Dream Offseason Trade Scenario for Every NFL Team

With Super Bowl LVIII now a fading memory, it's time to fully focus on the 2024 NFL offseason. The first major event is the scouting combine in Indianapolis, but the start of free agency is right around the corner.

Free agency and the new league year will begin at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. That's also when the trade window will open, and if recent years are any indication, we could see several blockbuster moves this summer.

Over the past two offseasons, we've seen standouts such as Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams, Aaron Rodgers and Jalen Ramsey change teams via the trade market.

With many teams looking to upgrade rosters and others looking to shed salary or add draft capital, the trading trend isn't likely to end in 2024.

Here, we'll examine one hypothetical trade scenario that each NFL team would love to see unfold. We'll stay away from the outlandish, though—Patrick Mahomes isn't getting traded for the No. 1 pick—and base these deals on factors like player production, team needs, team fit contract status, cap space and any relevant recent buzz.

The Arizona Cardinals have their quarterback in Kyler Murray, but they have plenty of other needs on their roster. Specifically, they could use some receiver help and need to bolster a defense that ranked 25th overall and 31st in points allowed last season.

Trading the No. 4 pick in the draft could help the Cardinals address more needs with promising young prospects. Quarterbacks Drake Maye and Caleb Williams are widely expected to go No. 1 and No. 2 overall, but the fourth pick may still heavily interest QB-needy teams.

"I believe we'll see 4-5 teams look into moving up for a QB over the next few months," NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah posted on X. "Teams aren't excited about next year's QB class."

Arizona traded down from No. 3 last year before trading back up to No. 6 (from No. 12) to take offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr., adding a 2024 first-round pick in the process.

Making a similar deal this year could allow general manager Monti Ossenfort to add another future first-rounder to his draft stash while still landing elite talent this year.

If he's available, Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will be very tempting at No. 4, but adding a receiver like LSU's Malik Nabers and more premium picks could be even more beneficial for Arizona.

Ideally, the Cardinals wouldn't trade back far—perhaps a deal with the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8—allowing them to keep a top-10 selection to pair with the 27th overall pick.

The Atlanta Falcons don't have a quarterback, but they have a seemingly playoff-ready roster otherwise.

They have a bevy of talented offensive playmakers plus a defense that ranked 11th overall in 2023. New head coach Raheem Morris is inheriting a lot, but he needs to add a capable signal-caller to the mix.

Trading up in Round 1 is an option, but jumping from No. 8 for one of the top QB prospects could be difficult. Prying Justin Fields away from the Chicago Bears might not be as expensive, as it appears they are leaning toward taking Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall.

According to Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, there's already some buzz linking Fields and the Falcons: "That's the name many around the NFL connect to Atlanta, though it's unclear for sure if that's the spot."

Fields, an electric scrambler who showed tremendous growth as a passer in 2023, would be a fun addition to an offense that already features Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Tyler Allgeier and Kyle Pitts. While Fields' trade market will ultimately determine the cost, it should be fairly reasonable.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Courtney Cronin, the "consensus" around the league is that the 24-year-old would bring a second- or third-round pick. The Falcons will have either an extra second- or third-round pick, depending on whether Calvin Ridley signs an extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Landing Fields for a Day 2 selection would be a huge win for the Falcons, which could then grab an elite prospect at No. 8.

The Baltimore Ravens had the NFL's top-ranked scoring defense in 2023, but quite a few changes are likely.

They have lost defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who took the Seattle Seahawks' head coaching job, and defensive standouts like Patrick Queen, Jadeveon Clowney and Geno Stone are slated to hit free agency.

With Clowney, Kyle Van Noy and Brent Urban all set to be free agents, Baltimore should be in the market for a pass-rusher. It could draft one, but with its playoff window wide open, trading for a proven vet would be even better.

Fortunately, a top-tier sack artist just might be available.

According to Rapoport, the Philadelphia Eagles have given Haason Reddick permission to seek a trade. He took to social media to declare that he never asked for a trade, and the mixed message seems to suggest the Eagles would prefer to shop him.

The 29-year-old is coming off a tremendous season—he logged 11 sacks and 35 quarterback pressures—and he'd be a tremendous addition to Baltimore's front seven.

Pass-rushers of Reddick's caliber typically command first-round compensation on the trade market. However, a deep free-agent class and Philadelphia's apparent willingness to move him could keep his price point down.

The Temple product may only command a second-round pick, which is what the Washington Commanders got for Montez Sweat at the trade deadline. Landing Reddick at that price point, possibly with a 2025 selection, would be a dream for the Ravens.

The Buffalo Bills have plenty of work to do to reload a roster that again fell short of reaching the AFC title game.

Buffalo is facing a projected $51.8 million cap deficit and has needs at cornerback, safety and receiver. It could also lose key contributors such as safety Micah Hyde, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones and receiver Gabriel Davis in free agency.

