Hypothetical NFL Player Swaps We'd Love to See After NBA's Davis-Dončić Trade

While Pro Bowl Week is generally short on NFL news, things were far from quiet in the sporting world. Late Saturday night, news broke that NBA superstars Anthony Davis and Luka Dončić were at the heart of a blockbuster trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.

To say that the trade was a stunner would be an understatement.

"An NFL equivalent: the Ravens trading Lamar Jackson+ to the Bengals in exchange for Joe Burrow+—in the middle of the season," ESPN's Adam Schefter posted on X.

While it's hard to envision divisional rivals swapping quarterbacks, it's not too difficult to imagine how high-profile player swaps in the NFL could benefit teams if making them was more feasible—they're easier in the NBA, where contracts are guaranteed, luxury-tax thresholds provide more cap flexibility and draft picks tend to hold less value.

In the wake of perhaps the most shocking trade in recent sports history, here's a look at some hypothetical player swaps we'd love to see during the 2025 offseason.

While these are purely theoretical deals—and, we'll largely throw out cap implications—we'll keep them rooted in reality based on factors like player upside, past production, team needs and trade value.

Browns Get: QB Kirk Cousins, 2025 5th-round pick, 2026 3rd-round pick

Falcons Get: CB Denzel Ward

The Mavericks are chasing a title and believe that adding a defensive standout like Davis can help them do it.

"I believe that defense wins championships," Dallas general manager Nico Harrison said, per ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

For the Lakers, the trade was about preparing for the future. Davis will turn 32 in March, LeBron James' career is winding down, and Dončić now gives them a star to build their future around.

The Atlanta Falcons are hoping that quarterback Michael Penix Jr. can be their star centerpiece for years to come. The eighth overall pick in the 2024 draft took over for Kirk Cousins late in the season and will presumably be QB1 entering training camp this offseason.

This leaves Atlanta with little need for Cousins, who, with a $40 million 2025 cap hit, would be an extremely expensive backup. In this theoretical scenario, the Falcons send Cousins to the Cleveland Browns, where he would reunite with head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Stefanski spent two years with Cousins with the Minnesota Vikings and was Minnesota's offensive coordinator when Cousins made the Pro Bowl in 2019. The Browns also need a quarterback since the trade for Deshaun Watson has been nothing short of an abject failure.

The Browns do hold the third overall pick in the 2025 draft, though there doesn't appear to be a "sure thing" at the QB position in this draft class. Adding Cousins would give Cleveland a capable bridge option while awaiting a chance to find a long-term solution.

In exchange, the Falcons snag Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward. The 27-year-old would immediately upgrade Atlanta's 22nd-ranked pass defense—and defense does win championships in the NFL. Removing Cousins' contract from the Falcons' equation would be a massive bonus.

There has been buzz suggesting Ward could be available this offseason.

"With no contending future in sight, I expect the Browns to trade players for picks," ESPN's Ben Solak wrote. "... I expect a young, rising team to put a first-round pick on the table for Ward."

Cousins probably doesn't carry first-round value, considering Atlanta is ready to replace him with three years remaining on his contract. Tossing in a pair of mid-round picks could sweeten the pot enough for the Falcons to get a defensive difference-maker in return.

Rams Get: WR Malik Nabers, CB Dru Phillips, 2025 2nd-round pick, 2026 1st-round pick

Giants Get: QB Matthew Stafford, WR Puka Nacua, RB Blake Corum

Before the Davis-Dončić trade came to light, the idea of Dallas dealing with its biggest star seemed unfathomable. However, Dončić's looming contract extension may have precipitated the Mavericks' move.

ESPN's Tim MacMahon said on the Hoop Collective Podcast (h/t Bleacher Report's Adam Wells) that people within the Mavericks organization felt they were being "held hostage" by the prospect of building around Dončić on a massive deal.

The Los Angeles Rams probably wouldn't feel handcuffed by a lucrative Matthew Stafford extension, but they do face a big decision on the quarterback's financial future.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Stafford plans to play in 2025. Last year's contract restructuring left little guaranteed money on his deal, though, which means a new contract is likely imminent.

In this hypothetical scenario, the Rams would rip off the proverbial Band-Aid by dealing Stafford to the New York Giants. New York needs a franchise quarterback, and head coach Brian Daboll is under a ton of pressure to win now.

"I've just about run out of patience," franchise co-owner and team president John Mara said, per ESPN's Jordan Raanan.

To flesh out the trade, the Rams send offensive running mates Puka Nacua and Blake Corum to New York in exchange for receiver Malik Nabers, cornerback Dru Phillips and draft compensation. Nacua is an elite receiver when healthy and Stafford's favorite target. Corum could pair with Tyrone Tracy Jr. to give New York a potent rushing attack.

