Ron Rivera era this month, as the Commanders sent Jahan Dotson to the Eagles in a pick swap last week. If there's any interest, I suspect the former 49ers executive would have no qualms about adding another first-rounder to that list. While Davis spent three years starting at linebacker in Washington, he never looked like a difference-maker, and the Commanders signed Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner to start there this season.
Washington has moved Davis to edge rusher this offseason in the hopes of converting his elite physical traits into something valuable at a position of need, but he is unlikely to be the next Micah Parsons or Haason Reddick. A team with injuries at linebacker might be interested in taking a flier on Davis, especially if it has a coach with a track record of molding young linebackers into useful players. Would Sean McDermott and the Bills be interested now that Matt Milano has been sidelined yet again?
Caleb Farley, CB, Titans
Financial obligation: $2.5 million in 2024
Why: The Titans are going with more experienced options at cornerback.
Farley needs a change of scenery. The 2021 first-rounder played just 12 games over his first two seasons while battling injuries. In August 2023, tragedy struck when his father died in an explosion caused by a natural gas leak that destroyed Farley's home. He understandably sat out the entire 2023 campaign.
The regime that drafted Farley is no longer in power in Tennessee, and general manager Ran Carthon declined Farley's fifth-year option this offseason. The Titans also traded for L'Jarius Sneed and signed Chidobe Awuzie, closing off paths to regular work at cornerback.
Any team acquiring Farley would be relying on what they saw from him at Virginia Tech, given how little the 25-year-old has actually played since entering the NFL. There aren't many 6-foot-2 cornerbacks with Farley's physical tools available, however.
2022 draftees
These players are right in the window for what's known in NBA circles as the "second draft," in which teams can target players who might not have worked out in their first professional stop and get talent for a fraction of what they would have cost when they initially entered the league. I'm not sure it works quite as well in football as it does in basketball, but teams are understandably still going to try.
The Jahan Dotson deal from last week is a perfect example of this phenomenon, as the Eagles sent a third-round pick and two seventh-round picks to the Commanders for Dotson and a fifth-round selection. Given the Eagles are projected to make the playoffs and the Commanders are expected to finish in the bottom quarter of the league, the gap between those two selections might only amount to 50 spots in the draft or so. That's not much to acquire a wide receiver who flashed as a rookie and will make only $4.8 million combined over the next two seasons (plus a potential fifth-year option).
All of these players might benefit from a change of scenery. They're all still young and have at least two years of cost control remaining on their respective deals, meaning they still have the potential to offer surplus value. Again, potential deals for specific teams aren't clear cut at this point, but any team should be able to fit most of these guys on its roster if it wanted to take a swing.
Treylon Burks, WR, Titans
Financial obligation: $1.6 million in 2024, $2.7 million in 2025
Why: He's another Titans first-round pick drafted by a departed regime who is buried on the depth chart.
It never really has come together for Burks, who might be the cautionary tale for the idea of replacing talented veterans with draft picks. Titans general manager Jon Robinson traded A.J. Brown on the first night of the 2022 draft and used the first-rounder he landed from the Eagles to replace him with Burks, hoping that Burks' size, speed and talent would translate in the same way. It hasn't. He has struggled with injuries, topping 80 receiving yards in a game just once over his first two seasons.
Robinson is no longer in Nashville, and general manager Ran Carthon doesn't seem to have Burks in his plans. The Titans signed DeAndre Hopkins a year ago before adding Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd to the mix this offseason. Burks seemed to be given a brief respite when Hopkins suffered a knee injury, but the veteran wideout is expected to return early in September, which would limit Burks to a reserve role. Given that he doesn't participate on special teams, there's a chance he could be a healthy scratch when everyone's healthy.
As we saw with Dotson, though, Burks should have some trade value given his salary. With the Titans having already paid most of his rookie deal out via a signing bonus, he is on the books for only about $4.3 million combined over the next two seasons. That's not much by NFL standards. The acquiring team would even have the leverage of a fifth-year option if he did break out in a larger role. Should teams expect a superstar? Of course not. Could he be more if he ends up with better quarterback play or in a more pass-friendly scheme? I suspect a team will be willing to find out at the right price.
Skyy Moore, WR, Chiefs
Financial obligation: $1.3 million in 2024
Why: Moore's chance to provide an impact in Kansas City probably has come and gone.
Moore, another of the wide receivers likely to be available before the deadline, hasn't been able to take advantage of his opportunities. During Moore's rookie season, Andy Reid tried using him as the team's punt returner, only to abandon that idea after issues with fumbles and muffed punts. Moore then seemed to have a clear path toward regular receiving work a year ago, but after an offseason of hype, he managed only 244 receiving yards on 261 routes. He dropped only one pass last season, but it was a would-be touchdown on a fourth-and-2 in the Chiefs' 24-9 loss to the Broncos.
