The 2024 NFL regular season is less than three months away now, but it’s certainly not too late for all 32 GMs to make at least one more blockbuster trade for their teams ahead of Week 1.
Let’s dive into one player every NFL team should trade before the season kicks off in Kansas City on Sept. 5.
Which player should your NFL team try to trade before the 2024 season starts?
Arizona Cardinals: Budda Baker
The All-Pro safety requested a trade from Arizona during the 2023 offseason, but he walked back on it after agreeing to a restructured deal.
Baker is entering the final year of his contract and already feels poised to hit free agency in 2025. Arizona is better off trading the six-time Pro Bowler now while his value is at its highest and garnering a return that can help their retool.
Atlanta Falcons: Tyler Allgeier
Bijan Robinson’s presence means the former 1,000-yard rusher won’t get much playing time in Atlanta anymore. The Falcons should do the right thing for Allgeier and trade him to an NFL team that will give the BYU product a chance to be the RB1 elsewhere.
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Baltimore Ravens: Justice Hill
We’re nitpicking a bit here since the Ravens don’t really have any notable players that they’d be better off dealing with.
So let’s go with No. 2 running back Justice Hill, who won’t see many carries behind newcomer Derrick Henry. Plus, Keaton Mitchell deserves additional playing time after impressing in the limited action he saw in his rookie year.
Buffalo Bills: Von Miller
Miller didn’t tally a single sack in Buffalo last year, and he finished with a horrid Pro Football Focus grade of 45.4.
Other NFL teams might be willing to take a chance on the two-time Super Bowl champion. Trading Miller would clear Buffalo $8.78 million in cap space, opening the door for GM Brandon Beane to make another big splash before the start of the season.
Carolina Panthers: Miles Sanders
The Panthers handed Sanders a four-year, $25.4 million deal following his career year with Philadelphia in 2022. That deal quickly became a disaster for the Panthers, with Sanders losing his starting job to Chuba Hubbard.
Carolina also used a second-round pick on Jonathan Brooks, pushing Sanders further down the depth chart.
If the Panthers can find a taker for the former 1,000-yard rusher, they oughta just cut their losses and give him away to the first caller.
Also Read: Power Ranking All 32 NFL Teams (Pre-Training Camp Edition!)
Chicago Bears: Braxton Jones
The Bears have gotten uneven play out of the 2022 fifth-round pick. Though Jones has been a solid run-blocker, he’s allowed nine sacks and committed a whopping 21 penalties over his first two years, per Pro Football Focus.
Chicago is better off trading Jones now and finding a replacement from within or signing a veteran in free agency before training camp commences.
Cincinnati Bengals: Jackson Carman
The Bengals’ 2021 second-round pick has appeared in just five games over the last two years, and he’s made only six starts up to this point.
Cincinnati signed former New England Patriots star offensive tackle Trent Brown and used their first-round pick on Amarius Mims, making Carman even more expendable.
There’s no need for Carman now. They have enough depth at tackle and should be kind enough to give him a fresh start, pronto.
Cleveland Browns: David Bell
The Browns addressed their need for a No. 2 WR by trading for Jerry Jeudy. Throw in Amari Cooper, David Njoku, and sophomore Cedric Tillman into the mix, and there’s just not much room for David Bell on the depth chart.
The No. 99 pick of 2022 has just 38 receptions for 381 yards and three scores over his first two seasons. Bell needs a fresh start, and the Browns may as well clear a roster spot for another position.
Dallas Cowboys: Trey Lance
The Cowboys already have one of the league’s best backup QBs in Cooper Rush, who’s 5 -1 as Dak Prescott’s understudy.
Even though he’s on a rookie deal, Trey Lance still carries a $5.31 million cap hit. That’s too much money for a third-string QB, so Jerry Jones is better off dealing with Lance and clearing that money to open up room for another blockbuster move.
Hey, the man said he was going “all in” this offseason…
Denver Broncos: Courtland Sutton
The Broncos have already parted ways with Russell Wilson, Justin Simmons, and Jerry Jeudy this offseason. May as well keep the rebuild going by trading your best remaining offensive weapon.
Sutton is under contract for two more seasons, so the Broncos would get the best possible return by dealing him now instead of next year when he’ll have just one year left on his deal.
GM George Paton should be able to score a decent return for the former 1,00-yard wideout that can help the Broncos rebuild.
Detroit Lions: Jameson Williams
The No. 12 pick of 2022 has been limited to 18 games because of injuries and a suspension for gambling over his first two years.