The Giants' new-look offense would make them immediately relevant in the NFC East, potentially saving the jobs of Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen.

Los Angeles would replace Nacua with Nabers, who racked up 1,204 receiving yards as a rookie despite playing with a dreadful quarterback rotation. The Rams would push back the need to extend a young receiver—Nacua has two years left on his rookie deal, while Nabers has four, including the fifth-year option. They'd also obtain a starting-caliber cornerback for their 20th-ranked pass defense and added draft capital to chase their quarterback of the future in the 2026 draft.

This trade might bring the drafted "rebuilding year" most expected the Rams to have in 2023 or 2024, but it could provide the Rams with a bright future.

Patriots Get: WR Tee Higgins

Bengals Get: CB Christian Gonzalez

The Rams aren't the only team with critical contract situations looming. The Cincinnati Bengals have two of them involving wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

Chase, who has been extension-eligible since last offseason, is likely to top Justin Jefferson's market-leading deal worth $35 million annually. Higgins, who is an impending free agent and played on the franchise tag in 2024, might not be far behind, financially.

"The over/under on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins' market is $30 million per season, and the majority of team personnel that I spoke with believe he'll hit or clear the over," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote.

Is Cincinnati prepared to pay Joe Burrow $55 million a year and give $30-plus million to each of his top two receivers? Probably not.

Sign-and-trade deals are common in the NBA. They're less common in the NFL, though tag-and-trade agreements do occur. Last offseason, for example, cornerback L'Jarius Sneed and pass-rusher Brian Burns were both traded after first receiving the franchise tag.

This trade would involve the Bengals giving Higgins the franchise tag for a second straight offseason, then flipping him to a receiver-needy team. The New England Patriots would likely top the list of interested franchises.

New England appears to have found its quarterback in 2024 third overall pick Drake Maye. However, the Patriots had arguably the league's worst receiving corps this past season—tight end Hunter Henry led the team with just 674 receiving yards.

Improving the offense and building around Maye should be New England's top priority this offseason.

Higgins, who has two 1,000-yard seasons on his resume and just turned 26 years old, could fill New England's need for a true No. 1 receiver. To obtain the former Clemson star, the Patriots could offer up standout cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

While the 17th pick in the 2023 draft hasn't made a Pro Bowl yet, he appears headed in that direction. He started 16 games this past season while allowing an opposing passer rating of just 71.7 in coverage.

Gonzalez would instantly become the top cornerback on Cincinnati's roster and would be a massive boon for the Bengals' 21st-ranked pass defense. Defensive issues played a big role in Cincinnati missing the playoffs in 2024, and adding Gonzalez could help solve them.

Getting Gonzelz for a receiver they may not be willing to pay anyway would be a rare offseason win for the Bengals.

49ers Get: Edge T.J. Watt

Steelers Get: WR Deebo Samuel, RB Jordan Mason, 2025 2nd-round pick, 2026 2nd-round pick

Like Dončić, Pittsburgh Steelers pass-rusher T.J. Watt is a true centerpiece player. It's hard to envision him suiting up for a different franchise while still in his playing prime. The 30-year-old certainly isn't angling for a change of scenery.

"I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler," Watt said, per Nick Farabaugh of PennLive "You guys know that. I want to be here. I want to be part of the solution."

Of course, it was hard to see Dončić not being a Maverick until he wasn't. Watt is entering a contract year, and the Steelers plan to discuss an extension this offseason.

" T.J. has been one of the foundations of the defense for quite a number of years now. And certainly hope we can have T.J. for the future, beyond this year," franchise owner Art Rooney II said, per The Athletic's Mike DeFabo.

If the Steelers can't sort out a new contract, they could expect a massive return for the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year candidate. In this scenario, they could flip him for some much-needed offensive help and valuable draft capital.

Pittsburgh needs offensive help after tanking just 23rd in yards last season. It first needs to settle its quarterback situation—there's a good chance that either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields will be back—but improving the supporting cast is on the to-do list.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel may be viewed as expendable. San Francisco extended Brandon Aiyuk last offseason, used a first-round pick on Ricky Pearsall and saw Jauan Jennings emerge as a high-volume target. The Steelers need a dependable receiver opposite George Pickens in their lineup.

Calvin Austin III ranked second among Pittsburgh wideouts in 2024 with just 548 receiving yards.

The 49ers could include running back Jordan Mason, who rushed for 789 yards and 5.2 yards per carry in 12 games as Christian McCaffrey's placeholder last season. Pittsburgh may need a new running back to pair with Jaylen Warren, as Najee Harris is an impending free agent.

A pair of second-round picks could help balance out a deal for Watt, who is a Hall-of-Fame-caliber defender.