While Marquise Brown's injury might have opened up a spot in the wide receiver rotation, the Chiefs might prefer the size and upside of Justyn Ross and the special-teams ability of undrafted rookie Nikko Remigio over a player who doesn't play on special teams and hasn't shown much receiving ability as a pro. Any team acquiring Moore would likely be sending no more than a seventh-round selection to cut the potential waiver line.
Velus Jones, RB/WR, Bears
Financial obligation: $1.2 million in 2024
Why: He's in the middle of the dreaded positional switch.
When the Bears used the No. 71 pick on Jones in the 2022 draft, their starting wide receivers in three-wide sets were projected to be Darnell Mooney, Byron Pringle and Equanimeous St. Brown. The hope was Jones could chip in as a playmaker and elite return man, but he had more carries (17) than catches (11) over his first two seasons.
Now, with the depth chart at wide receiver consisting of Keenan Allen, DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, Jones' days as a receiver in Chicago are numbered. DeAndre Carter, acquired this offseason, might also be in position to take over on returns. Seemingly on an accelerated version of the Cordarrelle Patterson career path, Jones has been moved to running back this preseason, where he has 25 carries for a team-high 158 yards. I don't think any franchise would be going after the 27-year-old to serve as its primary back, but with the potential for added value in the return game, a team could justify sending a late-round pick to add Jones and his 27.4 career yards per return for special-teams help.
John Metchie, WR, Texans
Financial obligation: $1.4 million in 2024
Why: He's another player buried by the depth chart.
Metchie was once expected to be the future No. 1 receiver for the Texans, but nobody could have anticipated what would happen to him after being drafted. Metchie was diagnosed with leukemia in July 2022, and while he thankfully was able to return to the field, it cost him all of his rookie season. He spent most of last season in a reserve role, only to see Nico Collins and Tank Dell break out as stars before the team added another impact wide receiver in Stefon Diggs.
I mentioned the Texans could move on from Robert Woods before Week 1, but finding a new home for Metchie could be another way to resolve their logjam at wide receiver. Metchie finished his college career with an 1,142-yard season at Alabama, and while he was also recovering from a torn ACL at the end of his time there, he just turned 24 and should be stronger this season. It's hard not to root for Metchie to succeed, and his best chance of doing so is probably away from Houston.
Evan Neal, OT, Giants
Financial obligation: $2.9 million in 2024, $4.1 million in 2025
Why: It simply hasn't worked out for him at right tackle in New York.
The most notable thing Neal has done since joining the Giants, unfortunately, is dismiss criticism of his play by suggesting the people who were booing him were irrelevant fans who "flipped hot dogs and hamburgers." While Neal apologized, fans would be more inclined to forgive if his play met their expectations. The 23-year-old yielded pressures on more than 15% of his dropbacks last season, per the FTN Football Almanac, which was twice the rate of any other New York lineman with 300 snaps or more. He also missed time with an ankle injury, which kept him out of practice for most of the offseason.
The Giants aren't likely to deal Neal given his age and the draft capital GM Joe Schoen invested when he used the No. 7 pick on him in the 2023 draft, but they're not just writing Neal in ink as the right tackle, either. Schoen was reportedly hoping that Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt would fall to the Giants at No. 6 in April's draft, an opportunity that would have kicked Neal inside to guard. Schoen also signed former Raiders lineman Jermaine Eluemunor, and while the Giants could start the season with Eluemunor at guard, he spent the past two seasons starting for Vegas at right tackle.
Neal doesn't have much leverage if the Giants want to move him to guard -- and they could justify trying to get their five best linemen on the field by kicking him inside -- but moving a struggling tackle to guard might only add to his woes. There are so many NFL teams that could stand to add a useful tackle at his salary, and many of them will still have impressive scouting reports on Neal from his time at Alabama. If the Giants really think Neal isn't their right tackle of the future and can land a Day 2 pick for him after two wildly disappointing seasons, they would have to give that serious thought.
Trevor Penning, OT, Saints
Financial obligation: $1.5 million in 2024, $2.6 million in 2025
Why: A win-now team can't afford to rely on a player it can't trust.
Penning hasn't insulted the fans in New Orleans, but he might be on an even more accelerated version of Neal's path. He was lost for most of his rookie season with a foot injury. He began the 2023 season as the replacement for Terron Armstead at left tackle, but the Saints took him out of the lineup after six games. He played just 13 offensive snaps the rest of the way. The lowlight might have been in Week 10, when his lone snap as the extra offensive lineman on a fourth-and-1 ended with him committing a false start.
The Saints moved Penning to right tackle this offseason, hoping a shift down the offensive line would make life easier, but he hasn't looked good there, either. Former Vikings tackle Oli Udoh is challenging him for the starting job, with Udoh mixing in more often with the first team in recent practices. Penning could still end up starting, but it's tough to believe he's going to be the answer anywhere for the Saints. And if there's a team that still believes it can coax solid play out of him, well, it should call general manager Mickey Loomis.
