Hypothetical NFL Participant Swaps We would Like to See After NBA’s Davis-Dončić Commerce
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Steelers edge T.J. WattScott Taetsch/Getty Photos
Whereas Professional Bowl Week is mostly brief on NFL information, issues had been removed from quiet within the sporting world. Late Saturday night time, information broke that NBA superstars Anthony Davis and Luka Dončić had been on the coronary heart of a blockbuster trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.
To say that the commerce was a stunner can be an understatement.
“An NFL equal: the Ravens buying and selling Lamar Jackson+ to the Bengals in change for Joe Burrow+—in the course of the season,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter posted on X.
Whereas it is onerous to examine divisional rivals swapping quarterbacks, it is not too troublesome to think about how high-profile participant swaps within the NFL may gain advantage groups if making them was extra possible—they’re simpler within the NBA, the place contracts are assured, luxury-tax thresholds present extra cap flexibility and draft picks have a tendency to carry much less worth.
Within the wake of maybe probably the most surprising commerce in latest sports activities historical past, here is a have a look at some hypothetical participant swaps we might like to see throughout the 2025 offseason.
Whereas these are purely theoretical offers—and, we’ll largely throw out cap implications—we’ll preserve them rooted in actuality primarily based on elements like participant upside, previous manufacturing, group wants and commerce worth.
Kirk Cousins for Denzel Ward
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Falcons QB Kirk CousinsPerry Knotts/Getty Photos
Browns Get: QB Kirk Cousins, 2025 Fifth-round choose, 2026 Third-round choose
Falcons Get: CB Denzel Ward
The Mavericks are chasing a title and imagine that including a defensive standout like Davis may help them do it.
“I imagine that protection wins championships,” Dallas normal supervisor Nico Harrison mentioned, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
For the Lakers, the commerce was about making ready for the long run. Davis will flip 32 in March, LeBron James’ profession is winding down, and Dončić now provides them a star to construct their future round.
The Atlanta Falcons are hoping that quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will be their star centerpiece for years to return. The eighth general choose within the 2024 draft took over for Kirk Cousins late within the season and can presumably be QB1 coming into coaching camp this offseason.
This leaves Atlanta with no need for Cousins, who, with a $40 million 2025 cap hit, can be a particularly costly backup. On this theoretical state of affairs, the Falcons ship Cousins to the Cleveland Browns, the place 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 Professional Bowl in 2019. The Browns additionally want a quarterback because the commerce for Deshaun Watson has been nothing wanting an abject failure.
The Browns do maintain the third general choose within the 2025 draft, although there does not look like a “positive factor” on the QB place on this draft class. Including Cousins would give Cleveland a succesful bridge choice whereas awaiting an opportunity to discover a long-term resolution.
In change, the Falcons snag Professional Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward. The 27-year-old would instantly improve Atlanta’s Twenty second-ranked move protection—and protection does win championships within the NFL. Eradicating Cousins’ contract from the Falcons’ equation can be a large bonus.
There was buzz suggesting Ward might be accessible this offseason.
“With no contending future in sight, I count on the Browns to commerce gamers for picks,” ESPN’s Ben Solak wrote. “… I count on a younger, rising group to place a first-round choose on the desk for Ward.”
Cousins most likely does not carry first-round worth, contemplating Atlanta is able to change him with three years remaining on his contract. Tossing in a pair of mid-round picks might sweeten the pot sufficient for the Falcons to get a defensive difference-maker in return.
Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua for Malik Nabers, Dru Phillips
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Rams QB Matthew StaffordBrandon Sloter/Getty Photos
Rams Get: WR Malik Nabers, CB Dru Phillips, 2025 2nd-round choose, 2026 1st-round choose
Giants Get: QB Matthew Stafford, WR Puka Nacua, RB Blake Corum
Earlier than the Davis-Dončić commerce got here to mild, the concept of Dallas coping with its greatest star appeared unfathomable. Nonetheless, Dončić’s looming contract extension could have precipitated the Mavericks’ transfer.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon mentioned on the Hoop Collective Podcast (h/t Bleacher Report’s Adam Wells) that individuals throughout the Mavericks group felt they had been being “held hostage” by the prospect of constructing round Dončić on a large deal.
