The midseason NFL trade deadline sets a hard cap on when teams are able to move players from one franchise to another as the playoffs approach. Teams looking to tank their season for improved odds at a higher draft pick sell high while teams looking to load up ahead of the offseason buy low in a last ditch effort to bring the teams’ season in whatever direction the general manager is looking for. 2023 is no different.
With an incoming class of top tier talent, teams will be looking to make deals when the time comes. With that, these are 10 players teams should consider trading before the deadline and where they should land.
10. Baltimore Ravens LB Patrick Queen to the Houston Texans
The Baltimore Ravens still insist 2020 first-round pick and former Louisiana State University standout linebacker Patrick Queen is still part of the franchise’s plans despite the fact the team declined Queen’s fifth-year option on his contract. On top of that, the Ravens have added two new inside linebackers in the last year. They acquired Roquan Smith at the trade deadline — and then also extended him before using a third-round draft pick on Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson. In the final year of his rookie deal, Baltimore may want to consider getting the most out of the mistake-prone middle man before they lose him to free agency altogether.
The Houston Texans’ timeline matches the patience needed for Queen’s second year deal, should they trade and subsequently sign him long term. Teams could also take a one year rental flier on Queen to make big moves in a new setting if the price is right.
9. Washington Commanders DE Chase Young to the Atlanta Falcons
Former second overall pick Chase Young showed flashes of greatness as a rookie, notching 7.5 sacks and being named the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year. Unfortunately, Young’s 2021 ACL tear The Commanders declined the fifth-year option on Young’s contract, and they may not be all that interested in re-signing him in 2024 free agency. The defensive line, headlined by Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen and Montez Sweat, is not a question mark the team has at this point in their rebuild. Washington has already invested heavily in Payne and Allen and is likely more interested in bringing back Sweat (playing under his fifth-year option this season) than Young.
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The Falcons are a team that have an identity offensively in 2023, but lack a sured up defensive front, especially on the line. If Atlanta’s defensive unit is to catch up with their smash mouth run game offense, then they’re going to need some outside help. Grabbing Young could be exactly what they need to kickstart a more dominant defense.
8. Kansas City Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire to the Los Angeles Rams
As the last rookie drafted in the first round of the 2020 draft, former Louisiana State University standout Clyde Edwards-Helaire looked to be an elite caliber running back in the league. Unfortunately for him, a series of leg and knee injuries along with the emergence of fellow running back Isaiah Pacheco have given CEH a backseat in a high powered Kansas City offense.
After losing the disgruntled running back Cam Akers in a trade to the Minnesota Vikings, the Rams have a Edwards-Helaire sized void at the running back position. For the Los Angeles ground game to rejuvenate its spark, buying in on CEH for cheap on the last year of his deal is an easy fix.
7. Las Vegas Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow to the Kansas City Chiefs
Renfrow is wasting away in Las Vegas. Seemingly, Davante Adams is the only receiver quarterback Jimmy Garroppolo has eyes for, leaving the speedy slot receiver to continuously put up goose eggs on the stat sheet. Through three games, Henry has only put up 125 yards with 13 catches for two touchdowns. From the outset, Renfrow’s numbers don’t look too bad, but when you look at the game-by-game regression of how he’s been phased out of the game plan, it’s ugly. Week three, Renfrow only caught two passes for a whopping 17 yards.
A team that could use a surefire pass catcher and former 1,000 yard season receiver is the Kansas City Chiefs. After losing receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins, the Chiefs have been left with question marks at receiver. Renfrow can plug that gap.
6. Philadelphia Eagles DE Derek Barnett to the Las Vegas Raiders
Barnett has been in and out of the Philadelphia lineup on a defensive line that is bursting with talent since he was drafted in the first round of the 2017 draft. Though he has been a valuable asset and contributor, he’s never been a key sack-getter and fails to get at the quarterback more often than not.
If the Raiders are looking to make a run at contention (which it mind-bogglingly appears they are), they’ll need to replace Chandler Jones who was recently hospitalized against his own will and arrested. Safe to say Jones will no longer be with the Raiders, if any team in 2023, so grabbing Barnett from the Eagles will be key to replacing Jones’ production on the defensive line.
5. Washington Commanders RB Antonio Gibson to the Denver Broncos
Gibson is a dynamic running back who can attack the ground game as efficiently as he makes plays through the air. His talent was hidden, however, when Commanders head coach Ron Rivera re-signed J.D. McKissic and made rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr. the starting workhorses over Gibson. Unlike Gibson, Robinson doesn’t have as much talent when it comes to receiving, so McKissic returned and filled that void while making Gibson an odd man out.
Denver could use that kind of production in an offense that has been somewhere between stale and abysmal since quarterback Russell Wilson came to town. With head coach Sean Payton in town, the Broncos could look to utilize Gibson is a role similar to Alvin Kamara in New Orleans. Gibson has the ability to be a key contributor in the screen game and on the outside edge for Denver.
4. Green Bay Packers LT David Bakhtiari to the New York Jets
Though Green Bay’s general manager insists Bakhtiari won’t be traded this season, the New York Jets have emerged as suitors to reunite the big left tackle with his long-time quarterback. Despite health question marks over the past few seasons, Bakhtiari would get up and go for his guy (Aaron Rodgers of course) when the time comes. With both nursing injury concerns, it’s unlikely we’d see the pair in action this season, but when the time comes, they’d be a stellar pair.
3. Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor to the Buffalo Bills
Taylor has made it adamant that he wants out of Indianapolis by any means necessary. The Colts organization believes they can get a bounty of riches out of the star running back, so they’re waiting for the right time. To a team fighting for contention, trading away high draft capital certainly has to be at least a thought to push your team over the hump (see Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers).
If you’re Buffalo, a team that’s a running back away from one of the highest powered offenses in the league, why wouldn’t you make the call and offer up a first or second round pick for Taylor? Of course, the question for Buffalo (and any team pursuing Taylor) is whether or not the running back is willing to sign a long-term deal with whoever trades for him. Regardless, Buffalo should keep Taylor on their radar.
2. Arizona Cardinals Safety Budda Baker to the Detroit Lions
After loudmouth strong safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson went down for the season with a torn pectoral muscle, the Lions were left with a hole in their otherwise stand up secondary. Baker, like Taylor, has made his desire to get out of Arizona explicitly known. The safety was placed on injured reserves while the team searches for a suitor, leaving Baker sitting on the sidelines.
Detroit is a team making a strong push this season. Behind quarterback Jared Goff and the team’s high powered offense, the Lions are looking at aspirations they haven’t had in a long time. Filling the void Gardner-Johnson leaves behind could be the perfect place for the explosive Baker, though the Lions may be hesitant to trade draft capital with as well as the team’s drafted as of late.
1. Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins to the New York Jets
Okay, tell me this wouldn’t be fun. After Aaron Rodgers went down with a season ending achilles injury, backup quarterback Zach Wilson was thrust into the starting role. Cousins is in the last year of his fully guaranteed deal in Minnesota and facing an 0-3 start, the Vikings may make a push to move on from the 35 year old signal caller sooner rather than later. For the Jets, snagging Cousins would be a great rental deal that allows the team to push for playoff contention if Rodgers is still shooting for a playoff return.
