Current NFL Trade Candidates

Tracking the reported trade candidates, cash remaining if traded today and cash remaining at the trade deadline.

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Player Team Pos Age 2026 CAP HIT 2026 DEAD CAP If Traded 2026 CAP HIT New Team Acquired Contract Contract w/ New Team
Tua Tagovailoa QB 28 $56,267,647 $45,200,000 $42,867,647 New Contract
Kyler Murray QB 29 $52,660,677 $17,918,177 $24,942,500 New Contract A foot injury derailed another inconsistent season from Murray, who has been replaced by veteran Jacoby Brissett for the foreseeable future. Arizona may look to shop the 2019 #1 overall pick this spring, hoping to move on from the 2 years, $79M remaining through 2027. A trade prior to March 15th (when a $17M roster bonus is due) would leave behind $18M of dead cap to the Cardinals, while the acquiring team would be taking on initial cap hits of $42.5M, & $36.3M respectively.
Maxx Crosby ED 29 $35,791,250 $5,101,250 $30,690,000 New Contract Before you cry clickbait, let’s be real here. Crosby put his faith in the organization by agreeing to a slightly less than top-of-market extension this past March, and has preached loyalty to the club wherever possible since. But if coach, quarterback, and a few defensive busts are moved on from this spring, and the cupboards look pretty bare for the foreseeable future, it’s perfectly within reason to assume that Crosby will at some point request a trade to a better situation. Crosby’s deal was structured “bonus-free”, meaning the Raiders aren’t on the hook for any new proration dead cap. A 2026 trade would mean a dead cap charge of $5.1M (from his previous contract), freeing up over $30M of space, and of course, bringing back a giant pile of draft assets in the process.
Bradley Chubb ED 30 $31,202,739 $23,859,239 $20,230,000 New Contract Chubb is slated to earn $20.23M in 2026, but none of that is guaranteed until the start of the season. The 29-year-old has given Miami three strong seasons, but with turnover likely the theme of the offseason, finding a softer landing spot for Chubb (and picking up a draft pick or two) makes sense. There’s $23.8M of dead cap attached to the contract right now, so an early offseason trade will only free up around $7.3M of cap space.
D.K. Metcalf WR 29 $31,000,000 $24,000,000 $25,000,000 New Contract There's a lot riding on how the Steelers proceed with their QB1 vacancy over the next few weeks, but a roster in rebuild could mean flipping their WR1 for additional draft assets. Metcalf will be highly coveted (as he was this time last offseason).
Rashan Gary ED 29 $28,021,138 $17,042,276 $19,500,000 New Contract Gary is set to enter Year 4 of a 5 year, $107.7M contract, set to earn $19.5M for the upcoming season. The deal contains an unprotected $42M over the next two seasons. Micah Parsons’ injury probably means he stays put through 2026, but there’s a world where Green Bay fields a call or two.
Daron Payne DL 29 $27,950,000 $11,200,000 $17,350,000 New Contract The 28-year-old is entering a contract year in 2026, set to earn $22.4, with a team-high $28M cap hit attached to it. Payne’s production has flat-lined since a massive 2022 campaign, but his experience and reliability should draw interest. There’s $11.2M of dead cap associated with the contract this offseason, and a $5M March 15th roster bonus becomes an early deadline for this type of move.
Dexter Lawrence DL 29 $26,958,130 $13,916,260 $20,000,000 New Contract Lawrence has expressed his frustration regarding the lack of success and a few more personal matters this season, which could signal a need for a change of scenery in the not too distant future. None of the 2 years, $39.5M remaining on his contract is fully guaranteed, and the Giants would take on a tolerable $14M dead cap charge to trade him before the upcoming 2026 draft. 
Geno Smith QB 36 $26,500,000 $0 $26,500,000 New Contract $18.5M of Smith's 2026 salary is already fully guaranteed, and another $8M is set to vest on March 13th. The options may be limited, but Vegas would love to find a suitor before that final guarantee kicks in. An outright release could be on the table here as well.