The Los Angeles Rams most likely would not really feel handcuffed by a profitable Matthew Stafford extension, however they do face a giant choice on the quarterback’s monetary future.
Based on NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport, Stafford plans to play in 2025. Final yr’s contract restructuring left little assured cash on his deal, although, which implies a brand new contract is probably going imminent.
On this hypothetical state of affairs, the Rams would rip off the proverbial Band-Assist by dealing Stafford to the New York Giants. New York wants a franchise quarterback, and head coach Brian Daboll is below a ton of stress to win now.
“I’ve nearly run out of persistence,” franchise co-owner and group president John Mara mentioned, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
To flesh out the commerce, the Rams ship offensive working mates Puka Nacua and Blake Corum to New York in change for receiver Malik Nabers, cornerback Dru Phillips and draft compensation. Nacua is an elite receiver when wholesome and Stafford’s favourite goal. Corum might pair with Tyrone Tracy Jr. to offer New York a potent dashing assault.
The Giants’ new-look offense would make them instantly related within the NFC East, doubtlessly saving the roles of Daboll and normal supervisor Joe Schoen.
Los Angeles would change Nacua with Nabers, who racked up 1,204 receiving yards as a rookie regardless of enjoying with a dreadful quarterback rotation. The Rams would push again the necessity to prolong a younger receiver—Nacua has two years left on his rookie deal, whereas Nabers has 4, together with the fifth-year choice. They’d additionally acquire a starting-caliber cornerback for his or her Twentieth-ranked move protection and added draft capital to chase their quarterback of the long run within the 2026 draft.
This commerce would possibly carry the drafted “rebuilding yr” most anticipated the Rams to have in 2023 or 2024, nevertheless it might present the Rams with a shiny future.
Tee Higgins for Christian Gonzalez
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Bengals WR Tee HigginsRic Tapia/Getty Photos
Patriots Get: WR Tee Higgins
Bengals Get: CB Christian Gonzalez
The Rams aren’t the one group with vital contract conditions looming. The Cincinnati Bengals have two of them involving vast receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Chase, who has been extension-eligible since final offseason, is more likely to high Justin Jefferson’s market-leading deal value $35 million yearly. Higgins, who’s an impending free agent and performed on the franchise tag in 2024, won’t be far behind, financially.
“The over/below on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins’ market is $30 million per season, and nearly all of group personnel that I spoke with imagine he’ll hit or clear the over,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote.
Is Cincinnati ready to pay Joe Burrow $55 million a yr and provides $30-plus million to every of his high two receivers? In all probability not.
Signal-and-trade offers are frequent within the NBA. They’re much less frequent within the NFL, although tag-and-trade agreements do happen. Final offseason, for instance, cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and pass-rusher Brian Burns had been each traded after first receiving the franchise tag.
This commerce would contain the Bengals giving Higgins the franchise tag for a second straight offseason, then flipping him to a receiver-needy group. The New England Patriots would seemingly high the checklist of franchises.
New England seems to have discovered its quarterback in 2024 third general choose Drake Maye. Nonetheless, the Patriots had arguably the league’s worst receiving corps this previous season—tight finish Hunter Henry led the group with simply 674 receiving yards.
Bettering the offense and constructing round Maye ought to be New England’s high precedence this offseason.
Higgins, who has two 1,000-yard seasons on his resume and simply turned 26 years outdated, might fill New England’s want for a real No. 1 receiver. To acquire the previous Clemson star, the Patriots might supply up standout cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
Whereas the seventeenth choose within the 2023 draft hasn’t made a Professional Bowl but, he seems headed in that path. He began 16 video games this previous season whereas permitting an opposing passer ranking of simply 71.7 in protection.
Gonzalez would immediately change into the highest cornerback on Cincinnati’s roster and can be a large boon for the Bengals’ Twenty first-ranked move protection. Defensive points performed a giant position in Cincinnati lacking the playoffs in 2024, and including Gonzalez might assist resolve them.
