NFL trade rumors are starting to pick up big time now that NFL free agency has hit its second and third tiers and with draft season continuing.
We’ve already seen some pretty big trades thus far this offseason, including the Miami Dolphins landing Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey and the Dallas Cowboys picking up multiple veterans on the cheap.
Below, we provide you with the latest NFL trade rumors as the offseason continues around the league.
Related: 2023 NFL Draft rumors
Pro Bowler Devin White requests trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In what has to be considered surprising news, former Pro Bowl and All-Pro linebacker Devin White has reportedly requested a trade from the Buccaneers.
White, 25, has been seen as a potential franchise cornerstone since Tampa Bay made him a top-five pick back in 2019. That included eanring his first ever Pro Bowl trip after recording 128 tackles and 18 quarterback hits in 2021. Set to enter the fifth-year team option on his rookie deal, White wants a lucrative contract extension. It seems that this is what spearheaded the trade request.
Aaron Rodgers situation remains unsettled
Aaron Rodgers just spoke up about the situation surrounding his Green Bay Packers and the New York Jets. According to the four-time NFL MVP, Green Bay’s asking price in a trade is holding things up. Rodgers, 39, has made it clear that he wants to play for the Jets next season.
Whether this happens remains to be seen. The Pack don’t have a ton of leverage in this scenario. If they want to add draft capital for the upcoming event, moving Rodgers this month must be in the cards. All the while, he will have to restructure his contract in order to make it work.
As of right now, the soft deadline for a trade happening has to be Day 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft on April 27. Reports indicate that a deal will not be completed if it isn’t finalized during the aforementioned draft.
Kirk Cousins trade rumors to the San Francisco 49ers pop up
We’ve read stories linking the Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl quarterback to his fomer offensive coordinator in Washington, Kyle Shanahan. These rumors popped up immediately after Shanahan was hired by the San Francisco 49ers back in 2017. However, the acquisition of Jimmy Garoppolo during his first season in San Francisco changed that.
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, there was renewed chatter linking Cousins to San Francisco during the NFL Scouting Combine back in February.
- Kirk Cousins stats (2022): 65.9% completion, 4,547 yards, 29 TD, 14 INT, 92.5 QB rating
There are obviously some complications here. San Francisco already has three quarterbacks on its roster in that of Brock Purdy, Trey Lance and Sam Darnold. It lacks draft capital stemming from the trade up for Lance ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, the Vikings would incur a near $39 million dead cap hit by trading Cousins ahead of the draft. Even then, it’s something to look at as draft season continues around the NFL.
Latest on Lamar Jackson situation with the Baltimore Ravens
The saga between Lamar Jackson and his Baltimore Ravens took another turn when the former NFL MVP announced via social media that he had requested a trade from the organization back on March 2. It was less than a week before Baltimore handed Jackson the franchise tag.
It goes without saying that contract talks between Jackson and the Ravens have been contentious. The hold up is guaranteed money Jackson wants and what Baltimore is willing to offer.
There are different layers to this situation. With the tag on him, Jackson can’t be traded unless he signs said tender in order to help facilitate a deal. The quarterback would then be free to sign an extension with any team that acquires him. There’s also a chance that another team could simply sign Jackson to an offer sheet, yielding two first-round picks to Baltimore should the team not match it.
As of right now, nothing is really brewing on this front after the Ravens signed three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to pair with Jackson.
DeAndre Hopkins trade market is limited
We already know that Arizona has given Hopkins permission to seek a trade. Coming off a 2022 season in which he was suspended six games for violating the NFL’s performance enhancing drug (PED) policy, it’s now being noted that Arizona might simply have to release Hopkins.
There are several issues here. Hopkins is on the wrong side of 30 and has not put up a 1,000-yard season since back in 2020. He would also count nearly $20 million against the cap for an aquiring team, meaning a restructure and/or extension would have to be in the cards. Right now, the Baltimore Ravens have been most linked to the three-time Pro Bowler.
Indianapolis Colts shopping multiple starters
The Indianapolis Colts need to create cap space in order to start filling some of the holes on their roster after finishing near the bottom of the NFL standings. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on SportsCenter that Indianapolis is making center Ryan Kelly and tight end Mo Allie-Cox available for trade. A more recent report indicates that Pro Bowl cornerback Kenny Moore could be on the block.
While neither player is expected to net a strong return, likely Day 3 picks, Indianapolis wants to attempt to move them before it potentially makes them cap casualties.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Allen Robinson still on the block
Los Angeles has torn down its roster thus far this offseason, trading Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey and releasing future Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner. We could now see veteran receiver Allen Robinson moved at some point soon.
The Rams are still open to trading Robinson who they signed to a three-year, $46.5 million contract to last offseason. In 10 games with Los Angeles last season, Robinson caught just 33 passes for 339 yards. He had tallied just 410 yards in his final season with the Bears back in 2021. With a cap hit of $10 million for an acquiring team, this might be a hard sell for Los Angeles.
NFL trade rumors suggest Jets are unlikely to move Zach Wilson
Wilson’s disastrous sophomore season has been followed by numerous rumors suggesting that New York is done with the former No. 2 pick. Wilson was benched multiple times during the 2022 campaign while showing a lack of maturity and leadership.
With the Jets being linked to the aforementioned Aaron Rodgers in numerous NFL trade rumors, common logic seems to suggest that Zach Wilson is as good as gone from New Jersey. That might not be the case. Apparently, the Jets’ brass still believe he can provide something of substance moving forward. We’re not buying it, because a return to Jersey would be all sorts of awkward.
Other NFL trade rumors
- The Las Vegas Raiders continue to meet with top NFL Draft quarterback prospects, leading to speculation that they could move up from the seventh overall pick in the annual event. Despite having signed Jimmy Garoppolo, the Raiders have met with Alabama’s Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud from Ohio State.
- The Detroit Lions are slated to meet with top NFL Draft prospect Will Anderson in the lead up to event later in April. Detroit is slated to select sixth overall, meaning that it might have to move up in order to land the former Alabama star.
- NFL trade rumors continue pointing to potential Trey lance trade. The San Francisco 49ers have three quarterbacks on the roster in that of Lance, Brock Purdy and free-agent signing Sam Darnold. San Francisco has also quietly been linked to Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins in trade rumors. This is a tell that general manager John Lynch could at least be willing to listen on this former No. 3 pick from North Dakota State.
- Jonah Williams’ trade request from the Cincinnati Bengals after they signed fellow left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. has not netted much on the rumor mill. What we do know is that Cincinnati would like to see Williams return to play right tackle. He views himself as a left tackle despite struggles last season. Williams, 25, is slated to become a free agent after the 2023 season.
- The Arizona Cardinals have received interest from six times in a potential trade up to the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Arizona has Kyler Murray set to return from a torn ACL and has no need at quarterback. At this point, it’s safe to say that teams such as the Las Vegas Raiders (seventh overall), Tennessee Titans (11th) and Washington Commanders (16th) have engaged Arizona.
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This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.com and is republished here with permission.