General manager Brandon Beane has to generate cap space, and a lot of it. That could lead to the release of longtime center Mitch Morse.

The Missouri product has served as Buffalo's starting center for the past five seasons, and he's still a quality player. But he's also entering the final year of his contract and will turn 32 in April. He is set to carry a cap hit of $11.5 million, and releasing him would save $8.5 million in cap space.

Ideally, though, Buffalo would trade Morse rather than lose him for nothing as a cap casualty. In this hypothetical scenario, the Bills flip him to the Dallas Cowboys for receiver help.

Brandin Cooks, who is set to carry a $10 million cap hit, is also a potential cap casualty. Dallas may be in the center market with Tyler Biadasz set to hit free agency, so a player swap could benefit both teams.

For Buffalo, it would bring in a new receiver complement for Stefon Diggs while also generating a small amount of cap savings.

The Carolina Panthers would probably love to keep standout pass-rusher Brian Burns for the long haul, but signing the impending free agent to a long-term extension this offseason could be incredibly difficult.

Carolina is projected to have $31 million in cap space, but the 25-year-old has a projected market value of $21.7 million annually. Given the need to upgrade Bryce Young's offensive supporting cast, it'll be incredibly difficult to justify paying him that kind of cash without a backloaded contract.

And with Burns likely to draw extensive interest in free agency, he may have no interest in such a deal. There's a good chance Carolina has to use the franchise tag to keep Burns from hitting the market, and trading him could ultimately be the team's best option.

Because of the trade to acquire Young, the Panthers won't have a first-round pick in April. However, even in a tag-and-trade, Burns would likely bring a first-rounder and more in return.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Falcons, Ravens, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers all inquired about Burns at last year's trade deadline. In 2022, Schefter reported that Carolina turned down an offer of two first-round picks and a second-rounder from the Rams.

Burns is a tremendous player, but Carolina's top goal must be to develop Young. Adding premium draft capital and using it on a top offensive prospect like LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr. or Oregon interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson would help accelerate the process.

Though nothing is guaranteed, it certainly sounds as if the Chicago Bears are leaning toward moving off of Justin Fields and targeting a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick.

"Chicago would need a historic haul of draft picks and overall compensation to move off the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, sources say," Rapoport wrote on February 10.

Barring a surprising pivot, the Bears will likely have Caleb Williams or Drake Maye under center in Week 1 instead of Fields. This approach would almost certainly require trading the 24-year-old ahead of the draft.

The problem for Chicago is that if everyone knows he will be traded, it can't expect a massive return. As previously noted, the expectation is that he will bring a second- or third-round pick.

However, expectations aren't guarantees. With multiple teams reportedly interested in moving up for a quarterback in the draft, a team or two may decide that waiting and hoping for that plan to materialize isn't worth the risk.

Chicago's dream scenario involves multiple teams being interested enough in the Ohio State product to spark a bidding war. A team like Atlanta probably isn't giving up a top-10 draft selection for him, but a future first-rounder isn't outside the realm of possibility, especially with teams reportedly down on the 2025 QB class.

Adding a 2025 first-round pick wouldn't benefit the Bears this season, but it would give them two first-round picks in three consecutive drafts.

The Cincinnati Bengals should be better in 2024 as long as quarterback Joe Burrow is back to 100 percent.

The 2020 No. 1 pick was hampered by a calf issue early and played just 10 games before suffering a season-ending wrist injury, and the Bengals still won nine games.

However, there is room for improvement in Cincinnati, especially on a defense that ranked 31st overall. While the Bengals must address the future of impending free-agent receiver Tee Higgins—which will likely be their top priority—they may also need to find a replacement for standout defensive tackle D.J. Reader.

Reader suffered a torn quad in December and will be a free agent in March.

Trading for Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen would give the Bengals one of the league's best interior defenders. While acquiring the two-time Pro Bowler would be costly—probably a high Day 2 pick at least—he would instantly boost Cincinnati's run defense and interior pass rush.

The Bengals have $61.4 million in projected cap space, and while much of that is likely earmarked for Higgins, Allen's $14 million base salary is more than reasonable.

Washington shouldn't be eager to move Allen, but according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the 29-year-old is not "overly eager" to be part of a Commanders rebuild. If he is adamant about playing elsewhere, the Bengals could cash in by giving him a new home.

Last offseason, the Cleveland Browns traded for both Za'Darius Smith and Elijah Moore. With a projected $20.8 million cap deficit, they may not do as much wheeling and dealing this year.

However, we could see Cleveland make some moves in the draft. It will again be without a first-round pick because of the Deshaun Watson trade, but going three rounds without a first-round selection hasn't entirely doomed the franchise.

The ability of general manager Andrew Berry to uncover gems in the talent grab has helped the Browns maintain a competitive roster. Players like Martin Emerson Jr. (third round), Dawand Jones (fourth round) and Ronnie Hickman (undrafted) were big contributors this past season.

