The start of the new NFL league year on March 13 portends not only the beginning of the free agent period but also the opening of the 2024 trade cycle. While trades could be agreed to between now and then, no deal can become official until mid-March.
In 2023, the New York Jets’ acquisition of Aaron Rodgers made the most headlines, but Gang Green’s big deal wasn’t the only high-profile spring trade. Players like RB D’Andre Swift, WR Brandin Cooks, TE Darren Waller, G Shaq Mason, and CBs Jalen Ramsey and Stephon Gilmore found new homes via the trade market last March or April.
Who will be moved this offseason? Here are 10 trades that could make sense once the 2024 league year begins.
10 NFL Trade Predictions for the 2024 Offseason
We already suggested three significant trades in last week’s NFL free agency predictions. Las Vegas Raiders WR Davante Adams rejoined Rodgers with the New York Jets, the Los Angeles Rams finally added Carolina Panthers pass rusher Brian Burns, and the Miami Dolphins franchise-tagged-and-traded DT Christian Wilkins to the Las Vegas Raiders.
We’ve attempted to make these trade predictions as realistic as possible. Teams with large swaths of cap space have the financial room to add more talent, while clubs with limited funds may have to shed existing contracts.
Falcons Land QB Justin Fields From the Bears
- Falcons acquire: QB Justin Fields, 2025 fifth-round pick
- Bears acquire: 2024 second-round pick (No. 43); EDGE Arnold Ebiketie
New Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris admitted Tuesday at the NFL Combine that he might not be with the Falcons if they’d had better quarterback play in 2023, and he’s probably right. Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke all but eliminated themselves from Atlanta’s plans with subpar performances last season, forcing the club to look in other directions this spring.
While signing a veteran such as Kirk Cousins could make sense for the Falcons, acquiring a younger option like the 24-year-old Fields might make more sense, given the young core that general manager Terry Fontenot has built.
Fields could join an exciting cast of Atlanta offensive characters, including RB Bijan Robinson, WR Drake London, and TE Kyle Pitts. Instead of exercising his fifth-year option for 2025, the Falcons could try to work out a Jordan Love-like extension, enabling them to capitalize on a potential Fields breakout during the upcoming campaign.
The Bears move on from Fields with the intention of drafting USC QB Caleb Williams No. 1 overall. Chicago will continue to pick up additional draft capital while adding an intriguing former second-round pick in Ebiketie (who won’t be the only pass rusher the Bears acquire in our exercise).
Rams Take a Flier on QB Mac Jones
- Rams acquire: QB Mac Jones
- Patriots acquire: 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 176)
- Pick becomes a 2025 fourth-rounder if Jones plays at least 35% of Rams’ offensive snaps.
Although Bill Belichick is no longer in New England, it’s almost impossible to imagine Jones returning to the Patriots in 2024. The former first-round pick was benched for Bailey Zappe last season and reportedly lost the New England locker room. NFL Network reported earlier this month that Jones is expected to be elsewhere next year.
MORE: 2024 NFL Free Agents by Position
With midseason signing Carson Wentz headed for free agency, the Rams may need a new backup for starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. While Jones is hardly the creative thrower that Stafford is, the former Alabama QB should be able to operate Sean McVay’s offense.
Los Angeles wouldn’t risk exercising Jones’ 2025 fifth-year option, which would be fully guaranteed. But the Rams might be interested in getting him into their system now, just in case Stafford decides to retire after the 2024 campaign.
Bengals Ship Franchise WR Tee Higgins to Titans
- Titans acquire: WR Tee Higgins
- Bengals acquire: 2024 second-round pick (No. 38)
Cincinnati became the first team to deploy the franchise tag in 2024, officially assigning the $21.816 million tender to Higgins on Feb. 26. The Bengals have more than enough cap space to retain Higgins at that price and could even tag him again in 2025.
But Joe Burrow’s cap charge will hit $46 million in 2025 and keep increasing, while Cincinnati has to plan for an eventual Ja’Marr Chase extension. Higgins makes sense on the Bengals’ roster as they gun for a Super Bowl, but trading him could be best for the club’s long-term vision, especially if de facto GM Duke Tobin believes he can find a WR2 replacement in a deep 2024 WR draft class.
Cincinnati’s early tag decision likely indicates that the two sides aren’t close to an extension agreement, but it might also suggest the Bengals are willing to listen to trade offers at this week’s Combine.
Former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan is now the Titans’ head coach, and Tennessee could use more weapons for second-year quarterback Will Levis. Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins will turn 32 this summer, while former first-round pick Treylon Burks has managed just 665 receiving yards through two injury-riddled seasons.
Higgins would be a noticeable upgrade in Tennessee. The Titans have even more cap space than the Bengals and can easily afford to give Higgins a multi-year deal while making him their top wideout.
Chiefs Pick Up Veteran WR Tyler Lockett From Seahawks
- Chiefs acquire: WR Tyler Lockett
- Seahawks acquire: 2024 fourth-round (No. 132) and fifth-round (No. 157) picks
Kansas City won its second consecutive Super Bowl without a true WR1, but that doesn’t mean GM Brett Veach shouldn’t try to find Patrick Mahomes some help this offseason. The free agent wide receiver market could be picked over by franchise tags and extensions, leaving the Chiefs to pursue available trade options.
While the Seahawks haven’t necessarily put Lockett on the block, they are starting fresh in 2024. Pete Carroll is out, Mike Macdonald is in, and general manager John Schneider is calling the personnel shots. Moving on from the 31-year-old Lockett and creating more opportunities for 2023 first-round WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba could make sense for Seattle.