Lewis Cine, S, Vikings
Financial obligation: $1.8 million in 2024, $2.3 million in 2025
Why: Injuries have stalled Cine's career.
Hopes were high for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's first draft selection in Minnesota, as the Vikings likely saw Cine as a player who could line up next to fellow 2022 top-45 pick Andrew Booth Jr. as future cornerstones in their secondary. It never came together for either player. Booth played just 256 snaps over two seasons before being traded to the Cowboys earlier this offseason, making him the first second-rounder from the 2022 class to be dealt.
It has sadly been worse for Cine, who fractured his left leg in Week 4 of his rookie season and hasn't been able to make up for lost time. He missed the remainder of 2022 and then alternated between serving as a healthy scratch or playing on special teams in 2023. After two seasons, he has played just 10 defensive snaps.
At this point, a change of scenery would benefit Cine, who doesn't seem likely to earn meaningful snaps in Brian Flores' defense. It would be a surprise if any team was willing to pay even the $4 million in guarantees left on his contract, so the Vikings might need to eat some money to acquire a draft pick for him. Given Cine's injury history, a trade might not be possible.
2023 draftees
And finally, we can finish up with second-year players. It's rare to see franchises trade players after one season, which is why there won't be many in this section, but it does happen. Running back Trent Richardson going to the Colts in 2013 would be one notable recent example. There are actually a handful of candidates who could make sense before the Nov. 5 deadline:
Quentin Johnston, WR, Chargers
Financial obligation: $1 million in 2024, $2 million in 2025, $2.7 million in 2026
Why: He's coming off one of the worst rookie seasons in recent memory.
Johnston was a mess during his debut campaign, ranking among the worst in yards per route run (0.94) in recent memory with drop rates that would have made him an honorary Chiefs wide receiver in 2023. Even after the Chargers moved on from Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, the new regime seemed to signal its doubts about Johnston by drafting Ladd McConkey and signing DJ Chark. Johnston has showed some progress during the preseason, but he hasn't been a regular member of the first-team offense.
With general manager Tom Telesco and coach Brandon Staley out of the organization, the people who drafted Johnston aren't involved in his future. He is essentially a sunk cost from the perspective of new coach Jim Harbaugh & Co., and the Chargers are on the hook for nearly $6 million in guarantees over the next few seasons. If they don't think he can play, the best thing they can do is trade him before the league's other 31 teams agree with them.
Tyree Wilson, Edge, Raiders
Financial obligation: $915,000 in 2024, $3 million in 2025, $4.2 million in 2026
Why: He looks like another over-draft from a departed Raiders regime.
Wilson was a prospect rapidly rising up draft boards last April, but he showed little of what seemed to excite teams when he was on the field as a rookie. He had 3.5 sacks and eight knockdowns in a rotational role, but the Raiders were a much better defense with Malcolm Koonce on the field. Koonce's pass rush win rate of 17.4% tripled Wilson's (5.8%). Koonce ranked 34th among edge defenders by that metric, while Wilson ranked 112th out of 119 qualifiers.
Like Johnston, Wilson just finished a dismal rookie season for a team that fired the head coach and general manager who drafted him. And like Johnston, Wilson has significant guarantees remaining on his deal, with more than $8 million coming due over the next three seasons. That's nothing if the Raiders still believe Wilson is going to emerge as a useful edge rusher, but if new general manager Tom Telesco and coach Antonio Pierce think Wilson is strictly backup material, they might want to try to talk to some of those teams that were interested in pushing Wilson up into the top 10 a year ago.
Kendre Miller, RB, Saints
Financial obligation: $1 million in 2024
Why: Coach Dennis Allen seems frustrated by his presence (or lack thereof).
Many of the players I'm mentioning here aren't exactly state secrets. The Chargers aren't pretending behind closed doors that Johnston is still a budding superstar. The Texans have surely talked about what to do with Woods' salary. Publicly, those teams aren't going to disparage those players or do anything else to reduce their potential trade value.
One exception to that rule appears to be Allen and the Saints, who seem angry about the hamstring injury Miller suffered at the beginning of training camp. "All I can go off of is what I've been able to evaluate," Allen said during a news conference, "and, quite frankly, since we drafted him, there hasn't been a whole lot of new information other than what I saw on the college tape, because he hasn't been available."
The coach sounds thrilled. Miller gained 3.8 yards per carry and generated a single rush yard over expectation across 41 carries as a rookie, most of which came in blowout victories over the Patriots and Falcons. He missed nearly half the season with hamstring and ankle injuries, which have likely contributed to Allen's frustration. Drafted before Tyjae Spears and De'Von Achane in Round 3 a year ago, it certainly appears the Saints are fed up with the 22-year-old.