Tyreek Hill and 4 Other NFL Stars Who Might Get Traded in 2025 Offseason

The 2025 NFL offseason is the next major milestone for the 28 teams that have already been eliminated from Super Bowl contention. The start of the new league year in mid-March gives teams a chance to tweak their rosters with the goal of winning it all the following season.

While the 2025 NFL draft will provide an influx of fresh talent and free agency will help reshape the league's landscape, trades are the most dramatic step a team can take to improve. Identifying a key veteran who could be one of the last missing pieces of a championship roster and putting together a package to acquire them can completely change a franchise's fortunes.

The haul that a team gets in exchange for parting ways with a proven asset can also serve as foundational pieces of a rebuilding effort. Teams can exchange a better chance at contending in the immediate future for more opportunities to find stars in future drafts.

Every star isn't up for grabs. It's safe to say the Kansas City Chiefs won't be trading Patrick Mahomes, for instance. But certain players—usually those nearing the end of their contract, stuck on rebuilding rosters or unhappy with their current situation—are far more attainable. Some of these players have even hinted that they will be requesting a change of scenery this offseason despite having several years left on their current deal.

With that in mind, let's look at some NFL stars who could be on the move during the 2025 offseason.

The Atlanta Falcons and Kirk Cousins are trending toward a split just one year after agreeing to a four-year, $180 million contract. With Cousins performing poorly and seemingly hindered by the Achilles tear that cut his 2023 season short, the Falcons turned to rookie Michael Penix Jr. to make the final three starts of the campaign.

While Penix couldn't lead the Falcons to their first playoff berth since 2017, the No. 8 overall pick did spark an offense that had stalled out with Cousins under center. The 24-year-old proved he's clearly the best option for Atlanta moving forward, which leaves Cousins as one of the NFL's most obvious trade candidates in the 2025 offseason.

It remains to be seen which (if any) teams will have interest in trading for Cousins. The aging passer doesn't project to be a hot commodity after throwing a career-high 16 interceptions and posting an 88.6 quarterback rating, his lowest mark in a decade.

However, there are plenty of teams desperate for an upgrade under center. At least one of them may be willing to roll the dice on a Cousins bounce-back season, especially those who miss out on landing another quarterback in free agency or the draft.

The Falcons may have to assume a significant chunk of Cousins' salary to facilitate a deal, which could make a trade far more palatable for potential suitors.

Teams picking near the top of the 2025 draft such as the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns may want a proven starter to bridge the gap until a first-round rookie is ready to take over. Fringe contenders like the Pittsburgh Steelers that lack a suitable option at the position could also be candidates for Cousins.

Deebo Samuel stands out as the most likely trade candidate on the San Francisco 49ers' aging and injury-prone roster.

Samuel has only one season left on the three-year, $73.5 million contract extension he signed in 2022. With a huge extension on the horizon for quarterback Brock Purdy—and other foundational pieces such as George Kittle and Dre Greenlaw needing new deals soon—along with a recent long-term commitment to top wideout Brandon Aiyuk, the Niners could look to deal Samuel for cap relief.

While Samuel has become a critical part of head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense by playing both wideout and running back over the last half-decade, the Niners have a replacement in Jauan Jennings already waiting in the wings. Jennings was one of the few bright spots during San Francisco's disappointing 2024 season, putting up a career-high 975 yards and six touchdowns on 77 receptions.

Samuel is no stranger to trade rumors. He requested a trade before re-upping with San Francisco in 2022, and general manager John Lynch revealed that he received calls for Samuel during the 2024 draft. While Lynch stood pat and retained Samuel at the time, he may be more amenable to parting ways with the wideout this offseason.

Samuel's value may not be as high after he accounted for only 806 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns on 93 touches this year, his lowest career marks outside of his injury-shortened 2020 season. However, he's still on the right side of 30 and could be rejuvenated with a change of scenery.

Teams like the Washington Commanders and Pittsburgh Steelers—two playoff teams with a notable lack of pass-catching depth—might be willing to pay a premium for Samuel. He'd be an ideal addition to any contender's receiving corps as a big-time playmaker who could help with a Super Bowl push.

Tyreek Hill made headlines in the wake of the Miami Dolphins' season-ending loss to the rival New York Jets. After missing the playoffs for the first time in his nine-year NFL career, the speedy wideout told reporters, "I'm out, bruh. It was great playing here, but at the end of the day, I have to do what's best for my career."

