5 Trades NFL Teams Should Consider to Bolster Offense Around Rookie QBs

With six quarterbacks coming off the board within the first 12 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft, the clubs that selected these coveted prospects have taken a massive first step towards finding long-term offensive stability.

While unearthing a potential franchise quarterback is a big piece of the puzzle, it's also imperative that these young signal-callers are supported by the rest of the roster. A promising career could be quickly derailed by a lack of elite pass-catching talent or poor offensive line protection, issues teams should be looking to shore up before thrusting any young quarterback into the fire.

Every organization that selected a quarterback in 2024 still has some holes to fill following the draft. Rather than rush their young passer into action without a proper supporting cast, these teams should be working the phones and trying to come up with trades to improve the lineup.

With that in mind, here's a trade suggestion to improve the offense for each of the five squads with a realistic chance to start a rookie under center this coming season:

Denver Broncos receive: OL Nate Herbig

Pittsburgh Steelers receive: 2025 seventh-round pick

The Denver Broncos made one of the more daring decisions of the 2024 draft when they selected Bo Nix at No. 12 overall. While taking the No. 61 overall player on the B/R Scouting Department's big board that early could be considered a reach, Nix still has a real chance of becoming a viable starter at the NFL level. He'll struggle to develop if his protection is lacking, however, making the offensive line an area Denver's brass must clean up this offseason.

The center position is of particular concern following the free agency departure of Lloyd Cushenberry III. The incumbent starter had been an anchor in the middle of the Broncos' o-line since 2020 and left a noticeable void when he departed for the Tennessee Titans this offseason.

The current in-house replacement options for Cushenberry aren't great. Without striking up a deal for a veteran, Denver will be left picking between inexperienced young players like Luke Wattenberg and Alex Forsyth or a failed former starter in Sam Mustipher. This isn't the type of talent a club wants snapping for a rookie and could be upgraded with a small move on the trade market.

Nate Herbig would make sense for the Broncos as a cost-effective, experienced center who is still relatively youthful with upside. Acquiring him for the Pittsburgh Steelers could position the club to develop Herbig alongside Nix for years to come.

Herbig may already be on his third team since entering the league as an undrafted free agent back in 2019, but he's only played 2,239 offensive snaps in his career and should still have plenty tread left on his tires at the age of 25. He's mostly suited up at guard in the NFL but is currently slated to compete at center during Pittsburgh's training camp.

Given the Steelers selected Zach Frazier—one of the top interior offensive linemen in the 2024 class—with a second-round pick, Herbig will likely be relegated to backup center duties this season. While the depth could help the Steelers, clearing up a roster spot while scooping some draft capital could be an even more appealing option for Pittsburgh's brass.

While he may not be a Pro Bowl-caliber talent, Herbig could stabilize the center position in the Mile High City. He did earn a commendable 67.6 Pro Football Focus grade last year—a noticeable upgrade over the 57.9 mark that Wattenberg scored in 2023—and has fallen below that mark just once in his five NFL seasons.

Minnesota Vikings receive: WR Treylon Burks

Tennessee Titans receive: 2025 seventh-round pick

It'd be tough to argue that any team fields a better pairing of starting outside receivers than the Minnesota Vikings. With Jordan Addison off to an incredible start to his promising career and Justin Jefferson clearly established as one of the generation's top pass-catching talents, the Vikings already have some of the best weapons in football for new quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

The team does lack a competent third receiver, however, and shouldn't hesitate to swing a trade to shore up that weak point in the offense.

As it stands now, Brandon Powell would likely open 2024 as Minnesota's starting slot receiver. While Powell did have his finest performance as a pro last year—his first with the Vikings—his output of 29 catches for 324 yards and one touchdown leaves much to be desired. Given he'll be turning 29 years old at the start of his seventh NFL season, it's likely Powell has reached his ceiling and won't show further improvement.

With Minnesota avoiding the receiving corps in the draft and only bringing in a handful of undrafted free agents to compete in camp, a trade is the only viable option for upgrading the slot this offseason.

Treylon Burks could be the high-upside talent the Vikings need to reinforce their receiving corps at low cost.

Burks could be available, especially after the Tennessee Titans—the club that selected Boyd on Day 1 of the 2022 draft—brought in Tyler Boyd to fill their slot receiver role. With a logjam of receiving talent now in the Music City, Burks looks to be the odd man out following a slow start to his NFL career.

Although Burks hasn't produced much in his two seasons (he's only reeled in 49 receptions for 665 yards and one score across 22 games) he has dealt with injuries, poor quarterback play and a run-heavy system that have all hindered his development. He still has a high ceiling due to his size, strength, athleticism and versatility—traits that could allow him to shine while manning the slot in the Twin Cities.

New England Patriots receive: OT Cam Robinson

Jacksonville Jaguars receive: 2025 fourth-round pick

The New England Patriots may finally have a proper heir to Tom Brady after selecting Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick last month. While the UNC product looks to be a major upgrade over Mac Jones, Maye's career could turn out similarly to the team's last first-round quarterback selection if a proper offensive line isn't quickly constructed in Foxboro.

The Patriots currently have major issues to deal with at the left tackle position. Without a trade, the team will likely have to transition either veteran Chukwuma Okorafor or rookie Caedan Wallace to fill the void this offseason. Both players are natural right tackles and have little to no experience protecting a signal-caller's blind side.