Cleveland's top pick this year is in Round 2 (54th overall), and trading back for more picks could again benefit the team. Berry did that in 2022, flipping the 44th pick for picks No. 68, 108 and 124.

A similar deal could give the Browns a second third-rounder and put them back in Round 4—they also owe their fourth-rounder to the Houston Texans as part of the Watson trade.

Fans rarely get excited about seeing their team trade back, but it would make sense for the Browns. If they can manage to retain players like Za'Darius Smith and Shelby Harris, they won't have many glaring weaknesses.

Fleshing out the roster with more rookie contracts—and trusting Berry to find another steal or two—would help Cleveland stay competitive over the long haul.

The Dallas Cowboys are set to potentially lose longtime starting left tackle Tyron Smith in free agency. While they may look to re-sign the 33-year-old, they need to figure out a succession plan.

Injuries have impacted the later stages of Smith's career, and he's only appeared in 30 games over the past four seasons. Tyler Smith, a 2022 first-round pick, filled in at left tackle as a rookie but had his fair share of issues at the position.

He was responsible for 13 penalties and six sacks allowed in 2022, according to Pro Football Focus.

Trading up from the 24th overall pick to secure one of the draft's top tackle prospects would be a massive win for Dallas.

Notre Dame's Joe Alt and Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu are the fifth- and sixth-ranked prospects on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board, and landing one of them would bolster the offensive line in a big way.

Moving up to secure one of the top tackle prospects would be costly and might involve dealing a future first-round pick. However, a potential early run on quarterbacks could push Alt or Fashanu down into a reasonable trade range.

The Cowboys are getting deep into their playoff window, and 2024 could be a make-or-break season for head coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Dak Prescott.

Dallas needs to upgrade its offensive line immediately, and landing a top tackle prospect would be a beneficial win-now maneuver.

It became clear in 2023 that new Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton wasn't the biggest fan of Russell Wilson.

While the quarterback performed better than he did in 2022, Payton thrust him into the game-manager role before benching him late in the season.

Payton is likely ready to add "his guy," which leaves a lot of uncertainty around the nine-time Pro Bowler's future.

According to Rapoport, Pelissero and Garafolo, there's still a chance he will be back with Denver next season: "The Broncos are keeping all options on the table at QB -- including the possibility of reopening talks with Russell Wilson about restructuring his contract to keep him in Denver for 2024."

However, trading the 35-year-old would still be the preferable option. That might not happen without a restructuring, as he has $95 million in dead money on his contract and another $37 million in guarantees that will kick in on March 18. Yet, he may be willing to rework his deal in order to land with a franchise that believes in him.

Of course, the Broncos couldn't expect a major return, and finding a team that actually wants Wilson will be the hard part. With Kirk Cousins headed to free agency and Justin Fields presumably on the trade market, Wilson might not have an overwhelming demand.

There isn't exactly a shortage of quarterback-needy teams, though, so it could happen. Getting out from under the final five years of Wilson's contract and getting a fresh start would be a win for the Broncos.

The Detroit Lions came excruciatingly close to making their first Super Bowl appearance this past season. They gave the 49ers everything they could handle in the NFC title game but couldn't contain Brock Purdy and the San Francisco offense late.

Detroit's offense remains one of the best in the league, and the Lions did an admirable job of solidifying their run defense last offseason. This year, the focus should be on improving a secondary that ranked 29th in net yards per pass attempt allowed.

While the Lions can afford to target a top cover corner in free agency, getting one on a rookie contract would be preferable. Star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is already extension-eligible, and Detroit will likely want to extend quarterback Jared Goff sooner than later.

Landing one of this year's top corner prospects at 29th overall will be difficult, though. Alabama's Terrion Arnold, Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell and Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry are the only corners who have received a first-round grade from the Bleacher Report Scouting Department, and there's a real chance none of them are available at the bottom of Round 1.

The Lions appear to be only a couple of pieces away from being a legitimate Super Bowl team. Parting with additional draft capital to jump up and secure one of them would be worth it.

The Green Bay Packers have a decision to make regarding offensive tackle David Bakhtiari. A series of knee injuries has limited him to 13 games over the past three seasons, and he is now a very realistic cap casualty.

Releasing the 32-year-old would save $20.1 million in cap space, but the Packers aren't going to rush into a decision.

"Once we're down the road and see where he's at health wise, we'll make those decisions," general manager Brian Gutekunst said, per ProFootballTalk's Michael David Smith.

If the Packers ultimately choose to move on from Bakhtiari, trading up for a top tackle prospect like Notre Dame's Joe Alt or Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu would make a ton of sense. Of course, moving up from 25th overall to do it won't be easy.

Alt and Fashanu are the fifth- and sixth-ranked prospects on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's draft board, respectively.

If there is an early run on quarterbacks, though, Alt and/or Fashanu could fall out of the top 10. It would still leave Green Bay in need of a huge jump, but a trade might be manageable.