Getting Gonzelz for a receiver they will not be keen to pay anyway can be a uncommon offseason win for the Bengals.
T.J. Watt for Deebo Samuel, Jordan Mason
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49ers WR Deebo SamuelEzra Shaw/Getty Photos
49ers Get: Edge T.J. Watt
Steelers Get: WR Deebo Samuel, RB Jordan Mason, 2025 2nd-round choose, 2026 2nd-round choose
Like Dončić, Pittsburgh Steelers pass-rusher T.J. Watt is a real centerpiece participant. It is onerous to examine him suiting up for a unique franchise whereas nonetheless in his enjoying prime. The 30-year-old definitely is not angling for a change of surroundings.
“I need to be a Pittsburgh Steeler,” Watt mentioned, per Nick Farabaugh of PennLive “You guys know that. I need to be right here. I need to be a part of the answer.”
After all, it was onerous to see Dončić not being a Maverick till he wasn’t. Watt is coming into a contract yr, and the Steelers plan to debate an extension this offseason.
” T.J. has been one of many foundations of the protection for fairly quite a few years now. And definitely hope we will have T.J. for the long run, past this yr,” franchise proprietor Artwork Rooney II mentioned, per The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo.
If the Steelers cannot kind out a brand new contract, they might count on a large return for the 2024 Defensive Participant of the 12 months candidate. On this state of affairs, they might flip him for some much-needed offensive assist and precious draft capital.
Pittsburgh wants offensive assist after tanking simply twenty third in yards final season. It first must settle its quarterback state of affairs—there is a good probability that both Russell Wilson or Justin Fields shall be again—however enhancing the supporting solid is on the to-do checklist.
San Francisco 49ers vast receiver Deebo Samuel could also be considered as expendable. San Francisco prolonged Brandon Aiyuk final offseason, used a first-round choose on Ricky Pearsall and noticed Jauan Jennings emerge as a high-volume goal. The Steelers want a reliable receiver reverse George Pickens of their lineup.
Calvin Austin III ranked second amongst Pittsburgh wideouts in 2024 with simply 548 receiving yards.
The 49ers might embrace working again Jordan Mason, who rushed for 789 yards and 5.2 yards per carry in 12 video games as Christian McCaffrey’s placeholder final season. Pittsburgh might have a brand new working again to pair with Jaylen Warren, as Najee Harris is an impending free agent.
A pair of second-round picks might assist steadiness out a deal for Watt, who’s a Corridor-of-Fame-caliber defender.
Whereas that might be rather a lot for the 49ers to surrender, it might give them the elite edge-rushing complement to Nick Bosa that the protection has lengthy lacked. San Francisco is hoping {that a} more healthy roster can put it again within the Tremendous Bowl dialog in 2025. Nonetheless, bolstering the league’s Twenty ninth-ranked scoring protection is a should.
Micah Parsons for Zay Flowers
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Cooper Neill/Getty Photos
Ravens Get: Edge Micah Parsons
Cowboys Get: WR Zay Flowers, Edge Kyle Van Noy, 2025 1st-round choose
Do not freak out, Dallas followers. These are hypothetical trades that exist on the earth of fantasy. You are not shedding Dončić and Mich Parsons in the identical yr. In all probability.
Nonetheless, the Dallas Cowboys do have a troublesome choice to make on their star pass-rusher. He is been extension-eligible since final offseason and has a really actual probability to change into the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL historical past.
The Cowboys waited to pay Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb till late final offseason, and it price them—within the meantime, gamers like Jefferson and Trevor Lawrence signed new top-of-the-market offers. Dallas does not appear to be dashing to increase Parsons.
“I do not need to get into the main points [of] early, late, when all that comes. Too early for any of that, however clearly Micah is a vital a part of what we’re about,” govt vp Stephen Jones lately mentioned, per Yahoo Sports activities’ Jori Epstein.
