2024 NFL Trade Block Big Board Entering Week 6

It's still too early in the NFL season for teams to be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. After five full weeks, however, it's clear that some teams simply won't be relevant in 2024.

Teams like the Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns are more likely to sell pieces before the November 5 trade deadline than make a late postseason push. Teams firmly in contention, meanwhile, could be deadline buyers.

For franchises in the latter group, the question becomes this: Who are the best players who could realistically be available before the trade market closes? We'll attempt to answer that with our updated Week 6 trade board.

Here, you'll find our top 10 trade targets, based on factors such as player upside, past production, positional value, contract status and any relevant recent buzz.

Each week, we begin the board-building process by examining 15 players who have already been the focus of trade speculation or who would be logical trade candidates due to contract status, roster situations and/or team trajectory.

With a firm line between contenders and non-competitive teams finally being drawn, extra weight will be placed on that last category. Teams that should already be eyeing the upcoming offseason should also be willing to part with valuable trade chips and/or impending free agents.

Joining our list this week are Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II, Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins and Tennessee Titans receiver DeAndre Hopkins. These are quality players on one-win teams who would bring value on the in-season trade market.

To make room, we've dropped Denver Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones, New York Giants receiver Darius Slayton and former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Devin White. The Giants and Broncos are still battling to stay in the playoff mix, while White was released on Tuesday.

Our Week 6 honorable mentions, in no particular order, are:

• Zach Wilson, QB, Denver Broncos
• Daniel Brunskill, OL, Tennessee Titans
• Harrison Bryant, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
• Russell Wilson, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Treylon Burks, WR, Tennessee Titans
  

Tee Higgins is at the tail end of our list because the Bengals will have a chance to right the proverbial ship in the coming weeks. Cincinnati faces winnable games against the Giants and Browns over the next two—though both are on the road—and can get to a manageable 3-4 record before hosting the Eagles in Week 8.

Cincinnati could be back to .500 by the trade deadline, and if it is, Higgins won't be going anywhere. He looked fully healthy in Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens and finished with nine catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns.

If the Bengals continue to blow games, however, Higgins would be a logical trade commodity because he's set to be a free agent in the spring.

Higgins is a high-end No. 2 receiver who should draw a fair return, even in a market that could be flooded with receiver talent. Logical suitors include the Kansas City Chiefs, who recently placed Rashee Rice on injured reserve, and the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas may have salvaged its season with a much-needed win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night, and it could use a strong complement to CeeDee Lamb on the perimeter. Brandin Cooks was recently placed on injured reserve following a knee procedure.

Potential Suitors: Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs

Houston Texans receiver Robert Woods has dropped a few spots this week because of Nico Collins' hamstring injury. Collins exited in Week 5 and is now considered "week to week" with the ailment, head coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters.

The Texans have quality receivers in Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, but Woods may play a notable role while Collins is sidelined.

Upon Collins' return, however, Woods would be a realistic trade candidate. Moving him would save $6.5 million in 2024 cap space, and the 32-year-old simply hasn't had a prominent offensive role.

While Woods has contributed as a returner this season, he's only recorded five targets and three receptions through five games.

The Los Angeles Rams remain a sensible destination for Woods, though at 1-4, they may end up being sellers at the deadline. Still, Woods has a history with the franchise, and L.A. still doesn't have Puka Nacua or Cooper Kupp in the lineup.

Woods could also make sense for the New York Jets, if they decide to go all-in at the trade deadline. Passing game coordinator Todd Downing was the Titans offensive coordinator during Woods' lone season with the franchise.

Potential Suitors: Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets

Every strong performance by the Arizona Cardinals pushes safety Budda Baker further down our board. The 28-year-old remains a solid defensive player—though his coverage skills may be slipping—and Arizona's up-and-down defense can use him.

Baker (12 tackles, 8 solo stops) had a hand in Arizona's Week 5 upset of the San Francisco 49ers.

Ultimately, the Cardinals' record entering November will likely determine just how available Baker might be. He's in the final year of his contract and has been the subject of trade speculation since requesting a new contract or a trade early last offseason—he received neither but settled for a pay raise.

