• Massive-name NFC West receivers might discover new houses: Deebo Samuel and D.Ok. Metcalf are among the many two probably commerce candidates.
• Will the Cowboys transfer on from Mazi Smith? The previous first-round choose has been one of many lowest-graded defensive linemen within the league since his debut.
• 2025 NFL Draft season is right here: Attempt PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and find out about 2025’s high prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting in your favourite NFL workforce.
Estimated Studying Time: 12 minutes
The 2024 NFL common season’s finish means 18 franchises have already turned the web page to what this offseason will seem like — with trades a giant issue.
Lately, we’ve seen impression gamers like Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Ramsey, Stefon Diggs and Keenan Allen get traded throughout the NFL’s efficient lifeless interval. Beneath are 15 names to keep watch over this yr, whether or not attributable to impending free businesses, contract disputes or sophisticated workforce suits.
WR Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers’ checklist of free brokers for 2025 and 2026 contains Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Javon Hargrave, Dre Greenlaw, Jauan Jennings, Kyle Juszczyk, Charvarius Ward and Samuel. The easy reply is that normal supervisor John Lynch will not be capable to retain all of these gamers, nor wouldn’t it be sensible to. That leaves Samuel as an apparent man out, it could seem.
San Francisco drafted Ricky Pearsall within the first spherical final yr and invested $120 million in Brandon Aiyuk, whereas Jennings (career-high 83.7 PFF receiving grade) has flourished in a extra full-fledged position. In the meantime, Samuel hasn’t loved the success we’re accustomed to seeing, netting a career-low 70.9 PFF total grade with a career-low 1.60 yards per route run and eight.2 yards after the catch per reception.
As an alternative of paying Samuel one other important deal, it feels inevitable that the 49ers will promote excessive after a poor season and recoup their belongings, bracing for what could possibly be an offseason of retooling.
QB Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons seem destined to interrupt up with Cousins not even one yr after signing him to a $180 million deal, handing over the reins to No. 9 total choose Michael Penix Jr. The query is thru what means, and a commerce appears to be the primary avenue Atlanta will discover.
Whereas recovering from a season-ending Achilles tear the yr earlier than, Cousins merely didn’t carry out just like the correct, turnover-free quarterback who has been prolific over the previous few years. His 72.3 PFF passing grade was his worst since 2017 and ranked 22nd out of 44 qualifying quarterbacks. Likewise, Cousins’ 4.6% turnover-worthy play charge is the seventh-highest mark in soccer.
Atlanta would seemingly must defray a significant portion of Cousins’ contract to discover a suitor — because the Broncos did with Russell Wilson this previous offseason — however a number of groups seem like worthwhile candidates. The Titans, Browns, Steelers, Giants, Raiders and even the 49ers or Saints might all be in play, relying on how the 2025 NFL Draft order shakes out, with seemingly solely two or three quarterbacks being taken within the high half of the primary spherical.
WR D.Ok. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle fell in need of a postseason berth for the third time in 4 seasons, and Metcalf’s inconsistent play was a significant purpose why. His 75.0 PFF receiving grade is his lowest in a season since his rookie yr, and he’s hauled in solely 33.3% of contested catches over the previous two years.
Consider a breakout from Jaxon Smith-Njigba (83.5 PFF receiving grade, Eleventh amongst certified receivers) and Metcalf having one yr left on his deal, and the Seahawks appear prone to transfer on. Seattle bestowed Metcalf with a $72 million extension in 2022, however one other deal doesn’t seem within the playing cards — particularly contemplating his waning chemistry with Geno Smith, as Metcalf has generated solely a 99.0 passer ranking when focused. Maintaining looming free brokers like Smith, Charles Cross, Kenneth Walker III and Ernest Jones usually tend to be priorities.
QB Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
The Browns appear to be giving Watson one final likelihood to show himself, however that doesn’t imply Cleveland received’t lastly minimize the wire as soon as and for all. Whether or not by means of the draft or free company, normal supervisor Andrew Berry is poised so as to add one other legit signal-caller — and it wouldn’t be a shocker if that newcomer supplants Watson.
In his three seasons in Cleveland, Watson has by no means exceeded a 66.8 season-long passing grade. Extra particularly, he’s notched a single-game total grade of 80.0 or higher in solely certainly one of 19 video games as a Brown. There’s little protection to even restarting the Watson engine yet another time — and a excessive likelihood that the Browns transfer on quickly.
The caveat with shifting Watson is that the Browns would virtually undoubtedly want to take action later within the offseason. In keeping with Over the Cap, Cleveland would incur $26.9 million in lifeless cap in each 2025 and 2026 if buying and selling Watson after June 1; that quantity climbs all the best way to $80.7 million in 2025 alone if earlier than that date. That would truly work within the group’s favor, permitting a contest to play out earlier than making a last verdict.