While that would be a lot for the 49ers to give up, it would give them the elite edge-rushing complement to Nick Bosa that the defense has long lacked. San Francisco is hoping that a healthier roster can put it back in the Super Bowl conversation in 2025. However, bolstering the league's 29th-ranked scoring defense is a must.

Ravens Get: Edge Micah Parsons

Cowboys Get: WR Zay Flowers, Edge Kyle Van Noy, 2025 1st-round pick

Don't freak out, Dallas fans. These are hypothetical trades that exist in the world of fantasy. You're not losing Dončić and Mich Parsons in the same year. Probably.

However, the Dallas Cowboys do have a difficult decision to make on their star pass-rusher. He's been extension-eligible since last offseason and has a very real chance to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

The Cowboys waited to pay Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb until late last offseason, and it cost them—in the meantime, players like Jefferson and Trevor Lawrence signed new top-of-the-market deals. Dallas doesn't seem to be rushing to extend Parsons.

"I don't want to get into the details [of] early, late, when all that comes. Too early for any of that, but obviously Micah is an important part of what we're about," executive vice president Stephen Jones recently said, per Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein.

The reality is that Parsons could become a trade candidate, especially if Dallas decides it can't afford to build out a roster with him, Prescott and Lamb on high-level contracts.

In this deal, the Cowboys flip Parsons for Baltimore Ravens receiver Zay Flowers, pass-rusher Kyle Van Noy and the 27th overall pick in the draft.

Flowers, who tallied 1,059 receiving yards in 2024, would give Dallas the high-end No. 2 receiver it currently lacks opposite Lamb. Van Noy would serve as a short-term replacement for Parsons, while the draft selection would help the Cowboys reload with another rookie contract.

The Ravens would be giving up a quality receiver on a rookie deal, but pass-catchers are easier to find than All-Pro-caliber pass-rushers. And Baltimore could afford to get younger on the edge.

Van Noy led Baltimore with 12.5 sacks in 2024, but he'll turn 34 in March. Parsons, who has recorded 52.5 sacks in 63 regular-season games, would be an upgrade over Van Noy and would give the Ravens a much-needed long-term defensive building block.

Baltimore has proven that it can field a functional offense without top receiving talent as long as quarterback Lamar Jackson is healthy. However, its 30th-ranked pass defense was an issue last season. Adding Parsons would help address that issue for the foreseeable future—assuming Baltimore can work out the extension that Dallas should have done a year ago.

Seahawks Get: Edge Maxx Crosby

Raiders Get: QB Geno Smith, WR D.K. Metcalf, 2026 2nd-round pick

As previously noted, elite pass-rushers are one of the rarest commodities in the NFL. The Las Vegas Raiders have one in Maxx Crosby, and they're highly unlikely to move him with two years remaining on his contract.

Franchise minority owner Tom Brady will reportedly ensure that Crosby stays in Las Vegas.

"He's going to make sure that Maxx Crosby is a pillar of the Las Vegas Raiders. You can't move on from a guy like Maxx Crosby," Dianna Russini of The Athletic said on her Scoop City show (h/t Bleacher Report's Scott Polacek).

You know there's a "but" coming, right?

But, the fact remains that Crosby is the biggest potential trade chip that the Raiders possess, aside, possibly, from tight end Brock Bowers. The Raiders also need to find a starting-caliber quarterback and, presumably, need to find a way to win sooner than later.

New head coach Pete Carroll should provide stability as head coach. However, he'll turn 74 in September and may not have the lengthiest of windows.

In this hypothetical scenario, the Raiders make the difficult decision to move Crosby and reunite Carroll with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith and receiver D.K. Metcalf.

Smith will turn 35 in October but is an above-average starter—he was also a Pro Bowler in 2022 and 2023, his last two seasons under Carroll. Metcalf is a two-time Pro Bowler who could partner with Bowers and Jakobi Meters to give Las Vegas a dangerous receiving corps.

Replacing Crosby wouldn't be easy, but this deal would, theoretically, give the Raiders an offense capable of keeping pace in the talented AFC West right away.

The Seahawks, meanwhile, would get a top-tier pass-rusher to partner with Leonard Williams, Derick Hall and Boye Mafe along the defensive front—a potentially intriguing prospect for head coach Mike Macdonald, who previously served as the Ravens' defensive coordinator.

And while moving Smith and Metcalf would lead to some offensive rebuilding, it's worth noting that both players could be nearing the end of their Seattle careers. Smith is entering a contract year. Metcalf has just two years remaining on his contract and was replaced by Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the team's top receiver in 2024.

With Smith out of the picture, Seattle could consider making a run at impending free agent Sam Darnold, who spent time with new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak in San Francisco in 2023.

*Contract information via Spotrac