The truth is that Parsons might change into a commerce candidate, particularly if Dallas decides it may possibly’t afford to construct out a roster with him, Prescott and Lamb on high-level contracts.
On this deal, the Cowboys flip Parsons for Baltimore Ravens receiver Zay Flowers, pass-rusher Kyle Van Noy and the twenty seventh general choose within the draft.
Flowers, who tallied 1,059 receiving yards in 2024, would give Dallas the high-end No. 2 receiver it presently lacks reverse Lamb. Van Noy would function a short-term substitute for Parsons, whereas the draft choice would assist the Cowboys reload with one other rookie contract.
The Ravens can be giving up a top quality receiver on a rookie deal, however pass-catchers are simpler to seek out than All-Professional-caliber pass-rushers. And Baltimore might afford to get youthful on the sting.
Van Noy led Baltimore with 12.5 sacks in 2024, however he’ll flip 34 in March. Parsons, who has recorded 52.5 sacks in 63 regular-season video games, can be an improve over Van Noy and would give the Ravens a much-needed long-term defensive constructing block.
Baltimore has confirmed that it may possibly area a practical offense with out high receiving expertise so long as quarterback Lamar Jackson is wholesome. Nonetheless, its Thirtieth-ranked move protection was a difficulty final season. Including Parsons would assist handle that problem for the foreseeable future—assuming Baltimore can work out the extension that Dallas ought to have completed a yr in the past.
Maxx Crosby for Geno Smith, D.Okay. Metcalf
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Raiders edge Maxx CrosbyKevin Sabitus/Getty Photos
Seahawks Get: Edge Maxx Crosby
Raiders Get: QB Geno Smith, WR D.Okay. Metcalf, 2026 2nd-round choose
As beforehand famous, elite pass-rushers are one of many rarest commodities within the NFL. The Las Vegas Raiders have one in Maxx Crosby, and so they’re extremely unlikely to maneuver him with two years remaining on his contract.
Franchise minority proprietor Tom Brady will reportedly make sure that Crosby stays in Las Vegas.
“He’ll make it possible for Maxx Crosby is a pillar of the Las Vegas Raiders. You possibly can’t transfer on from a man like Maxx Crosby,” Dianna Russini of The Athletic mentioned on her Scoop Metropolis present (h/t Bleacher Report’s Scott Polacek).
You realize there is a “however” coming, proper?
However, the actual fact stays that Crosby is the largest potential commerce chip that the Raiders possess, apart, presumably, from tight finish Brock Bowers. The Raiders additionally must discover a starting-caliber quarterback and, presumably, must discover a strategy to win earlier than later.
New head coach Pete Carroll ought to present stability as head coach. Nonetheless, he’ll flip 74 in September and will not have the lengthiest of home windows.
On this hypothetical state of affairs, the Raiders make the troublesome choice to maneuver Crosby and reunite Carroll with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith and receiver D.Okay. Metcalf.
Smith will flip 35 in October however is an above-average starter—he was additionally a Professional Bowler in 2022 and 2023, his final two seasons below Carroll. Metcalf is a two-time Professional Bowler who might companion with Bowers and Jakobi Meters to offer Las Vegas a harmful receiving corps.
Changing Crosby would not be simple, however this deal would, theoretically, give the Raiders an offense able to holding tempo within the proficient AFC West instantly.
The Seahawks, in the meantime, would get a top-tier pass-rusher to companion with Leonard Williams, Derick Corridor and Boye Mafe alongside the defensive entrance—a doubtlessly intriguing prospect for head coach Mike Macdonald, who beforehand served because the Ravens’ defensive coordinator.
And whereas transferring Smith and Metcalf would result in some offensive rebuilding, it is value noting that each gamers might be nearing the tip of their Seattle careers. Smith is coming into a contract yr. Metcalf has simply two years remaining on his contract and was changed by Jaxon Smith-Njigba because the group’s high receiver in 2024.
With Smith out of the image, Seattle might take into account making a run at impending free agent Sam Darnold, who frolicked with new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak in San Francisco in 2023.
*Contract data through Spotrac