WR Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
The place there’s smoke, there’s usually fireplace, and many is billowing round Wilson and the Jets coming into this offseason. With just one yr left on Wilson’s rookie contract and a sequence of sweeping adjustments inbound, New York might elect to commerce him.
Wilson has confirmed to be a stud throughout every of his three years as a professional. Since debuting in 2022, Wilson’s profession 85.4 PFF receiving grade ranks twenty second amongst huge receivers (minimal 100 targets), and he has dropped solely 4.4% of his 315 catchable targets.
It might behoove the Jets’ new normal supervisor and head coach to attempt to hold and lengthen Wilson, however New York might look to economize and begin over on the place. On high of that, rumors have circulated that Wilson and Aaron Rodgers didn’t take pleasure in a robust rapport in 2024 — though this will have been Rodgers’ last NFL season. With out a lot certainty wherever, Wilson being traded doesn’t really feel like a far-reaching thought.
WR George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers
Would Pittsburgh actually wish to commerce arguably its finest offensive participant, and clear-cut finest huge receiver? The superficial reply could be no, however this case is extra delicate than it might outwardly seem.
Pickens is coming into a contract yr in 2025, and he’ll undoubtedly search a compensatory payday earlier than going into subsequent season. The query is whether or not or not the Steelers wish to entrust him with that and decide to him long run.
Pickens has steadily improved all through every of his three seasons and has produced at a stellar degree in 2024, notching a career-best 78.0 PFF receiving grade with a mean of two.06 yards per route run. However his contested catch numbers (34.6% from 2023-24 in comparison with 67.9% in 2022) and character issues might make Pittsburgh skeptical.
The Steelers’ huge receiver corps is already one of many thinnest within the league, however will Mike Tomlin need his high wideout making over $20 million yearly — on high of unreliability on and off the sector? Pittsburgh buying and selling Pickens isn’t as unbelievable as one may assume, particularly contemplating a deep free-agent receiver crop.
QB Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
Carr’s scenario in New Orleans will virtually definitely hinge on the workforce’s subsequent head coach, however there’s actual doubt about his long-term future with the Saints.
When on the sector in 2024, Carr excelled. His 86.7 PFF passing grade ranks fourth amongst certified quarterbacks, and his 78.7% adjusted completion charge sits sixth. By most superior metrics, Carr loved his finest season since he was an MVP candidate in 2016.
Nonetheless, Carr performed solely 300 dropbacks attributable to a slew of accidents. On high of that, his cap hit reaches an astronomical $51 million in 2025, and he’d obtain $30 million assured if he’s nonetheless a Saint by March. With New Orleans needing to clear round $70 million in cap house for this offseason alone, shifting Carr and beginning afresh below heart — whether or not through a draft choose or free agent — can be good enterprise, even when producing a worse product.
LB Quay Walker, Inexperienced Bay Packers
After being a touted linebacker meant to shore up the center of Inexperienced Bay’s protection, Walker has underperformed in his three seasons as a Packer.
He hasn’t exceeded a 58.5 PFF total grade in any of his three professional seasons. Regardless that he’s improved as a tackler, he stays a legal responsibility in protection, permitting catches on 78.8% of targets this season to go together with 9.1 yards per reception.
As Walker has handled accidents this yr, others stepped up in his stead. That features second-round choose Edgerrin Cooper, who flashed with a league-best 91.4 PFF total grade over the ultimate 4 weeks. Eric Wilson (65.8 PFF total grade) has additionally fared barely higher.
Inexperienced Bay might elect to maintain Walker on a prove-it last season, assuming his fifth-year possibility will get declined. It additionally wouldn’t be shocking to see normal supervisor Brian Gutekunst minimize his losses and commerce Walker.
EDGE Sam Hubbard, Cincinnati Bengals
Though Trey Hendrickson (90.4 PFF pass-rushing grade) put collectively an All-Professional-caliber season, he hasn’t acquired a lot assist from his colleague in Hubbard. That would open the door for Cincinnati to maneuver on this offseason.
Hubbard’s 2024 manufacturing hasn’t matched that of the previous three years, when he reached at the very least 40 pressures. This yr, the 28-year-old secured solely 18 pressures on a 6.3% pass-rush win charge, his lowest mark since 2020.
With Hubbard having only one yr left on his $40 million deal, the Bengals might very simply commerce the 28-year-old in pursuit of upgrades subsequent to Hendrickson.
CB Martin Emerson Jr., Cleveland Browns
A litany of notable Browns can be free brokers after this upcoming yr, which implies you would realistically select any of them to be traded. Emerson looks like an particularly worthwhile candidate to be dealt after one other subpar season.