It's not an ideal situation for any team to be in, let alone one that could be starting a rookie quarterback. New England's front office should be desperately seeking out trade partners to find a suitable left tackle starter and shouldn't shy away from swinging for the fences to get a deal done.

The Jacksonville Jaguars could be a suitable partner if they are willing to deal Cam Robinson.

Robinson has been a consistent starter for the Jags since entering the league as a second-round draft choice back in 2017. Robinson is on the verge of entering his age 29 campaign in 2024—the last of a three-year, $54 million extension he signed back in 2022. He'd be an instant upgrade in New England, a club with plenty of cap space it can use to sign to hammer out a long-term deal for the left tackle.

Although Robinson hasn't earned any major accolades as a professional, he's been a stalwart in the offensive trenches for much of his career. Robinson was limited to just nine games due to injuries last year, however, marking the first time he failed to suit up for 14 or more games since a torn ACL cut his sophomore campaign short after two contests.

The 6'6", 335-pounder has earned respectable Pro Football Focus grades between 61.7 and 67.4 in each of the last four seasons and hasn't allowed more than five sacks in any of those years—including giving up just one across 856 offensive snaps in 2021.

With Robinson's contract running up and Walker Little—a second-round pick in 2022—waiting in the wings, the Jags might be open to parting with the tackle for an early Day 3 pick. That move instantly bolsters Maye's protection and could set up the Patriots for the foreseeable future if the two sides can reach an agreement on an extension.

Washington Commanders receive: WR Terrace Marshall Jr.

Carolina Panthers receive: 2025 seventh-round pick

The Washington Commanders may be coming off a pitiful 4-13 campaign, one that cinched up the No. 2 overall pick and subsequently allowed them to take Jayden Daniels, but there's a rather surprising lack of holes in their starting offensive lineup.

The team does lack of depth in the receiving corps, however, and should be working to improve that situation before the 2024 campaign kicks off. Daniels will have a pair of notable wideouts at his disposal in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, but there isn't much to get excited about beyond them at the position.

While Washington potentially filled the void left vacant by Curtis Samuel's free agency departure by drafting Luke McCaffrey on Day 2, it remains to be seen if he'll be a high-end option for the club. Dyami Brown is the only other potential slot wideout on the roster right now, but the disappointing 2021 third-round pick has just 29 catches for 476 yards and three touchdowns to his name across 47 career games.

With other flawed talents like Olamide Zaccheaus, Dax Milne and Jamison Crowder representing the team's main depth options in the receiving corps, Washington's brass should try to unearth a versatile pass-catcher who can line up at several spots.

Taking a flier on Terrace Marshall Jr. could be the perfect low-risk, high-reward move for this rebuilding franchise.

The 6'2", 200-pound wideout hasn't panned out for the Carolina Panthers after being selected No. 59 overall in the 2021 draft. Since entering the league, Marshall has caught just 64 balls for 767 yards and a single touchdown. After failing to break out in a pivotal third season—Marshall was only active for nine games due to injury and tallied a meager 19 receptions for 139 yards in those contests—it's become readily apparent he's not going to find his footing in Carolina.

While it's far from guaranteed he'll pan out in the nation's capital, Marshall has the size, speed and athleticism to thrive if he can find a way to put it all together. For such a low price, it's well worth rolling the dice and potentially bolstering the receiving corps depth for Daniels.

Chicago Bears receive: OT Thayer Munford Jr.

Las Vegas Raiders receive: 2025 sixth-round pick

The Chicago Bears ironed out their quarterback issue by drafting Caleb Williams with the top overall pick this year, but the team can't rest on its laurels just yet. The offensive line still needs more work after giving up the second-most sacks in the league over the last three seasons.

While Chicago did a fantastic job patching up their glaring hole at the center spot by signing Coleman Shelton and trading for Ryan Bates—moves that may even result in a high-level training camp competition for snapping duties in 2024—the team still needs depth in the remainder of the offensive trenches.

Swing tackle remains a position of concern in the Windy City, with incumbent Larry Borom being the only proven option at that spot. Borom was abysmal in his 411 offensive snaps last season, giving up three sacks and getting flagged for five penalties while earning a problematic 48.0 Pro Football Focus grade.

Third-round rookie Kiran Amegadjie could potentially take over for Borom in that role, but the Yale product is raw and likely still needs time to develop. Amegadjie has a bright future, but the team needs a more dependable option to replace Borom if it wants to keep Williams from taking as many hits as Justin Fields did during his tenure as Chicago's starter.

Thayer Munford Jr. could be the perfect trade target for the Bears to fill their swing tackle void. Munford has been solid in his somewhat limited action at both tackle spots ever since the Las Vegas Raiders took him in the last round of the 2022 draft.

In two NFL seasons, Munford has been active for 32 games and started 14. According to PFF, the 24-year-old has only been flagged for five penalties and allowed five sacks across 890 career snaps. He posted a respectable 74.1 grade for his efforts last year and should continue to improve in Year 3.

While he's a potential starter at right tackle for the Raiders this year, Vegas did draft a quality prospect in DJ Glaze with a third-round pick this year and should be willing to move on from Munford for the right price.