Truth be told, the Lions don’t need Williams. They have a top-tier receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown, a rising star at tight end in Sam LaPorta, and the league’s best running back duo in David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.
What’s the sense keeping Williams when he’s, at best, the No. 5 option for Jared Goff? Give the guy a change of scenery and get a mid-round pick for him while you can.
Green Bay Packers: Kenny Clark
Trading Clark would be tough for the Packers to swallow from a sentimental standpoint. But Green Bay would clear $17 million in cap space by trading the three-time Pro Bowler.
Dealing Clark would also open up opportunities for the Packers’ youngsters, namely Lukas Van Ness, Devonta Wyatt, Quay Walker, and Edgerrin Cooper, to grow as stars in the front seven.
Houston Texans: Robert Woods
The Texans have no more need for the two-time 1,000-yard receiver. They acquired Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs in a trade with Buffalo, forming a prolific three-headed monster at wideout alongside Tank Dell and Nico Collins.
Woods only had 426 receiving yards in Houston last season. He’s entirely expendable and should be open to a new NFL team that can give him more playing time.
Indianapolis Colts: Mo Alie-Cox
Alie-Cox has spent his entire career with the Colts, but they must look past sentimental feelings here and put business first.
Alie-Cox is essentially a backup tight end now. The Colts would save a nice chunk of change — $5.92 million, to be exact — by trading him. That money can be used to find more impactful players in free agency.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Roy Robertson-Harris
Robertson-Harris has posted a “meh” sack total of 9.5 over his three seasons in Duval County. His cap hit over the next three years is $4.8 million, $8.9 million, and $9.1 million.
Jacksonville bolstered their pass-rush by signing ex-San Francisco 49ers star Arik Armstead, leaving Robertson-Harris expendable. The Jags may as well dump his salary and open up that cap space to make other moves between now and the trade deadline.
Kansas City Chiefs: Kadarius Toney
It’s surprising that Kansas City has kept Toney on the roster for this long following his dismal 2023 season. GM Brett Veach drafted Xavier Worthy and signed Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown to upgrade the receiver room, so why is Toney still on the roster ineffective and mistake-prone?
Someone out there might be keen to take a chance on the 2021 first-round pick. The bottom line is that the Chiefs have no reason to keep him on their roster come Week 1.
Las Vegas Raiders: Davante Adams
Raiders fans don’t wanna hear this, but it makes sense to trade Adams ASAP. He’s not getting any younger, and his trade value is at its peak.
The Raiders are in a retooling stage. By the time they’re contenders again, Adams will be well past his best-before date. The Silver and Black could potentially get a first-round pick — or maybe a second AND a third — for Adams if they were to trade him now.
Los Angeles Chargers: Khalil Mack
Like their AFC West rivals in Vegas, the Bolts are in a retooling phase with a new head coach and GM.
Mack posted a career-high 17 sacks last season. He’s also 33 now and has one year left on his deal. So trading Mack now ensures the best possible return for the Bolts, who could get at least a third-round pick for him.
Better than watching Mack leave for nothing in free agency, no?
Los Angeles Rams: Stetson Bennett
The Georgia product was absent from the Rams throughout the 2023 season. The Rams and Bennett decided not to say much on the matter, but it’s not a stretch to believe he’s now on borrowed time in La La Land.
Matthew Stafford showed last season that he’s got plenty of good football left in him. Not only that, but LA signed one of the league’s better backup insurance policies in Jimmy Garoppolo — making Bennett expendable.
It seems like Bennett could use a change of scenery, and this NFL team should do him right by supplying that.
Miami Dolphins: Jeff Wilson Jr.
Wilson is one of the better RB understudies in the league. The Dolphins just don’t need him when they already have two capable 1,000-yard rushers in Raheem Mostert and 2023 rookie sensation De’Von Achane.
Trading Wilson only saves about $1.416 million against the cap, but the Dolphins may as well let him get some reps elsewhere and focus on the dynamic tandem currently in place.
Minnesota Vikings: Josh Oliver
Oliver is entering year two of a questionable three-year, $21 million pact the Vikings handed him last year. Why they’re paying that much money for a backup tight end remains a question to this day.
Trading Oliver would save $4.75 million in cap space in 2024 and a whopping $8 million in 2025. To us, that’s too good of a deal to ignore…
New England Patriots: JuJu Smith-Schuster
If Smith-Schuster’s forgettable first year in New England didn’t provide enough motivation for the Patriots to trade him, then what will?