The Packers could lessen the blow by flipping Bakhtiari for draft capital—possibly to the New York Jets, where he could reunite with Aaron Rodgers.

This would still be an expensive trade, but Alt and Fashanu are elite tackle prospects who could solidify Green Bay's left tackle spot for the next decade or more.

Now that the Packers know Jordan Love can be their quarterback of the future, protecting him should be priority No. 1.

The Texans were surprise contenders in 2023, thanks in no small part to the rapid rise of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. If he shows more growth in 2024, Houston's offense will be in great hands.

Defensively, though, there's room for improvement, especially on the back end. The Texans ranked just 23rd in passing yards allowed last season and 27th in net yards per pass attempt allowed.

Houston's run defense was solid in 2023 (second in yards per attempt allowed), but the Texans need to be better against the pass to become a true title contender.

They have the cap space to target a top corner in free agency, and they may do exactly that. However, they should also have plenty of interest in adding young centerpiece players who can ascend along with Stroud over the next few seasons. Landing one of this year's top cornerback prospects would give them that.

However, Houston may have to move up from 23rd overall (from Cleveland) to make it happen.

The Bleacher Report Scouting Department has only three corners ranked among its top 32 prospects—Alabama's Terrion Arnold, Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell and Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry—and if Houston falls in love with one of them, it may have to pounce.

Several teams picking ahead of Houston, including the Eagles and Bengals, should be in the cornerback market. With the Texans' playoff window now officially open, they should be willing to jump a few teams to get their preferred prospect.

The Indianapolis Colts got their quarterback of the future when they took Florida's Anthony Richardson with the fourth pick in last year's draft.

While the 21-year-old only appeared in four games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, he showed some promise as a rookie. He passed for 577 yards and three touchdowns, rushed for 136 yards and four scores and went 2-2 as a starter.

Aiding Richardson with a strong supporting cast should now be Indy's top priority, and re-signing Michael Pittman Jr., who had 1,152 yards in 2023, should be part of the equation. Pairing him with an elite receiving prospect would further boost the skill group around the signal-caller.

The Bleacher Report Scouting Department ranked three wide receivers—Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU's Malik Nabers and Washington's Rome Odunze—among its top 10 2024 draft prospects. Landing one of them would be huge.

However, the Colts would likely have to trade up to make it happen. They currently hold the 15th overall pick, and a few teams that should be in the receiver market, like the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets, are ahead of them.

Trading from No. 15 into the top 10 could cost a Day 2 selection and more, but it would give Indy a receiver with top-10 positional potential. It would also give the Colts a quarterback and a top receiver on rookie deals for the next few years, which would give Indy a competitive advantage financially.

The Jacksonville Jaguars need to maximize their remaining window with Trevor Lawrence on a rookie contract. Improving a defense that ranked 22nd overall in 2023 would be a great way to start.

Specifically, they need to improve a pass defense that ranked 26th in yards allowed last season. With just $17.2 million in projected cap space, though, adding a premier cornerback in free agency may not be feasible.

An ideal solution would be to pry cornerback Paulson Adebo away from the Saints. He is an ascending talent who allowed an opposing passer rating of only 62.7 last season.

The 24-year-old also previously played under new Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who was the Saints' co-defensive coordinator in 2022.

While Adebo has one more year remaining on his rookie deal, the Saints may find it hard to keep him beyond next season. New Orleans has made a habit of kicking contracts down the road and is already facing a $41.4 million cap deficit in 2025.

Trading Adebo would only save the Saints $1.3 million in 2024 cap space, but cashing in with a draft pick could be more enticing than allowing him to walk in 2025.

Acquiring Adebo might cost Jacksonville as high as a Day 2 draft pick—he was a 2021 third-round selection—but it would be a big win for the Jaguars. It would immediately improve the secondary while reuniting Nielsen with a familiar player.

The Kansas City Chiefs have won back-to-back Super Bowls, and they would love to keep their success rolling.

"We'll celebrate these next few weeks, and then we'll get right back at it," quarterback Patrick Mahomes told reporters.

The Chiefs don't have many glaring weaknesses, though they'll need to address impending free agents like Chris Jones, Donovan Smith and L'Jarius Sneed. Keeping key players in the fold, though, will likely eat most of Kansas City's projected $22.6 million in cap space.

Filling out the depth chart with rookie contracts would help the Chiefs reload on a budget. Trading out of the bottom of Round 1 would net Kansas City more opportunities to add rookie deals.

It has the last pick in the first round, and the talent gap between that selection and an early second-rounder shouldn't be great. However, the 32nd overall pick comes with the fifth-year option, which is a valuable tool for NFL teams.

Two years ago, for example, the Jaguars traded the 33rd overall pick along with fourth- and fifth-round picks to jump back into the first round (27th overall). While extra Day 3 selections might not excite fans, it's worth noting that is where Kansas City found players like Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson and Isiah Pacheco.