In his third yr as a professional, Emerson has continued to regress, recording a career-low 48.4 PFF protection grade along with a 62.7% catch charge allowed and a 108.7 passer ranking allowed when focused. Certainly, that protection grade is the Eleventh-worst mark amongst 127 certified cornerbacks.
On the identical time, Emerson has flashed his expertise earlier than. As a rookie in 2022, he solidified a 75.1 PFF protection grade, and his 53.3 passer ranking allowed was the fourth-lowest mark amongst certified cornerbacks final yr.
The Browns can be sensible to improve their secondary this offseason, and buying and selling Emerson — earlier than he’d need any sort of extension — can be a pure pathway to doing so.
Dl Mazi Smith, Dallas Cowboys
Smith has accrued solely two years of service time in Dallas, however neither has gone based on plan — particularly for a participant picked twenty seventh total.
Over the previous two years, Smith’s 34.7 PFF total grade ranks 275th out of 279 defensive linemen with 200 or extra snaps over that point. He’s truly been worse in a number of departments in his sophomore yr, together with tackling, the place his missed deal with charge has elevated from 0% to 7.0%, and cross dashing, the place his pass-rush win charge dwindled from 9.9% to 0.9%. Even staying on the sector has been a problem for Smith.
Loads of questions have to be answered in Dallas. But when Mike McCarthy doesn’t return as head coach, a brand new workers might wish to minimize ties with an underwhelming participant taken by the prior regime. Even when McCarthy is again, Smith’s time as a Cowboy could possibly be nearing its finish anyway.
T Trevor Penning, New Orleans Saints
Penning doesn’t carry as a lot of a financial onus as Carr, however he’s nonetheless a participant whose spot on the 2025 Saints feels very a lot doubtful. The 2022 first-round choose merely hasn’t produced on the degree that has been anticipated.
In his three years as a professional, Penning has by no means generated a pass-blocking effectivity mark above 96.8. His previous two years have been notably disappointing, allowing 9 sacks and 73 pressures on 908 pass-blocking snaps.
With Penning struggling in his first season at proper deal with, New Orleans will seemingly wish to improve that slot. Shifting on from Penning can be sensible, if nothing however to garner some worth earlier than he hits the open market.
S Tyrann Mathieu, New Orleans Saints
One other Saint makes this checklist, and that’s no coincidence. New Orleans wants to search out savvy methods to shed payroll and make this roster extra sustainably good shifting ahead. At 32, Mathieu doesn’t seem like an answer for years to come back.
Among the finest safeties of this decade, Mathieu didn’t carry out as strongly in 2024. His 60.5 PFF total grade is the worst of his storied 12-year profession, as is his 57.8 protection grade. Likewise, Mathieu’s blitzing prowess has declined, as evidenced by his 51.2 PFF pass-rushing grade.
With Mathieu set to depend for $11.3 million in opposition to the cap subsequent season, the Saints can be sensible to stop that quantity from being enforced. Buying and selling him after June 1 would imply solely $4 million in lifeless cap every of the following two years, which looks like the absolute best mutual final result.
T Evan Neal, New York Giants
Each of the Giants’ first-round picks from 2022 might realistically be on the transfer coming into this offseason, however Neal feels just like the much less seemingly choice to nonetheless don blue and pink in 2025.
There’s no method to sugarcoat it: Neal’s NFL profession has been extraordinarily disappointing. Whereas he posted a career-high 61.2 PFF total grade this season, powered by a robust 80.8 run-blocking grade, he’s remained a legal responsibility in cross safety. In three years with Massive Blue, Neal has surrendered 12 sacks and 98 pressures. Solely eight different certified tackles have generated a worse pass-blocking effectivity than Neal (95.1) since he debuted.
The Giants seem to have their 2025 proper deal with secured in Jermaine Eluemunor, pairing him with Andrew Thomas at left deal with. Discovering a commerce accomplice for Neal makes loads of sense, particularly if New York has a special normal supervisor.
G Kenyon Inexperienced, Houston Texans
Like Evan. Neal, Inexperienced was a first-round choose however has, sadly, fallen prey to poor play all through his NFL tenure.
In his two wholesome years, Inexperienced has recorded PFF total grades of 37.7 and 38.6, struggling as each a run blocker and in cross safety. In reality, Inexperienced was the third-lowest-graded offensive lineman within the NFL this season (minimal 500 snaps). The unhappy reality is that Inexperienced’s incapability to develop has severely hindered Houston’s inside offensive line and, thus, the workforce’s offensive efficacy.
Texans normal supervisor Nick Caserio assuredly understands that his workforce’s inside offensive line must be completely revamped, and that may theoretically depart Inexperienced on the commerce block. One would anticipate Inexperienced to have supporters all through the league, given his age (23) and robust profession at Texas A&M not way back.
