The NFL Draft is upon us, and the excitement is palpable. One of the most exciting aspects of draft weekend is the potential for veteran trades. While that kind of transaction was unheard of a few years ago, NFL front offices are embracing more of a fantasy football mindset with each passing season. In the last few seasons, we've seen A.J. Brown, Marquise Brown, and D'Andre Swift traded, among others. There's the belief that we could see an ever-increasing number of veterans moved in draft-day deals as personnel departments get smarter about optimizing the value of players who no longer fit their long-term plans.
Despite the excitement, it's important to remember that VERY FEW veterans will actually be traded during the draft. Many marquee players have already been traded, most recently Stefon Diggs being sent to Houston. Other veterans will become cap casualties before camps get underway, while others will remain with their teams and play out the string. That said, let's look at some of the players who could be on the move this weekend.
Quarterbacks
Zach Wilson - Zach Wilson wants a fresh start, and the Jets have given his agent permission to seek a trade. But most teams are probably willing to wait for the Jets to release Wilson since he doesn't have a viable path toward remaining in New York after multiple failed attempts as the starter. Although Wilson's career marks are uninspiring, he is only 24 years old and has started 33 games. Plenty of teams would value him as their No. 2 quarterback. UPDATE (4/22/24): Zach Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos in exchange for swapping of late round picks and some salary assistance.
Wide Receivers
Brandon Aiyuk - Aiyuk is, by far, the most likely fantasy-relevant player who might be traded this weekend. The 26-year-old receiver is coming off a career-best season (75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns) and has seen contemporaries Michael Pittman (3-year, $70mm) and DeVonta Smith (3-year, $75mm) get new deals while both Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb are likely to reset the receiver market in the coming weeks. Most reports say Aiyuk's agents and the 49ers front office remain far apart on an extension, meaning he could be sent to another team willing to pay him the new going rate for No. 1 receivers, and the 49ers could gain much-needed draft capital.
Courtland Sutton - Last year, both Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton were the subject of trade rumors, but head coach Sean Payton ended up keeping the veterans to pair with Russell Wilson. A year later, Denver is committed to a complete rebuild, already jettisoning Wilson and trading Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns. Sutton is 28 years old and five years removed from his only 1,000-yard season; trading him makes sense for both sides.
Tee Higgins - Higgins was franchise-tagged and the Bengals haven't come to terms on a long-term extension. Cincinnati's front office emphatically denies the potential of trading Higgins, so we'll assume he's not going anywhere. But Cincinnati seems unlikely to be able to afford Higgins beyond this season since they have to pay Ja'Marr Chase a record-setting deal next year.
DeAndre Hopkins - The Tennessee Titans have been aggressive in free agency, including signing Calvin Ridley to a rich contract. They appear set to give second-year quarterback Will Levis every opportunity to prove he can be the team's long-term answer. Keeping Hopkins makes sense, given that context, but the soon-to-be 32-year-old could be an enticing trade option for a veteran team in a Super Bowl window.
Davante Adams - The Raiders' best offensive player, Adams has calmed down in recent weeks and now says he wants to remain in Las Vegas. But the Raiders aren't realistically in a contending window for the next season or two, and Adams isn't getting any younger (31 years old), so a contending team might try to pry him away, particularly if it helps the Raiders move up high enough to land one of the quarterbacks they covet.
John Metchie III - Metchie has just 16 receptions in two NFL seasons, but he was a second-round pick and is only 23. The Texans receiver depth chart is stacked, and Metchie doesn't have a clear role. While he's more likely to be released in a few weeks, an enterprising GM could probably secure Metchie on draft weekend for a day-three pick.
Darius Slayton - You're forgiven for not realizing Slayton has been the Giants' leading receiver in four of the last five seasons. The 27-year-old thinks that warrants a new long-term contract, but it's unclear if the Giants front office agrees. Like Metchie, Slayton isn't going to fetch a high pick but could be part of a package if the Giants want to get creative as they maneuver the draft.
Offensive Linemen
T Cam Robinson - With Anton Harrison set at right tackle, the Jaguars could consider moving Robinson to address other needs. That possibility depends on whether the Jaguars coaches believe Walker Little is ready to step into a full-time role as the starting left tackle.
Defensive Players
EDGE Micah Parsons - Trading away your 25-year-old elite edge defender is inconceivable, and we don't expect anything to come of the recent rumors. But it's worth noting that beat writers have said Parsons is "wearing thin" in Dallas. The Cowboys are cap-strapped and still need to sign Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb to new deals.
CB Patrick Surtain II - Unlike Courtland Sutton, who hasn't put up top-tier numbers in years, Surtain remains a well-respected commodity as one of the league's premier positions. While there are mixed reports about Surtain's availability, if the Broncos are as eager to move higher in the draft as many think, they're going to have to be willing to part with someone like Surtain to get high enough to draft someone like Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels.
DT Kenny Clark - Clark is 29 years old and in the final year of his contract. The veteran interior presence carries a $27.5 million cap hit and could be in line for a trade if he and the Packers can't come to terms on an extension.
S Budda Baker - Baker demanded a trade last offseason, but the Cardinals worked things out for the 2023 season. Now, he's entering his final year and carries a $19 million cap cost. Plenty of contending teams could use a proven veteran in the secondary, although a trade for Baker seems more likely after the draft when teams can re-assess their needs.
CB Greg Newsome II - The Browns have yet to pick up Newsome's fifth-year option, helping fuel rumors that he could be on the move as the Browns try to fix other holes.