In this scenario, Kansas City could still nab a top talent early on Day 2 while adding an extra potential contributor like Oregon running back Bucky Irving or North Carolina receiver Devontez Walker.

The Las Vegas Raiders have their new head coach in Antonio Pierce and their general manager in Tom Telesco. Now, they have to answer the biggest question: Who will be their quarterback of the future?

While rookie Aidan O'Connell proved to be a serviceable starter in 2023, he didn't show enough to justify handing him the keys to the future. Expect the Raiders to bring in competition this offseason, preferably a promising rookie.

Regardless of who is under center, though, Las Vegas will need to support its quarterback with a strong supporting cast. In a dream scenario, they flip 31-year-old Davante Adams to another team—like the Jets—and make a subsequent deal for 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

Aiyuk, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, could be on the move if the 49ers decide they can't afford to extend him. He does not appear to be adamant about remaining in San Francisco.

"If that's the right move," he told reporters when asked if he wanted to stay with the 49ers.

At only 25, Aiyuk would be poised to grow alongside a young quarterback like O'Connell or an incoming rookie.

Would acquiring Aiyuk be costly? Sure. Given the going rate of top receivers—A.J. Brown and Marquise Brown both commanded first-round picks in 2022—the Raiders may have to package their second-round pick along with a future first-rounder to secure a deal. Las Vegas probably isn't parting with the 13th overall pick.

However, moving Adams would allow the Raiders to recoup some draft capital while clearing enough future salary to sign Aiyuk to a lucrative extension.

Pass-rusher Khalil Mack had a vintage campaign in 2023, finishing with 17 sacks and 36 quarterback pressures. He was one of the few consistently good performers for the Los Angeles Chargers, and his trade value should be nearly as high as it was a couple of seasons ago.

The Chargers acquired the 32-year-old and a sixth-round pick in 2022 for a second-round selection.

Why should the Chargers love to deal Mack this offseason? The simple answer is that new head coach Jim Harbaugh is inheriting a roster filled with holes and an unfavorable cap situation.

Los Angeles is projected to be $44 million over the cap.

Trading Mack would help address both issues. While he isn't going to bring a first-round pick in a trade, a Day 2 selection isn't out of the question. That would allow L.A. to address an additional need with a rookie contract. Moving the eight-time Pro Bowler would also free up $23.3 million in 2024 cap space.

Mack is still a very good player, but he'll turn 33 this week and is entering the final year of his contract. While Harbaugh undoubtedly wants to make L.A. an immediate contender, Mack probably doesn't factor in the long-term equation.

Even if the Chargers experience a rapid rebuild under Harbaugh, they're still rebuilding. Trading Mack early in the offseason would cost L.A. a terrific player but would also help speed up that reloading process.

The Los Angeles Rams didn't take long to reload their roster with fresh young talent.

After missing the playoffs in 2022, they were back in the postseason in 2023 with a youthful core surrounding aging veterans Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp.

Los Angeles will look to take the next step in 2024 and push back into the Super Bowl picture. While general manager Les Snead may have turned the page on his trading-for-veterans strategy, he should still be willing to fill needs aggressively.

And the Rams do have a need at cornerback. Their defense finished the year ranked 20th in passing yards allowed, and they fell in the postseason because they couldn't contain Jared Goff and the Lions' passing attack.

In the past, Snead would have pursued a top free agent like Jaylon Johnson or traded for a star like Charvarius Ward. This year, he should prefer to target a young corner who can grow alongside players like Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner and Kyren Williams.

The Bleacher Report Scouting Department has given a first-round grade to only three cornerback prospects—Alabama's Terrion Arnold, Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell and Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry. Securing one of them would immediately boost L.A.'s subpar pass defense.

However, the Rams can't expect one of the top three corners to fall to 19th overall. Trading up would be worth a Day 2 selection if it means adding a premium player on the back end of the defense.

The Miami Dolphins need to address the interior of their offensive line in a hurry. Connor Williams is coming off a torn ACL, and he, Isaiah Wynn and Robert Hunter are all scheduled to hit free agency.

While the Dolphins may—and probably should—address the line with the 21st pick in the draft, they're not going to fill every hole in April. Unfortunately, the free-agent class isn't exactly stacked with premium linemen.

Trading for Jets guard Laken Tomlinson would help address one spot on the line. He is a potential cap casualty despite starting all 17 games in 2023 and being one of New York's few dependable linemen.

Releasing or trading the 32-year-old would save the Jets $8.1 million in cap space.

The challenge, of course, will be convincing the Jets to deal with a division rival. For another team, New York might be willing to deal Tomlinson for a late Day 3 pick. Miami might have to pay a little more.

However, landing Tomlinson would be a big win for the Dolphins.

He hasn't missed a single offensive snap over the past five seasons, and he has experience playing for Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel from their time together in San Francisco.