Dion Dawkins LT 32 $24,837,833 $21,946,833 $16,265,000 New Contract There’s a version of the Bills where the 2026 offseason becomes one for major culture change (potentially from the top down). With Dawkins carrying one of the larger, unprotected deals on the books, there’s room to consider Buffalo shopping their longtime left tackle in lieu of an extension in the coming months. An early offseason trade would only free up around $3M of cap space, but a move like this would be more about assets in return than immediate financial gain.
Jessie Bates III S 29 $24,770,000 $18,250,000 $13,020,000 New Contract The 28-year-old is still plenty dangerous in Atlanta’s secondary, but we might be seeing signs of a bit of regression through the balance of 2025. With 2026 being a contract year, and Bates holding a $24.7M cap figure, there’s reason to consider this a fluid situation heading into the winter months. The Falcons hold $18.25M of dead cap on the deal next season.
A.J. Brown WR 29 $23,393,497 $43,515,106 $7,040,000 New Contract Neither Brown, nor the Eagles, have ever confirmed a rift between the two sides, and the 28-year-old still found his way to 78 catches, 1000+ yards, and 7 TDs this season, but it sure feels like there’s room to take a trade call or two in the coming weeks. Brown’s contract has 4 years, $113M remaining on it, including $29M fully guaranteed in 2026. $4M of his 2027 salary locks in this March, making this a 2-year, $50M contract for all intents and purposes.Here’s the problem: 4 signing/option bonuses later, Brown’s contract holds $43,515,106 of dead cap if traded before June 1st, meaning the Eagles would take a $20M cap bath to move their WR1 before the upcoming draft. Waiting until after June 1st can free up $7M of space. If the Eagles were to bite the bullet and trade Brown early this offseason, they’d be taking on the 4th largest single season dead cap hit in NFL history (and making a heck of a lot more financial trouble for themselves as well).
Kenny Clark DL 31 $21,500,000 $0 $10,500,000 New Contract Acquired from Green Bay as part of the Micah Parsons trade, Clark will hold 2 years, $41.5M remaining on his contract after this season. But with Quinnen Williams now in the fold, and Osa Odighizuwa under contract through 2028, Clark may be on the outside looking in going forward. Dallas can free up all $21.5M of his salary in 2026 with a trade or outright release (before an $11M roster bonus is due March 13th).
Javon Hargrave DL 33 $21,453,382 $6,497,500 $14,955,882 New Contract The 32-year-old is having a strong 2025, filling up the stat table as per usual across his 10-year career. But father time is against him, the Vikings will be looking to freshen up a few roster areas, and the cap situation will force a few uncomfortable moves this offseason. $4M of Hargrave’s $15M salary is already fully guaranteed. Finding a trade partner next year can open up $11M of cap space
Uchenna Nwosu ED 30 $19,988,334 $8,508,334 $11,480,000 New Contract It’s not often that you’ll find a player with 7 sacks in limited action on a bubble list, but this Seattle defense is deep and talented enough to withstand losing a player or two. Nwosu is entering a contract year, and there’s over $12M to free up with a trade or release.
Budda Baker S 30 $19,216,250 $6,122,500 $15,155,000 New Contract Baker’s name was floated as a potential candidate around this past deadline, putting him in position to generate interest this coming offseason. The contract carries 2 years, $34M remaining, including $7.7M of $16.1M fully guaranteed for the upcoming 2026 season. Arizona can free up $13.1M of space by trading Baker before a $1M roster bonus is due on March 15th, while the acquiring team would take on $16.1M in 2026; $17.8M in 2027.
Minkah Fitzpatrick S 30 $18,849,000 $12,996,000 $15,600,000 New Contract
Alvin Kamara RB 31 $18,633,471 $15,273,942 $11,500,000 New Contract Kamara has 1 year, $11.5M remaining ($3M guaranteed) on his contract in New Orleans, who are in the process of quickly developing their next young core unit.