Lockett’s yards per route run slipped to 1.61 in 2023, decreasing for the third consecutive season. But he’s rebounded from down campaigns in the past and can still beat single coverage. Lockett is due a $15.3 million base salary in 2024 but could be willing to accept less to join the defending Super Bowl champions.
Saints Move TE Juwan Johnson to Dolphins
- Dolphins acquire: TE Juwan Johnson
- Saints acquire: 2024 sixth-round pick (No. 185)
The Dolphins need to add a three-down tight end to their offense, but the upcoming free agent TE market doesn’t contain many inspiring options after Dalton Schultz. Instead, Miami could consider trading for Johnson, who’s posted 876 yards and 11 touchdowns since 2022.
New Orleans signed fellow TE Foster Moreau to a three-year deal last offseason. Taysom Hill will likely return in 2024, even if he has to accept a pay cut to stay with the Saints.
Johnson could be available as New Orleans tries to get its salary cap in order. The Dolphins’ financial situation isn’t much better than the Saints’, but they can afford to pay Johnson a $5.5 million base salary.
Jets Grab Offensive Line Depth From Titans
- Jets acquire: G Daniel Brunskill
- Titans acquire: 2025 seventh-round pick
New York must make significant offensive line improvements this offseason if it doesn’t want Rodgers returning to a subpar front five.
MORE: NFL 2024 Salary Cap Boom Could Cause Key Shift in Offseason Strategies
The Jets released left guard Laken Tomlinson this week, while left tackle Mekhi Becton and interior veteran Connor McGovern are pending free agents. Alijah Vera-Tucker, Gang Green’s only reliable offensive lineman, will be recovering from a torn Achilles in 2024, his second severe injury in as many seasons.
General manager Joe Douglas needs to unearth any OL depth he can find. Brunskill is hardly a world-beater, but he’s made 56 starts and appeared in 75 games at the NFL level. The 30-year-old has played at least 700 snaps in three of his five pro seasons and can handle all three interior line positions (and moonlight at tackle if needed).
Ravens Bolster Pass Rush With Khalil Mack
- Ravens acquire: EDGE Khalil Mack
- Chargers acquire: 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 130), EDGE David Ojabo
Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers may have to make several challenging decisions as they get their salary cap in order this offseason.
Trading Mack would ease Los Angeles’ financial issues. While the Bolts would have to eat $15.268 million in dead money by moving Mack, they’d create $23.25 million in additional cap room.
The Ravens have never been afraid to target veteran trade acquisitions, making deals for linebacker Roquan Smith, pass rushers Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue, and cornerback Marcus Peters since 2019. With incumbent edge defenders Jadeveon Clowney, Kyle Van Noy, and Malik Harrison headed for free agency, Baltimore needs an option like Mack.
In addition to a mid-round pick, the Chargers will add Ojabo, who was poised to be a top-10 selection in the 2022 NFL Draft before suffering an Achilles injury at his Pro Day. He’s appeared in just five games over two seasons but could be a worthwhile risk for Los Angeles.
Bears Acquire and Extend EDGE Haason Reddick
- Bears acquire: EDGE Haason Reddick, 2024 third-round pick (No. 97)
- Eagles acquire: 2024 third-round pick (No. 75), 2025 fourth-round pick
While Reddick didn’t request a trade out of Philadelphia, he does want an extension with just one year remaining on his contract. The Eagles granted the veteran pass rusher permission to seek a trade and could move him if they receive a fair offer.
The Bears need another edge defender to pair with Montez Sweat, whom they acquired from the Commanders at last year’s deadline. Chicago could look to the draft or the free agent market.
But few options might be as attractive as Reddick, who’s posted at least 11 sacks in four consecutive seasons. He’s managed 49 quarterback hits since 2022, tied for eighth-most in the league.
Flush with nearly $80 million in cap space, the Bears can afford to give Reddick a raise and an extension. With pass rusher checked off, Chicago can use its second first-round pick (No. 9) at another position like wide receiver.
Commanders Send DT Jonathan Allen to Texans
- Texans acquire: DT Jonathan Allen
- Commanders acquire: 2024 third-round pick (No. 86)
The Texans boast the reigning Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year heading into the 2024 campaign and hold nearly $70 million in cap space. Houston can push in this offseason, building around C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. by sending a mid-round pick to Washington in exchange for Allen.
The 29-year-old Allen admitted in December that he’d contemplated the idea of playing for other NFL teams and said he wasn’t interested in going through another Commanders rebuild. Having already dealt Sweat and Chase Young in 2023, Washington could be open to another move.
Allen finished seventh among defensive tackles in pass-rush win rate (22.3%) and 12th in pressures (41). A Texans defensive line featuring Allen, Anderson, and Jonathan Greenard (a pending free agent) could be among the most dominant units in the NFL.
CB Rasul Douglas Gets Traded Again
- Lions acquire: CB Rasul Douglas
- Bills acquire: 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 162), CB Steven Gilmore
In desperate need of defensive back reinforcements at last year’s trade deadline, the Bills sent a third-round pick to the Packers in exchange for Douglas and a fifth-round choice.
The veteran cornerback was an immediate contributor, picking off two passes against the Jets in November before posting another two-interception (and one pick-six) performance in a Week 17 win over the Patriots.
While Buffalo would surely like to retain Douglas, the Bills will struggle to become salary cap-compliant before the new league year begins. Trading Douglas would create nearly $10 million in additional space for GM Brandon Beane to work with.
KEEP READING: 3 Reasons the NFL Should Move the Trade Deadline
The Lions could pencil in Douglas as a nickel package starter alongside Cameron Sutton and Brian Branch. But Douglas is entering his age-30 campaign, so his presence shouldn’t prevent Detroit from drafting an early-round cornerback.
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