While Tomlinson's $12.6 million base salary would be problematic for a Dolphins team facing a $51.2 million cap deficit, it's likely less than what Miami would have to pay a starting-caliber guard on the open market.

The Minnesota Vikings face a tough decision regarding quarterback Kirk Cousins.

The impending free agent is coming off a torn Achilles, will turn 36 in August and cannot be franchise-tagged due to a stipulation in his current contract. Paying Cousins a fair market deal is another potential problem, as star receiver Justin Jefferson is due a sizable contract extension.

According to Rapoport, Garafolo and Pelissero, the Vikings would prefer to re-sign Cousins. Even if Minnesota retains him, though, it should be interested in formulating a long-term succession plan.

According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, the idea of pairing Jefferson with LSU quarterback prospect Jayden Daniels has "appeal to some" within the Vikings organization. It's a solid plan, though Minnesota can't expect him to fall to pick No .11.

While Daniels is only the 24th-ranked prospect on the B/R board, he's the No. 3 quarterback and could easily be a top-five pick if there is a scramble to secure signal-callers in Round 1.

Trading up to secure Daniels would be a home-run move for the Vikings, even if it costs them next year's first-round selection and more. As mentioned, teams don't appear high on the 2025 QB class, so April might represent Minnesota's last best chance to solve the long-term QB puzzle until at least 2026.

The Vikings can't afford to wait because Cousins isn't getting any younger, and Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay are all getting better.

Would the Browns part with standout receiver Amari Cooper? Probably not if they can avoid it. However, Cleveland is facing a $20.6 million cap deficit, and moving him would save $12.4 million in cap space.

If the 29-year-old can be had, landing him would be a dream for the New England Patriots.

There's a good chance New England will have a new quarterback in 2024. Whether the Patriots make a play for a free agent like Kirk Cousins or Baker Mayfield or take a signal-caller with the third overall pick, they should be willing to move on from Mac Jones.

And even if the Patriots still believe in Jones, they need receiver help. New England could use the No. 3 pick on a wideout like Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. and still use a veteran like Cooper opposite him.

Cooper is a savvy route-runner who has shown he can thrive with virtually any signal-caller. He played with four different QBs in 2023 and still finished the year with 1,250 yards and five touchdowns.

Plus, trading for Cooper shouldn't be overly expensive. The Browns acquired him in 2022 for just a fifth-round pick and a swap of sixth-round selections. If Cleveland is willing to deal him now, it'll be more interested in the cap savings than acquiring premium draft compensation.

As mentioned, the Saints are facing a substantial 2025 cap deficit. Their 2024 cap situation is even worse, as they are projected to be $82.8 million over the salary cap.

Unfortunately, New Orleans doesn't have a lot of options for getting under the cap, aside from moving more contract dollars into future years. It has already done that with tight end and part-time quarterback Taysom Hill, which is why trading him early in the offseason isn't feasible.

Trading or releasing the 33-year-old outright would trigger a dead-cap hit of $16.9 million while costing an additional $1.1 million in 2024 cap space. Trading him after June 1, though, would save $10 million in 2024 and another $4.7 million in 2025 cap space.

Trading Hill after June 1 would do nothing for the Saints' immediate cap predicament, but it would benefit them in the long term. Of course, the trick would be finding a team to take on the gadget player's remaining contract. Denver is likely the only potential trade partner, but it is realistic.

Not only do the Broncos employ former Saints head coach Sean Payton, but they also recently hired longtime Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael as an offensive assistant. Both Payton and Carmichael seem to have an affinity for Hill, which is how he landed a four-year, $40 million deal in the first place.

The Saints couldn't expect a sizable return from a Hill trade, but getting out from under the remaining two years of his contract would be a financial win.

A certain subset of New York Giants fans would probably prefer to see the team move up for a new quarterback and off of Daniel Jones. The team may have other plans, though, after signing the 26-year-old to a four-year, $160 million extension just last offseason.

While the Giants probably erred in handing out that extension, teams don't like to admit mistakes.

If New York hopes to see Jones succeed, it needs to upgrade his supporting cast—and quickly. The Giants saw Wan'Dale Robinson's potential in 2023, but they still had one of the most underwhelming receiving corps in football. Their offensive line was also an issue.

New York may also have a need at running back, as Saquon Barkley is slated to be a free agent.

The good news is that the Giants could trade down from No. 6 overall and still land a top receiver prospect like LSU's Malik Nabers and Washington's Rome Odunze or a top tackle like Notre Dame's Joe Alt or Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu. They could add quite a bit of extra draft capital in the process, especially if they're dealing with a quarterback-needy team.

Last year, the Detroit Lions added an extra second-round pick by moving from No. 6 to No. 12.

A similar trade could see the Giants land a top prospect in Round 1 plus an extra player such as BYU tackle Kingsley Suamataia or Washington wideout Ja'Lynn Polk in Round 2.

Adding extra premium draft capital would be big because New York has just $28.6 million in projected cap space and a host of significant needs.