Kayvon Thibodeaux ED 26 $14,751,000 $0 $14,751,000 New Contract The 2022 #5 overall pick was mentioned at the trade deadline this past November, but nothing formally materialized. That could change this offseason as the Giants look to roll over into a new era. Thibodeaux’s $14.7M option salary is already fully guaranteed in 2026, and would all transfer to a new team per a trade (leaving behind no dead cap). The 24-year-old projects toward a 4 year, $83M extension in our system. Abdul Carter’s shaky debut season could impact this decisio
Walker Little LT 27 $14,499,953 $7,235,108 $11,941,176 New Contract Jacksonville gave Little a 3 year, $40M extension last December, but he’s been usurped at left tackle by Cole Van Lanen, who just secured a $51M deal himself. Little’s deal holds 2 years, $25M remaining, including a fully guaranteed $12M for 2026. The Jags can free up over $7M of cap by finding a trade partner this spring.
Cesar Ruiz G 27 $14,196,000 $14,184,000 $9,500,000 New Contract The 26-year-old interior lineman has 2 years, $19M remaining on his contract, $2.6M of which is already fully guaranteed. Turning players like Ruiz into viable draft assets seems like the right move for the Saints in their current window. A pre-draft trade would mean $14.2M of dead cap stays with New Orleans, making it a nearly cap-neutral move.
Evan Engram TE 32 $14,166,667 $5,333,333 $11,500,000 New Contract With $5M of 2026 salary fully guaranteed, the Broncos probably won’t outright release Engram this offseason, but it stands to reason they’ll try to offload this contract (1 year, $11.5M) in some capacity. The 31-year-old caught 50 passes, including 1 TD, in 2025.
Kristian Fulton CB 28 $13,000,000 $3,000,000 $10,000,000 New Contract The 27-year-old started 14 games for the Chargers in 2024, but was reduced to a reserve role this season in KC, just months after signing a 2 year, $20M free agent contract. $5M of his 2026 salary is fully guaranteed, so they’ll be looking to offset that with a trade if possible. An outright release means $8M of dead cap, $5M of savings.
A'Shawn Robinson DL 31 $12,555,000 $2,055,000 $10,500,000 New Contract
Anthony Richardson QB 24 $10,816,283 $5,430,734 $5,385,549 New Contract The Colts will almost certainly decline Richardson’s 5th-year option for 2027 (see above), but the 23-year-old is still owed a fully guaranteed $5.3M in 2026. With Daniel Jones now injured long-term (and without a contract), there may be a world where the former #4 overall pick is competing for a Week 1 role at some point next offseason. There’s also a world where Indy finds a trade partner that offers Richardson a change of scenery and a better chance to play.
Jerry Jeudy WR 27 $10,372,400 $10,725,000 $6,797,400 New Contract Jeudy’s $6M option bonus for 2026 is already fully guaranteed, but the Browns can ship that out to an acquiring team before it needs to be exercised (March 25th). The problem? An early March trade would represent a cap loss of around $350,000. But if the 26-year-old isn’t for the next iteration of this Cleveland offense, draft compensation might be worthy of the dead cap.
Deommodore Lenoir CB 27 $8,870,000 $13,000,000 $4,970,000 New Contract The entire SF secondary faced injury problems and overall inconsistent play in 2025, which should force the front office to prioritize upgrades this coming offseason. Lenoir still has 4 years, $68M remaining on his deal, but none of it is currently protected ($16M locks in April 1st). With $13M of dead cap against an $8.8M cap figure this season, the Niners probably give this one more year before considering their options.
Darious Williams CB 33 $8,666,668 $1,166,668 $7,000,000 New Contract Saw his snap count drop from 70% in 2024, to 40% in 2025, but is also under contract at a team-friendly $7.5M in 2026. There’s a $500,000 roster bonus due March 15th, so any kind of movement would likely happen prior to.
