The 2024 NFL Draft gave every team in the league the chance to upgrade their roster, but the three-day event could also have ramifications for several NFL veterans.
NFL clubs with positional surpluses might be willing to talk trade before training camps get underway later this summer. Which players could be the move? Let’s run through 10 potential NFL trades that could make sense in the coming weeks.
2024 Post-Draft NFL Trade Proposals
Cowboys Land James Conner From Cardinals
- Cowboys acquire: RB James Conner
- Cardinals acquire: 2025 sixth-round pick
Dallas failed to select a running back in the draft, instead reuniting with veteran Ezekiel Elliott on a one-year deal. Elliott can no longer handle a full-time workload, while the rest of the Cowboys’ RB options — Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Royce Freman, and others — are uninspiring.
Conner is a three-down back who could become Dallas’ 1A, and the Cardinals might be willing to trade him after selecting Florida State RB Trey Benson in the third round. While Conner almost always misses time with injuries, Elliott, Dowdle, et al., could fill in for a few games if needed. Arizona already paid Conner’s March roster bonus, so he’d cost the Cowboys roughly $4.5 million in 2024.
Ravens Add Receiving Help for Lamar Jackson
- Ravens acquire: WR Jauan Jennings
- 49ers acquire: 2025 fifth-round pick
While the 49ers used a second-round restricted free-agent tender on Jennings in March, their WR depth chart is getting crowded. San Francisco hung onto trade candidates Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel during the draft while adding Florida wideout Ricky Pearsall in Round 1 and Arizona’s Jacob Cowing in Round 4.
The Ravens also used a fourth-round pick on pass catcher (North Carolina’s Devontez Walker), but they could stand to add another option alongside Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor. Jennings, one of the NFL’s best blocking receivers, might be a perfect fit if Baltimore leans back into the run in 2025.
Raiders Send Michael Mayer to Colts
- Colts acquire: TE Michael Mayer, 2025 sixth-round pick
- Raiders acquire: 2025 second-round pick
Las Vegas doesn’t necessarily have to trade Mayer after using the 13th overall pick on fellow TE Brock Bowers, who can play as an oversized slot receiver. New Raiders OC Luke Getsy ran 12 personnel (two tight ends) at the NFL’s seventh-highest rate (23.5%) in 2023.
However, first-year Raiders GM Tom Telesco had no role in drafting Mayer in 2023. He might be willing to move the talented tight end, especially if Vegas can recoup the second-round choice it used to select Mayer.
The Colts were heavily linked to Bowers throughout the pre-draft process but watched Las Vegas select the Georgia TE two picks ahead of them. Indy added Texas WR Adonai Mitchell in Round 2 but might still be interested in finding another middle-of-the-field weapon like Mayer.
Titans Grab Surplus OL From Chargers
- Titans acquire: OT Trey Pipkins III
- Chargers acquire: 2025 fifth-round pick
While the Titans might’ve been hoping to draft Joe Alt with the seventh overall pick, the Chargers picked the Notre Dame left tackle at No. 5. Alt will play right tackle in Los Angeles, which could create a buying opportunity for Tennessee.
Chargers right tackle Trey Pipkins III isn’t a world-beater, but he’s a starting-caliber offensive lineman who would cost his next team just $13 million over the next two seasons. Pipkins would be the favorite to become Tennessee’s starting right tackle. He’d also be an emergency option on the left side if No. 7 pick JC Latham — a RT/RG at Alabama — can’t handle LT.
Commanders Find a Temporary Left Tackle Solution
- Commanders acquire: OT Dan Moore Jr.
- Steelers acquire: Conditional 2025 sixth-round pick (downgraded to 2025 seventh-round pick if Moore plays less than 40% of Washington’s offensive snaps)
While the Commanders will give 67th overall pick Brandon Coleman a chance to start at left tackle, they may want to bring in more depth, especially with a rookie quarterback in Jayden Daniels under center.
Washington could contact the Steelers, who are overflowing with offensive line options after using three picks on OL in 2024. With Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones — Pittsburgh’s last two first-rounders — poised to start at tackle, Moore could be on the move as he enters the final season of his rookie contract.