If made available, the six-time Pro Bowler should bring a quality return.

The Detroit Lions, who have a fully-open Super Bowl window, should be interested. Detroit's defense has been better this year but ranks in the bottom half of the league in yards allowed. The Lions also recently placed safety Ifeatu Melifonwu on injured reserve.

Baker could also be a sensible trade target for the Cowboys. Dallas is still in the playoff mix and has gotten underwhelming play from safeties Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker, a fact recently noted by Matt Holder of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department.

Potential Suitors: Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions

Quarterback Bryce Young made a garbage-time appearance for the Panthers in Week 5, but he isn't expected to return to the starting lineup soon. Andy Dalton is expected to retain the role for Week 6.

Young actually played well in his limited Week 5 window, though, going 4-of-7 for 58 yards against a good Chicago Bears defense. That display might be enough to generate a little more trade interest now—though next offseason still looks like the most realistic trade window for Carolina.

"Sources around the league believe it is only a matter of time before Carolina completes a deal involving the second-year quarterback—with the most likely time coming at some point in the offseason," ESPN's Adam Schefter wrote on September 21.

A strong offer may change the Panthers' plans, of course, and getting a jump on the 2025 market would make sense for teams in need of a long-term QB plan.

That may include the New York Jets, who could pursue Young as a potential successor to the 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers.

Young might also interest the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have a functional starter in Justin Fields but have no quarterbacks under contract beyond this season.

Fields is still young enough to be a long-term solution for Pittsburgh. If his play slips, however, Young could be the next former first-rounder on whom the Steelers take a flier.

Potential Suitors: New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Browns are floundering and, unfortunately, have no way to move Deshaun Watson's fully guaranteed contract—though Cleveland would be wise to move on from Watson himself sooner than later.

Regardless of any other changes Cleveland makes, it will be on the hook for Watson's $72.9 million cap hit in each of the next two seasons. A rebuild may be imminent, and the Browns may have to flesh out their roster with cheap rookie talent.

That's why trading players for draft capital may be the best course. Cornerback Greg Newsome II could be a valuable trade chip, even though general manager Andrew Berry dismissed trade speculation during the offseason.

"I can't help what players come up in trading rumors," Berry said in March, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

Newsome is a 24-year-old veteran at a premium position and would bring a strong return. He's appeared in all five games this season and has allowed an opposing passer rating of just 78.2 in coverage. He's also set to earn $13.4 million next season on his fifth-year option.

If available, Newsome would be a logical trade target for both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers—both playoff hopefuls who have struggled to defend the pass consistently in 2024.

Potential Suitors: San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Giants may be less than willing to move receiver Darius Slayton after picking up their second win of the season—a game in which the 27-year-old caught eight passes for 122 yards and a touchdown.

However, pass-rusher Azeez Ojulari remains a sensible trade chip. The fourth-year pro continues to be a defensive afterthought and depth behind Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns.

Ojulari has played just 37 percent of the defensive snaps this season. In a larger role, however, he might thrive. The 2021 second-round pick had eight sacks as a rookie and another 5.5 sacks in his second season. It's not outlandish to think he could replicate that production with a different team.

The 49ers may want to kick the tires on Ojulari after placing Yetur Gross-Matos on injured reserve following surgery. According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, the defensive end is expected to miss upwards of two months:

The Atlanta Falcons would also be smart to take a look at Ojulari. Atlanta moved to 3-2 on Thursday but continues to struggle with sack production—despite trading for Matthew Judon late in the offseason.

The Falcons have tallied a league-low five sacks through five weeks.

Potential Suitors: Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers

The Titans picked up their first win of the season in Week 4. However, it came with backup Mason Rudolph under center instead of starter Will Levis because of a shoulder injury Levis suffered early in the game.

There's a chance that Rudolph eventually takes over the starting role for the remainder of the 2024 season. One rival coach told Dianna Russini of The Athletic that it is "only a matter of time" before that happens.

If Tennessee is ready to pull the plug on the Levis experiment, there's little reason to retain Hopkins, who will be a free agent in 2025. The 32-year-old, who has 10 catches for 121 yards and a touchdown this season, would provide more long-term value to the rebuilding Titans in a trade.

