NFL trade candidates 2024: Ten big-name players it makes sense to move:-The NFL’s annual scouting combine is over, and the deadline to use the franchise tag for this year has passed. The next official event on the league’s calendar is Monday, when pending free agents can start talking to other teams about new contracts (though they can’t sign until Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET).
NFL trade candidates 2024: Ten big-name players it makes sense to move
That doesn’t mean, though, that the next few days will be quiet. Before they can meet the 2024 price cap, some teams still need to get rid of players and/or restructure contracts. Hey, Dak Prescott.
A lot of teams will also probably start trading as they try to find the missing piece(s) they need to win the Super Bowl. Other teams will be looking to get rid of expensive contracts and/or pick up draft capital, which could even allow younger players to play.
In this list, we’ve put together 10 players who we either know are available for sale or who could be if you do what many NFL fans do: follow the money.
DT Jonathan Allen, Washington Commanders
Years of anger and trouble came to a head last season. During a rant after the game, team leader Allen said, “It’s been seven (expletive) years of the same (expletive).” A few weeks later, during a 4-13 season, he said, “I’m tired of trying to build character,” and added, “my character is built well enough.” My goal is to win. Allen, who is 29 years old, is due $32.5 million over the last two years of his contract if he meets his incentives, but this is not a given. Not too crazy for a Pro Bowler in that role and a veteran who wants to win.
WR Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
He costs a lot ($23.1 million, not sure, in 2024) and is old (32 in April), having played a full season for the last time in 2019. But the Bolts need to cut costs, and Allen is in his free agent year after having a great season in 2023 (108 catches, 1,243 yards, and seven touchdowns in 13 games). It seems like a good time for both the player and the teams to try something new.
TE Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
It’s impossible, right? This star player who should be an All-Pro is Lamar Jackson’s safety blanket, right? Yes? Kind of? But let’s look into it some more. Andrews, who is 28 years old, is signed for two more seasons. He won’t get any guaranteed pay, but he will make $11 million ($7 million in base salary and $4 million in team bonuses) in 2024 and 2025. After he hurt his knee in November of last year, the Ravens went 7-1, with their only loss coming in Week 18. Second-year man Isaiah Likely also did a great job in Andrews’ place. Over The Cap says that Baltimore needs to cut almost $10 million from its 2024 cap after giving Pro Bowl DT Justin Madubuike to a league.
LT David Bakhtiari, Green Bay Packers
The former All-Pro hasn’t been the same since the end of the 2020 regular season, when he hurt his ACL in practice. He has only played in 13 games in the last three years, and 11 of those were in 2022. Bakhtiari is due a base salary of $20.2 million in the last year of his contract. He is no longer promised any money. He might bring something valuable back if he can show that he’s not broken, and if the Pack is ready to lose some money. Bakhtiari is 32 years old. maybe even more so from a team that needs a left tackle and has a QB who is close with the coach? A group that made a big deal with Green Bay last year?
Also Read:-As Trump support merges with Christian nationalism, experts warn of extremist risks
QB Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
During his first three seasons, both he and the team have gotten better over time. Still, it’s pretty clear from what Bears officials are and aren’t saying that the team will take a different approach at center with the first pick in the 2024 draft. In what ways does that affect Fields? It’s hard to imagine that he won’t be wearing a new outfit soon. GM Ryan Poles said, “If we do go down that road, I want to do right by Justin.” But how much are teams ready to give up when they know Fields is entering the last year of his rookie deal (he has a fifth-year option for 2025)? The Jets traded quarterback Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers after his third season for a second, fourth, and sixth-round draft pick. There isn’t much that Fields, 25, could fetch besides a deal made up of Day 2 picks. He’s been better than Darnold so far in his career.
OLB Khalil Mack, Chargers
He’s in the same situation as Keenan Allen. Along with OLB Joey Bosa and WR Mike Williams, he’s one of four Bolts whose cap hit will be more than $30 million in 2024 because the team overspent on players. Mack, who is 33 years old, is also in the last year of his contract. He is owed $23.3 million next season, which includes bonuses but not promises. Mack is still very tough, even though he is getting older. In 2023, he had the most sacks of his career (17). It would be great if he played for a team that was closer to the Lombardi Trophy than the Chargers are.
LT Kolton Miller, Las Vegas Raiders
Does moving a safe, 28-year-old blind side sentry make a lot of sense? Not all the time. But if the Silver and Black really want to move up in the draft board for a top quarterback prospect, it might take more than just picks. For example, the Bears asked that WR DJ Moore be included in last year’s deal with the Panthers, which included the No. 1 overall pick. Miller is due just under $25 million over the last two seasons of his current deal, but none of it is guaranteed.
OLB Haason Reddick, Philadelphia Eagles
The Arizona Cardinals picked him in the first round of the 2017 draft, but they thought he would be better as an off-ball defender. Since becoming a better pass rusher in 2020, he’s basically been playing for cheap on three teams, racking up 50½ sacks over the last four seasons. There has been a lot of talk about Reddick, 29, lately. He could make $16 million in the last year of his current deal, which is still a lot of money for a top pass rusher. However, Philly’s EVP/GM Howie Roseman didn’t do much at the combine to put an end to reports that Reddick might be moving. It’s true that Roseman doesn’t often sell great players, but he knows a good deal when he sees one, and he might decide to let someone else pay Reddick a lot of money.
CB L’Jarius Sneed, Kansas City Chiefs
The champs gave him a contract after he became a defensive rock in Kansas City for four years, but his camp is still free to look at trade options. The Chiefs have a $19.8 million bill due in 2024, so they might not be able to pay 27-year-old Sneed and re-sign All-Pro DT Chris Jones without making big changes to other players on the squad.
QB Zach Wilson, New York Jets
He was the second overall pick in 2021, but he has been a complete failure. Aaron Rodgers took his place (temporarily) last year. Wilson, 24, had a third chance to stand out when the four-time MVP hurt his Achilles in Week 1. He blew it, though, even though his team had a strong offense and a great defense. GM Joe Douglas said at the combine that Wilson is free to look for a trade. However, it’s hard to see why another team would give up much more than a low Day 3 pick for Wilson, given how slowly Fields’ market is growing.