Pete Werner LB 27 $7,966,000 $5,764,000 $6,250,000 New Contract A 2nd-round pick out of Ohio State back in 2021, Werner has seen his starting role/snap count drop off in 2025, signifying a likely need for change from both sides in 2026. Unfortunately for the Saints, Werner’s $6.25M salary for next season became fully guaranteed this past March. New Orleans may look to retain some of that salary in order to facilitate a trade this offseason.
Chuba Hubbard RB 27 $7,506,100 $4,518,300 $6,000,000 New Contract $4.5M of Hubbard’s 2026 salary is already fully guaranteed, so an outright release isn’t likely here. But it’s possible that Carolina can secure a trade partner for what is essentially a 1 year, $6M contract going forward (2 years, $16.7M non-guaranteed thereafter). The Panthers can free up almost $3M of cap per an early offseason trade.
Lukas Van Ness ED 25 $5,532,575 $2,411,471 $3,121,104 New Contract Green Bay has a $14.5M option decision on Van Ness this spring. They may look to make that someone else's problem prior to the May 1st deadline. The 24-year-old has 1 year, $3.1M (gtd) remaining on his rookie deal right now.
Jordan Addison WR 24 $4,369,190 $1,746,680 $2,622,510 New Contract The 23-year-old has gone through his fair share of issues (both on and off the field), but this is a highly talented wideout who has yet to enter his prime NFL years. If the Vikings aren't interested in paying two WRs sooner rather than later, it might be a good time to begin monitoring his trade value.
Deonte Banks CB 25 $4,320,716 $1,718,981 $2,601,735 New Contract The 2023 1st-rounder has seen his snap counts decrease annually, putting the future status of the 24-year-old in question. Banks is fully guaranteed $2.6M in 2026, while the Giants (or an acquiring team) will almost certainly decline a looming 5th-year option for 2027. NY would free up that $2.6M in cap space by trading Banks this offseason.
Brian Thomas Jr. WR 24 $3,998,176 $3,740,900 $2,127,726 New Contract The 2024 1st-rounder out of LSU saw his production cut in half (though his drops increased) in Liam Coen’s new offense, creating the possibility of a move out of town this offseason. His rookie deal has 2 years, $5M fully guaranteed remaining, plus a 5th-year option available in 2028.
Riley Moss CB 26 $3,914,452 $240,452 $3,674,000 New Contract Moss started all 17 games in 2025, and has now put together back-to-back strong seasons, especially as it pertains to stopping the running game. However it stands to reason that 2025 1st-round pick Jahdae Barron will be ready to step into his role going forward, putting Moss - who is entering a contract year in 2026 - on the outside looking in.
Terrion Arnold CB 23 $3,911,921 $3,625,894 $2,098,974 New Contract A rough 2024 season followed up by a Week 5 season-ending shoulder injury for 2025 puts the future of Arnold in a bit of doubt. With question marks all across Detroit’s secondary this offseason, the former 1st-round pick could be quietly shopped in the coming months. With 2 years, $4.85M (guaranteed) remaining plus a potential 5th-year option for 2028, there may be a team or two looking to offer a change of scenery.
Mac Jones QB 28 $3,070,000 $1,792,000 $2,622,000 New Contract With $4.6M cash against a very tenable $3.9M cap hit in 2026, the Niners don’t have to do a thing with Jones - who filled in admirably for an injured Brock Purdy for 8 2025 starts. But there’s no question that a few QB-needy teams will be sniffing around this contract in the coming weeks, with a trade offer or two likely to come. An early offseason trade leaves behind $1.8M of dead cap, freeing up $2.1M of space.
Keon Coleman WR 23 $2,747,525 $2,073,366 $1,710,842 New Contract Coleman was already going to be in trade rumors prior to the "press conference heard 'round the world", but now finds himself squarely on the block this winter. It's a 2 year, $3.8M contract going forward.
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