While Hill is under contract through 2026 after signing a three-year, $90 million extension in August, he could still try to force his way out of South Beach via trade.

It appears Hill may have begun his exit plan by subbing himself out in the season finale. He didn't return to action when it became clear that Miami wouldn't be making the postseason due to a Denver Broncos victory. Head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed that there was no injury that would have prevented him from re-entering that contest in the final quarter.

While McDaniel later said that they "cleared the air" during Hill's exit interview, the team could still opt to deal Hill if the situation doesn't improve.

Hill is coming off a relatively poor campaign by his lofty standards—he's unlikely to earn All-Pro honors for the first time in a Dolphins uniform after narrowly missing his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season—but he's still widely regarded as one one of the NFL's most dangerous playmakers. Even heading into his age-31 season, Hill still appears to have plenty left in the tank and should be a massive asset for whichever club he suits up for in 2025.

However, Miami is already thin at receiver and would likely demand a hefty return for Hill. The Dolphins gave up five picks—including a Day 1 and 2 selection—to acquire him in 2022. While there's little chance of them recouping similar value this offseason, they could move him to a cap-flush contender desperate for receiver help (the Los Angeles Chargers fit the bill) in exchange for a handful of draft selections.

On the heels of becoming the first 10-7 team in NFL history to miss the playoffs, the Seattle Seahawks could shake things up this offseason. That could include trading away DK Metcalf.

Metcalf is still one of Seattle's best players, but he's regressed over the last few seasons from being one of the league's brightest young stars to an inconsistent pass-catcher who seems to lack rapport with quarterback Geno Smith. After hauling in 83 catches for a career-high 1,303 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2020, he's taken a noticeable step back.

After earning a Pro Bowl nod for a respectable 66-catch, 1,114-yard, eight-touchdown campaign in 2023, Metcalf failed to eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving mark while recording a career-low five touchdowns this past season. The 6'4", 235-pound wideout is known for his elite athleticism and physicality, but Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus noted that he's only had a 33.3 percent success rate on contested catches over the last two years.

With Metcalf going into the final season of the three-year, $72 million extension he signed in 2022, it would make sense to deal him now while his value is still high. While Seattle could run it back with him and receive a compensatory draft selection if he signs elsewhere in 2026, it already has a viable replacement in Jaxon Smith-Njigba who's ready to assume No. 1 wideout duties.

If the Seahawks receive a strong offer for Metcalf, they could add draft picks and gain cap space to bolster a roster that clearly needs a jolt on the heels of two consecutive missed playoff berths.

ESPN's Benjamin Solak predicts the New England Patriots will eventually make a run at Metcalf, but contending teams such as the Green Bay Packers could be in play as well.

It's rare for an active NFL coach to get traded, but there have been rumblings that Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers could part ways in that manner this offseason.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Chicago Bears reportedly asked for permission to talk to Tomlin. While the Steelers rebuffed that request and the Bears opted to hire Ben Johnson to fill their vacancy, they might not be the only team that attempts to pry Tomlin away from Pittsburgh.

Schefter noted that at least one other team has made overtures for Tomlin before being told that the coach would not be interested and that he has a no-trade clause built into his contract. When asked about the teams that have reached out to gauge his availability. Tomlin told those potential suitors to "save your time."

It's easy to see why teams believe the Steelers might consider going on a head coaching search for only the fourth time since 1969 and first since 2007. The team has reached the playoffs in four of the last five seasons but hasn't won a postseason contest since 2016. Pittsburgh finished with at least nine wins in each of the last four campaigns—narrowly keeping Tomlin's 18-year streak of winning seasons alive—but hasn't won more than 10 games in that span, either.

As much as the Steelers value stability and consistency in a head coach, it seems like Tomlin is part of the reason why they've been stuck in the NFL's version of purgatory. Pittsburgh as been too good to bottom out and earn the type of draft pick needed to land a proper heir to Ben Roethlisberger but not strong enough to pose any real championship threat.

Expect the Steelers—who pick No. 21 overall in the upcoming draft and have never selected higher than No. 10 overall during the Tomlin era—to remain stuck in this limbo for the foreseeable future without a drastic move. Trading Tomlin to an organization still in need of a head coach such as the Dallas Cowboys could be exactly what they need to net some top picks and get back into contention following a rebuilding period.