To be fair, the Las Vegas Raiders probably have little interest in dealing Davante Adams. They are likely to have a new quarterback in 2024, and the standout receiver is the sort of top-tier talent who can make his signal-caller better.

However, the New York Jets would love to land the 31-year-old and reunite him with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported in November that New York called about Adams before the 2023 trade deadline. Las Vegas refused, but it could reconsider now that a new regime is in place.

New head coach Antonio Pierce and new general manager Tom Telesco will be building a team for the future, and the six-time Pro Bowler may not have a prominent place in it. The Jets, meanwhile, are looking to win now with the 40-year-old Rodgers.

Acquiring Adams wouldn't be cheap, due in part to New York's obvious interest. Las Vegas would hold most of the leverage, but the Jets could justify spending a Day 2 selection, possibly more, to pair him with budding star Garrett Wilson.

The Jets lacked offensive playmakers last season behind Wilson and Breece Hall. And while they could use the 10th overall pick on a skill player, they have serious needs along the offensive line.

This hypothetical trade would give New York a window with Rodgers and Adams while allowing it to target an elite line prospect such as Notre Dame's Joe Alt or Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu at the top of Round 1.

As mentioned, the Eagles seem to be shopping Haason Reddick—and not at the pass-rusher's request.

"Never asked for a trade," he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "However, I do understand it's a business. Preparing for whatever is next!"

Presumably, the Eagles are willing to move the 29-year-old for cap-related purposes. They have $20.9 million in projected cap space—slightly above the league average—and serious needs at safety, cornerback and linebacker.

Trading Reddick after June 1 would save $15.5 million in cap space. Philadelphia could also potentially restructure his deal to facilitate an earlier trade or convince a team to absorb some of the dead money on his deal.

The latter route would likely result in lower trade compensation, which wouldn't be ideal. In a dream scenario, though, the Eagles manage to pry a first-round pick away from a pass-rusher-needy team in a trade.

With sack artists like Danielle Hunter, Josh Allen and Brian Burns scheduled to hit free agency, getting a Day 1 pick won't be easy. It wouldn't be impossible, though.

If a team such as the Cardinals or Chargers flips a top-five selection in the 2024 draft to a quarterback-needy team, it will likely end up with an extra 2025 first-rounder. Theoretically, that pick could then be used to add Reddick after June 1.

That's probably the best possible outcome for the Eagles, aside from extending Reddick and simply keeping the talented defender in the fold.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will add competition for Kenny Pickett at some point this offseason, but they may not be so eager to move off of the signal-caller that they trade up for one of the top QB prospects in April's draft.

Moving up from 20th overall into the top five would be extremely costly.

Regardless of who is under center in 2024, the Steelers need an upgrade at left tackle. Dan Moore Jr. was responsible for three penalties and eight sacks allowed last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Trading up in Round 1 for a top tackle prospect would make a ton of sense for the Steelers, and they have two routes to consider. If a top left tackle like Notre Dame's Joe Alt or Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu falls outside of the top 10, Pittsburgh could pounce.

If both Alt and Fashanu go early, they could target a top right tackle, such as Alabama's JC Latham. They could then move second-year tackle Broderick Jones—who played on the left side at Georgia—over from the right.

Jones immediately boosted the Steelers' line play upon getting the starting nod, and there are plenty of reasons to believe he could do the same in Moore's spot.

There's a chance a top tackle falls to No. 20, but Pittsburgh shouldn't be willing to take chances. Getting aggressive in April could provide the Steelers with bookend tackles for the next decade-plus.

The San Francisco 49ers are projected to have just $570,837 in cap space, but ideally, they'll better their cap situation without tearing apart a Super Bowl-caliber roster—perhaps even improving upon it.

Acquiring star cornerback Patrick Surtain II from Denver would certainly help strengthen San Francisco's roster. The 23-year-old, who allowed an opposing passer rating of just 88.2 in 2023, is one of the top young cornerbacks in the NFL.

According to Schefter, the 49ers tried to trade for the Alabama product at last year's trade deadline. Instead, they snagged Chase Young from the Commanders.

Prying Surtain away from Denver wouldn't be cheap, likely costing San Francisco its 2024 first-round pick and more. However, he is worth that price and would immediately upgrade a secondary that faded down the stretch in Super Bowl LVIII.

There's no guarantee the 49ers could land a cornerback of Surtain's caliber with the 31st overall pick, and given their cap situation, top free agents such as Jaylon Johnson and L'Jarius Sneed aren't overly realistic.

Adding Surtain would leave San Francisco with another extension to sort out in 2025, but his 2024 base salary of just $1.1 million would be extremely reasonable.

The 49ers were extremely close to winning it all in 2023, and acquiring the two-time Pro Bowler is exactly the sort of win-now move that could get them over the final hurdle in 2024.

Back in 2020, the Seahawks traded a pair of first-round picks and a third-rounder for Jets safety Jamal Adams and a fourth-round selection.