The Steelers, who aren't getting quite enough from their passing attack, could be interested. Pittsburgh is 3-2 on the season but is still averaging just 178 passing yards per game.

The Chiefs also need a receiver and could be interested in Hopkins—again.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on SportsCenter on Saturday (h/t Bleacher Report's Mike Chiari) that Kansas City "badly" wanted to sign Hopkins during the 2023 offseason but couldn't hash out a deal.

Potential Suitors: Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers

Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams is a six-time Pro Bowler who apparently wants to find a new team as soon as possible. According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, Adams has informed Las Vegas that he would "prefer" to be traded.

That's a polite way of saying he doesn't want to be there anymore.

The only reason Adams isn't even higher on this list is the fact that A.) acquiring him could be costly and B.) the 31-year-old may be picky about where he lands.

According to Russini, Adams is worried about Aaron Rodgers' long-term outlook in New York.

"While Adams would like to be reunited with his former QB, I was told he has some concerns about Rodgers' plans to stay in New York past this season," Russini wrote on Saturday.

Still, reuniting Rogers and Adams would be a logical move for the Jets, who slipped to 2-3 on Sunday and continue to field an underwhelming passing game. Whether Rodgers plays for the Jets beyond this season or not, New York is all-in on its 2024 campaign.

Adams may also be an option for the Buffalo Bills. According to Russini, "teams like the Bills and Kansas City Chiefs are monitoring the situation and willing to jump in if the Raiders are willing to pay some of Adams' contract."

And Las Vegas probably won't go out of its way to aid a division rival.

Potential Suitors: Buffalo Bills, New York Jets

Though Adams has become the headliner of the 2024 trade season, Browns wideout Amari Cooper might be a better value. Since the start of last season, he's accumulated 1,458 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, which compares very favorably with Adams' numbers (1,353 yards, 9 TDs).

And while Adams' base salary will balloon to $35.6 million in 2025, Cooper can be viewed as a cost-efficient short-term rental. Thanks to an offseason restructuring, Cooper carries a base salary of just $1.2 million this season.

The Browns had "no plans" to move Cooper ahead of their latest loss, according to Cabot, but Sunday's embarrassment should change Cleveland's tune. The Browns can't even play competitive football with Watson under center, and this is shaping up to be a lost season.

A strong offer should pry Cooper out of Cleveland since he's set to be a 2025 free agent and probably has no interest in returning to the current mess.

Cooper would be an ideal target for the Chiefs, as he's been a proven No. 1 target at every NFL stop thus far. He'd also make a ton of sense for the Cowboys because of his team-friendly contract.

According to Russini, Dallas was never interested in Adams because of the financial cost. Perhaps the Cowboys will look to reacquire Cooper—who they traded to Cleveland in 2022—now that his price point is manageable.

Potential Suitors: Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs

When a pass-rusher who has topped 10 sacks in each of the past four seasons is available, he's going to stay at the top of our list. Haason Reddick should be available for any reasonable offer the Jets can get.

New York traded for Reddick from the Eagles this offseason, but the 30-year-old wants a new contract and has not reported since taking his initial physical. Landing Reddick cost the Jets a conditional 2026 third-round pick. With the sack artist remaining a no-show, New York should be extremely interested in recouping some of its investment.

Of course, before Reddick will agree to suit up for a new team, he'll likely demand the financial compensation the Jets are withholding. That may limit his market to teams with an abundance of cap space.

The Cardinals, who have $22.2 million in cap space available, should be interested. Arizona is hanging around the playoff picture, has already lost B.J. Ojulari (torn ACL) for the season and employs head coach Jonathan Gannon—Reddick's defensive coordinator in Philadelphia two years ago.

The Washington Commanders may also want to kick the tires on a Reddick trade. Washington is a surprising 4-1, thanks largely to the stellar play of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Adding Reddick could help balance out the team and improve its 20th-ranked scoring defense.

The Commanders have $26.1 million in available cap space and could afford to make Reddick more than just a short-term addition.

Potential Suitors: Arizona Cardinals, Washington Commanders

*Cap and contract information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.