The Pats signed KJ Osborn and drafted Ja’Lynn Polk, further pushing Smith-Schuster down the depth chart. There should be a market for JSS if he’s willing to restructure his deal, and as we saw with Pittsburgh in 2018 and Kansas City in 2022, he can produce WR1-like numbers with an elite QB.
New Orleans Saints: Alvin Kamara
Kamara is signed through the 2025 season, and it’s hard to envision New Orleans committing more years to an aging player at a devaluing position.
If the Saints trade Kamara before the start of the season, they’ll clear $11.682 million in cap space. They also have former 1,000-yard rusher Jamaal Williams and 2023 third-round pick Kendre Miller in the backfield, giving Dennis Allen and company two quality replacements if Kamara gets dealt.
New York Giants: Darius Slayton
Slayton has exceeded 700 yards receiving in four of his five NFL seasons, but the arrival of promising rookie Malik Nabers means the former won’t get as many targets from Daniel Jones this year.
With Slayton entering the last year of his deal, the G-Men would be wise to trade him now rather than risk losing the veteran wideout for nothing in 2025 free agency. A receiver-desperate NFL team might be willing to give up an impactful roster player or day-two pick for his services.
New York Jets: Allen Lazard
Aaron Rodgers wouldn’t be happy with such a move, but the Jets don’t need to cater to him all the time. How has that worked so far?
Lazard is entering the second of a four-year, $44 million pact he signed last year. The Jets found a new No. 2 receiver behind Garrett Wilson in free agent signing Mike Williams, so good luck to Lazard in living up to that contract this year.
Trading Lazard clears up $10 million for 2024 and $11 million in both 2025 and 2026. Another NFL team may be happy to take a chance on Lazard after his career year in 2022. Just saying…
Philadelphia Eagles: James Bradberry
The Eagles bolstered their secondary by bringing back CJ Gardner-Johnson before snagging two of the draft’s top cornerback prospects in Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell.
Philly has no more use for Bradberry, who allowed 11 touchdowns and a passer rating of 114.3 when targeted, per Pro Football Reference. Throw in the presence of veteran stalwart Darius Slay, and the Eagles have every reason to trade Bradberry and clear the last two years of his contract off the books.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Cole Holcomb
Holcomb is a replaceable linebacker on the Steelers’ star-studded defense. He’s only suited up for 15 games over the past two seasons, and trading the 28-year-old clears a shiny $6 million in cap space.
San Francisco 49ers: Deebo Samuel
It’s clear that the 49ers won’t be able to sign both Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk to long-term extensions that’ll keep them happy. The 49ers oughta prioritize Aiyuk, making Samuel the odd man out.
San Francisco used their first-round pick on Ricky Pearsall and handed Jauan Jennings a one-year extension. The pieces are there for the 49ers to replace Samuel’s production, so GM John Lynch should trade him now and take in what should be a nice return — potentially a first or, at the very least, a second-round pick.
Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Lockett
With 2023 first-rounder Jaxon Smith-Njigba ready to take off in year two, the Seahawks can afford to part with Lockett and build their passing game around JSN and superstar DK Metcalf.
Lockett is entering his age-32 season and is unlikely to be extended when his current deal runs up after the 2025 season. This feels like an opportune time for Seattle to trade Lockett, secure good value, and reshape the offense around their young talents.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Anthony Nelson
Nelson has been a fine rotational player in Todd Bowles’ defense, but the Bucs have to give more playing time to young defensive linemen like Logan Hall, Calijah Kancey, and Yaya Diaby.
Trading Nelson clears $4.5 million for the Bucs. For an NFL team that’s always in cap trouble, why wouldn’t GM Jason Licht want to make that move now?
Tennessee Titans: Treylon Burks
The Titans signed a pair of 1K receivers, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, to help DeAndre Hopkins. That means there’s little room for 2022 first-round pick Treylon Burks, who could use a fresh start after an uninspiring start to his career.
Tennessee won’t get much for Burks, but there’s no sense keeping him if they’re hardly going to utilize him in the offense anyway.
Washington Commanders: Phidarian Mathis
The No. 47 pick of 2022 has been limited to 11 games over his first two years because of injury. Considering how much depth Washington has on their D-line, it feels like a good time to move on from Mathis anyway.
Mathis isn’t about to win reps over Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Dante Fowler Jr., or Dorance Armstrong there. Rookie Jer’Zhan Newton may even beat out Mathis for second-team reps, too.
Also Read: All 32 NFL Teams’ Best Possible Outcome For The Upcoming 2024 Season