At times, the 28-year-old has been a fantastic defender for Seattle, but the Seahawks haven't gotten a fair return on their investment.

Injuries have been a big part of the problem, as Adams suffered a torn labrum in 2021 and a torn quad in 2022. In four years with the team, he has appeared in only 34 games.

And while the LSU product has provided the occasional boost as a pass-rusher (9.5 sacks in 2020), he's often been a liability in coverage too. Last season, he allowed an opposing passer rating of 111.7.

With Mike Macdonald bringing a new coaching staff to Seattle, now could be the perfect time for the Seahawks to move on from Adams and try recouping some of its lost trade capital.

Trading him would trigger a $20.8 million dead-money hit but would also save $6 million in 2024 cap space. Considering Seattle is butted up against the cap, that isn't an insignificant amount.

Convincing a team to take on Adams' $16.5 million base salary wouldn't be easy, given his recent injury history, and the Seahawks couldn't expect a hefty return. It might also require sending him to a team that is familiar with him—like the Commanders, who now employ Ken Norton Jr., who was Seattle's defensive coordinator during Adams' last Pro Bowl campaign in 2020.

However, even a high Day 3 draft pick would be preferable to releasing Adams outright or simply holding out hope that he can be a dependable contributor in 2024.

As mentioned, the Bills would become winners by dealing starting center Mitch Morse, saving $8.5 million in cap space and adding a little draft capital.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could become huge winners by being Buffalo's trade partner.

Center became a position of need for them when Ryan Jensen announced his retirement following Tampa's postseason run. The Bucs could look to the draft or target a free agent such as Andre James, but both routes could be problematic.

While Tampa has $43.6 million in projected cap space, it also has two huge free-agent situations to address. Quarterback Baker Mayfield and wideout Mike Evans are both scheduled to hit the market, and the Bucs would be wise to retain both.

Morse's $6.9 million base salary is reasonable and likely far less than Tampa would have to shell out for a center on the open market. He is also a proven vet who could start for the Buccaneers right away.

After winning the NFC South in 2023, the Buccaneers will want to stay in the playoff hunt.

And while Tampa could target a center early in the draft, it should focus on more premium positions. While Mayfield and Evans are the team's most important impending free agents, it will either need to re-sign or replace the likes of Antoine Winfield Jr., Lavonte David, Devin White, Aaron Stinnie and Ryan Neal.

Trading for Morse would knock out one team need, likely at an affordable rate, and allow the Buccaneers to focus on other needs.

The Denver Broncos don't have many reasons to move off of starting left tackle Garett Bolles. However, they do potentially have one.

If they trade or release quarterback Russell Wilson, even after June 1, they're going to suffer a $35.4 million dead-cap hit. Considering Denver is already facing a $25.7 million cap deficit, that's a big problem.

Extending Bolles, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, isn't much of an option without a significant restructuring. Trading him, however, would save $16 million in cap space.

"I don't know how they keep Garett Bolles on this team," NFL Network's James Palmer told DNVR (h/t Lance Sanderson of FanNation).

The reality is that the Broncos might not be able to keep the 31-year-old, and that could create a dream situation for the Tennessee Titans. Their offensive line was a major liability in 2023, and Bolles would immediately address the most important spot.

Given Bolles' contract status, Denver couldn't realistically expect a first-round pick for him, but Tennessee's 38th overall selection might get it done.

The Titans, who trail only the Commanders in projected cap space, could afford to extend the Utah product, and the trade would save Tennessee's seventh overall pick for another premium position.

This hypothetical trade would allow the Titans to add both a quality left tackle and a top pass-catching prospect like LSU's Malik Nabers or Georgia's Brock Bowers—a maneuver that would benefit second-year quarterback Will Levis tremendously.

Washington currently holds the No. 2 overall pick in April's draft, and barring a significant surprise, it will use that on a top quarterback prospect like Drake Maye or Caleb Williams.

Sam Howell flashed some promise during his first full season as the starter, but it's hard to imagine new head coach Dan Quinn sticking with him with either Maye or Williams on the board.

Staying put in the draft would allow the Commanders to address their quarterback situation. However, Quinn has a defensive background, and we should expect Washington to put a lot of focus on that side of the ball before the draft.

Trading for cornerback Charvarius Ward could significantly boost a pass defense that ranked dead-last in yards allowed last season. He allowed an opposing passer rating of only 64.5 in coverage in 2023, and he could be available.

The 49ers have just $570,837 in projected cap space. Ward, who is entering the final year of his contract, is set to carry a cap hit of $17.9 million.

Ideally, Washington would secure the 27-year-old for minimal trade compensation by agreeing to take on some of the $17.2 million in dead money remaining on his deal. With a league-high $83.6 million in cap space, the Commanders have the financial flexibility to make it happen.

A dream scenario would see Washington landing its new No. 1 corner for a third- or fourth-round pick.

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