Dolphins Bolster Interior Offensive Line
- Dolphins acquire: OL Robert Hainsey
- Buccaneers acquire: 2025 seventh-round pick
The Buccaneers intend to use first-round rookie Graham Barton at center, which means Hainsey will need to compete for playing time at left guard. Hainsey only has one year remaining on his deal, so Tampa Bay could try to get something for him now while rolling with Ben Bredeson or Sua Opeta at LG.
Patrick Paul, Miami’s only OL selection, is a long-term tackle. Hainsey would be an upgrade over the group scheduled to compete for guard snaps — Isaish Wynn, Robert Jones, Jack Driscoll, and others — and could offer insurance at center if anything happens to free-agent addition Aaron Brewer.
DT Jonathan Allen Joins the Cardinals
- Cardinals acquire: DT Jonathan Allen
- Commanders acquire: 2025 fourth-round pick, 2026 fifth-round pick
The Commanders landed one of the steals of the draft when Illinois DT Johnny Newton fell to the top of Round 2. Washington gave fellow interior defender Daron Payne a four-year, $90 million contract in March 2023 and former second-rounder Phidarian Mathis remains on the roster.
With that DT depth in place, could the Commanders’ new regime move on from Allen? The two-time Pro Bowler has played at least 700 snaps and posted 40+ pressures in each of the last four years. Allen’s new team would be on the hook for $32.5 million over the next two seasons, a relative bargain that the top of the DT market has surpassed $30 million annually.
Arizona still has $30 million in remaining cap space this season and projects to have over $110 million in 2025. While the Cardinals signed interior players like Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols this offseason, Allen’s impact is a few tiers above those options.
Lions Acquire Another Pass Rusher
- Lions acquire: DL Dre’Mont Jones
- Seahawks acquire: Conditional 2025 fifth-round pick (could be upgraded to 2025 fourth based on Jones’ performance)
Although the Seahawks just signed Jones to a three-year, $51 million contract in 2023, they’ve since acquired and extended DT Leonard Williams before using the No. 16 pick on Texas DT Byron Murphy II. With GM John Schneider calling the personnel shots instead of Pete Carroll and first-year head coach Mike Macdonald implementing a new scheme, Jones stands out as a potential trade candidate.
The Lions signed DT DJ Reader and EDGE Marcus Davenport this offseason but surprisingly failed to draft a front-seven defender until adding sixth-round DT Mekhi Wingo. Jones, who moved to EDGE after Seattle’s Uchenna Nwosu went down in October, would give Detroit DC Aaron Glenn valuable alignment versatility alongside Aidan Hutchinson.
Bears Fill EDGE Void with Baron Browning
- Bears acquire: EDGE Baron Browning
- Broncs acquire: 2025 fifth-round pick, OT Larry Borom
The Bears are still looking for a pass rusher to complement Montez Sweat, and GM Ryan Poles should reach out to the Broncos about Browning. Denver used a 2024 third-rounder on Utah EDGE Jonah Elliss. Sean Payton and Co. already have Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper at outside linebacker, while 2023 third-round choice Drew Sanders is moving to the edge.
Browning has never played over 600 snaps in a season, but he’s always flashed when not battling injury concerns. In 2023, Browning managed 35 pressures on just 246 pass-rushing snaps, ranking 25th in PFF‘s pass-rushing productivity metric. He’s going into the final year of his rookie contract, so the Bears could consider signing him to a cheap extension.
Saints Dump Marshon Lattimore’s Contract
- Raiders acquire: CB Marshon Lattimore
- Saints acquire: Conditional 2025 fifth-round pick (could be upgraded to 2025 fourth based on Lattimore’s playing time)
The Saints traded up to grab Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry in Round 2, adding him to a secondary that already includes Paulson Adebo, Alontae Taylor, and, of course, Lattimore.
Drafting a second-round cornerback might not have signaled a potential Lattimore trade on its own. However, as Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap wrote in March, New Orleans restructured Lattimore’s contract this offseason to allow for a post-June 1 trade.
Las Vegas desperately needs cornerback help but didn’t select a CB until Day 3 (Mississippi State’s Decamerion Richardson). Depending on whether they pick up his option, the Raiders could have Lattimore under contract in 2024 with a cap charge below $4 million.
