8 NFL trade candidates this offseason, including Bears, Vikings, Raiders players

The beginning of NFL free agency is right around the corner, and while teams set up their target lists to fix their immediate needs, we’re also seeing player trades happening at a rapid pace. The reason for this is twofold: a) we have teams trying to open up more space on their books to be prepared for free agency to begin, and b) there are currently 13 teams who are over the salary cap, all of whom need to dump money ahead of the March 11 deadline and would rather get something for their veteran talent, rather than cut them all together.

Let’s dive into the eight players most likely to be traded before free agency opens, and which teams could be in line for their services.

Maxx Crosby, DE — Las Vegas Raiders

Leading the list we have Maxx Crosby, a player the Raiders don’t necessarily need to trade considering they’re $88M under the salary cap — but they need to make a deal as a good-faith move. Crosby has given seven seasons to a floundering, rudderless franchise that changes leadership and strategy quicker than Mark Davis gets haircuts at Great Clips. At this point the All-Pro pass rusher is weary of it all, and wants a change of scenery — which the Raiders would be wise to do, if for no other reason than to show players around the league that the organization respects players.

There’s no shortage of teams needing help on the defensive line, which makes Crosby one of the most attractive potential trade targets out there — assuming the Raiders aren’t foolish enough to remain firm that they need to get Micah Parsons-level compensation for Crosby.

Possible suitors: Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears

Brian Thomas Jr, WR — Jacksonville Jaguars

There’s a lot of chatter around the Jags being open to dealing Brian Thomas Jr. just two years after he was drafted by the team, and one year removed from a Pro Bowl season. The core issue here is that the Jaguars want more draft capital to recoup some of the cost from trading up for Travis Hunter in 2025 — but also that BTJ was extremely underwhelming in Liam Coen’s first year as head coach. As a result we saw Parker Washington emerge as the team’s top receiver, and then Jacksonville made a deal at the deadline for Jakobi Meyers, which cemented their receiver corps.

Factor in Hunter coming back from injury to play a bigger role and it puts BTJ on the outside looking in, with no shortage of teams who were interested in him during the draft potentially trying to make a deal now.

Possible suitors: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots

Michael Pittman Jr, WR — Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are desperately trying to slap duct tape on their boat to keep everything afloat for another season, but at this point it seems highly likely that Michael Pittman could be dealt for cap relief ahead of the 2026 NFL season. The organization made its priorities clear by signing QB Daniel Jones to the transition tag so they could make a big run at soon-to-be free agent WR Alec Pierce, with Indy doing everything it can to keep the duo together.

That makes Pittman expendable with a $29M cap hit, and being prohibitively expensive for where the Colts are right now. It seems entirely likely that he will be released, but there’s also the outside chance that Indianapolis simply ships him away for a late round pick to get something for nothing.

Possible suitors: Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens

Anthony Richardson, QB — Indianapolis Colts

Let’s keep things in Indy, because a lot of the same factors apply. At this point the Colts seem ready to give up on the Anthony Richardson experiment, opting to roll the dice with Daniel Jones until they find a new quarterback in the draft. That opens the door for some really interesting scenarios to happen with the former 1st round QB.

A few years ago everyone would have looked at Richardson as a bust and moved on, with some team signing him in free agency when the Colts eventually cut him. However, in this era of the NFL there’s a prevailing belief that quarterbacks in bad situations can be fixed with the right coaching, as Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Geno Smith, and even Daniel Jones typified in their comebacks. Richardson has that shared DNA of being a former high pick, he’s only 23-years-old, and still possesses the ludicrous upside that made him a top pick.

Possible suitors: New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams

D.J. Moore, WR — Chicago Bears

The Bears are in a situation where they can easily get under the cap, but they could quickly accelerate this by shipping away their overpriced receiver. Moore doesn’t really seem to be part of Ben Johnson’s plans for the Bears’ offense moving forward, with the overwhelming likelihood being that Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and Colston Loveland will form the basis of the air attack in Chicago.

What we have here is a bad schematic fit, with Moore’s intermediate route, quick-twitch speed not really fitting with an offense that likes to throw deep or short, without much in between. Considering that Moore is carring a $35M cap hit this year and only gave the team 682 receiving yards, well, it’s time to say goodbye. This is a case where we could see Moore be an effective part of a deal for a player like Maxx Crosby.

Possible suitors: Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills

Tremaine Edmunds, LB — Chicago Bears

Edwards is a good player who led the Bears in tackles and helps in a variety of ways, but not nearly to the tune of his $17.4M cap hit — making him expendable. Chicago has already given Edmunds permission to seek a trade, which is tantamount to saying they’ll take any reasonable offer for the veteran linebacker.

Chicago needs more help in its pass rush, and that’s where defensive resources should be allocated. There are several teams in need of a defensive leader and standout linebacker, which could make moving Edmunds easier than Moore on the open market.

Possible suitors: Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants

Jordan Addison, WR — Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are in cap hell. The team needs to make a lot of moves in the next week to get under the cap, and there are still massive questions lingering about what their plan will be at quarterback for the 2026 season. Trading Addison only relieves a small amount of that salary cap pressure, but every dollar counts right now for Minnesota.

There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Addison has been a colossal pain in the ass for the Vikings. There’s no questioning that when he’s on his game, he is a legitimate starting receiver in the league, but the only consistency he’s shown over the last two years is an unbelievable knack for getting in trouble off the field. The latest was being arrested for trespassing at a casino in Florida, which comes after two DUIs in 2024, and a reckless driving charge in 2023.

Someone out there will take a risk on the talent, and the Vikings will be glad to be rid of the headache.

Possible suitors: Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders

Jonathan Greenard, LB — Minnesota Vikings

When you make bad moves there’s always a moment where it’s time to pay the piper — and that’s Jonathan Greenard for the Vikings. It was a bad year for Greenard who was hurt, but also didn’t really find his footing in 2025, but he’s still a high-tier all-around EDGE with the ability to rush the passer and help in run support.

There’s no good reason for the Vikings to trade Greenard other than needing help with their salary cap problem. They would keep him in they could, but that ust doesn’t seem to be on the cards anymore, especially when a team that can compete in the postseason could be available.

Possible suitors: Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots

Where’s A.J. Brown?!

One of the biggest names who didn’t make this list in Eagles receiver A.J. Brown, whose name has been swirling in trade rumors since the season ended. The reason for this is simple: It makes zero sense for the Eagles to try and make a trade now.

Philadelphia would eat a dead cap hit of $20M if they made a deal before the start of the NFL season due to the guaranteed money Brown is owed. There’s simply no way a deal can effectively take place prior to June 1, when the Eagles can trade Brown and save $7M against the cap. It’s difficult to imagine Brown remaining in Philly, but this feels far more like a trade that happens in the Summer, not now.