NFL Analysis
3/23/24
9 min read
3 Players Who Could Be Traded Before the 2024 NFL Draft
This offseason has already seen a number of trades, including a rare player-for-player swap. The backup quarterback market has been active through trades — Sam Howell, Desmond Ridder, Drew Lock and Justin Fields all switched teams in the last week.
In the past few seasons, teams have been more aggressive in acquiring players through trades, which remains a market inefficiency as a way to acquire talent. As we saw with Brian Burns, trades could be the only way to get that caliber of player outside of drafting them because players like that don’t hit the open market.
There are always salary implications with trades, but for the most part, picks-for-veterans trades work out because the acquiring team is unlikely to get the same quality of player with the draft pick. Typically, there is more of a financial burden on the team trading a player — the leading reason a player is available for trade — so if the acquiring team has the money to take on the contract, it’s not much of an issue.
With the focus on draft picks, we’ll look at a few players who could be traded before the 2024 NFL Draft. This won’t include rumored trade candidates such as Stefon Diggs or Marshon Lattimore, who would financially need to be traded after June 1.
We also won’t include franchise-tagged players like Tee Higgins or L’Jarius Sneed, whose trade possibilities have been well-covered.
Players Who Could Be on the Move Before the Draft
Haason Reddick, EDGE, Philadelphia Eagles
Why He Could Get Traded
Haason Reddick was first floated as a trade candidate on the day of the Super Bowl when reports came out he requested a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles. Nothing came of it, but as interest in free agent pass rusher Bryce Huff picked up, Reddick and Josh Sweat were tabbed as candidates to be moved to make room for Huff.
After Huff was signed to a three-year deal worth $51.1 million, the Eagles restructured Sweat’s contract to all but guarantee he’ll be on the roster in 2024.
That leaves Reddick, 30, as the potential odd man out. He's in the final year of his contract and has a cap hit of $21.8 million. If Philadelphia trades him before June 1, the team will still be on the hook for $20.5 million in dead money, which would open up just $1.3 million in cap space.
But because of the void years in Reddick’s contract, he would account for a $14.7 million dead money hit in 2025 if he played the 2024 season in Philadelphia and didn’t re-sign. Trading Reddick now would allow the Eagles to take the dead money hit immediately, clear the books for 2025 and get a pick for the coming draft.
Where He Could Go
There are plenty of teams that could use pass-rush help, though taking on Reddick’s $14.2 million salary could be tough for some. Teams could also extend Reddick to lower that 2024 hit.
The Los Angeles Rams could use a pass rusher and have had success with players such as Reddick, who are quick off the line and versatile enough to drop into coverage.
2023 third-round pick Byron Young was a rookie sensation — along with fellow third-rounder interior defender Kobie Turner — but the Rams’ No. 2 edge on paper is still Michael Hoecht. After Aaron Donald's retirement, Los Angeles could add some more experience on that line.
No team has less effective cap space — including what’s expected to cost to sign a draft class—than the Atlanta Falcons, but few teams need a pass rusher more. Given the signing of Kirk Cousins, Atlanta should be closer to an all-in roster-building philosophy, and the team's pass rush is its biggest weakness. Pick No. 9 could be used on the edge, but that might not be a big enough boost for a defense that was 25th in pressure rate.
The Tennessee Titans have made some big splashes in free agency but still have $40 million in effective cap space and could use another pass rusher. Tennessee has Harold Landy and Arden Key on the edge but lost Denico Autry in free agency. The team ranked 28th in pressure rate in 2023. Reddick was tied for 13th in quarterback hits last season, which would have led the Titans.
Derrick Brown, iDL, Carolina Panthers
Why He Could Get Traded
Derrick Brown is entering the final season of his rookie contract on a fifth-year option that will cost the Carolina Panthers $11.7 million in guaranteed salary. If the Panthers don’t believe Brown is interested in an extension — or if they don’t believe they can get a new deal done with the rising cost of interior linemen — they could look for a return now as they continue to need more draft capital after the Bryce Young trade.
Brown was a force against the run in 2023 with 80 tackles that produced a positive play for the defense by EPA, 14th in the league and easily the most among defensive linemen. He made a tackle on 22.1 percent of his run stops, which was the third-highest rate among defensive linemen with at least 500 snaps.
What’s missing from Brown’s arsenal is pass-rush productivity, but that could be on the way. Brown only had two sacks last season but tallied 15 quarterback hits and has put up at least 12 quarterback hits in three of his four seasons. Brown wasn’t getting to the quarterback but was still affecting pass plays by occupying offensive linemen and getting in passing lanes with six batted passes.
If Brown can improve on a 13.3 percent sack-to-hit ratio, he could be in for a significant payday in 2025.
Where He Could Go
The Arizona Cardinals tried to rework their entire interior front in free agency with Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols and Khyiris Tonga. Still, that’s not an imposing starting front against the run. Arizona ranked 32nd in success rate against the run in 2023 and, even with those additions, could use some help inside. The Cardinals still have just less than $20 million in effective cap space.
Four of the Houston Texans' five top positive EPA tacklers are no longer on the roster. Houston was successful against the run last season — fifth in success rate — but could still use some help up the middle after some losses in free agency. The Texans brought in Foley Fatukasi after he was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Houston’s other starter is penciled in as 2022 UDFA Kurt Hinish. Tim Settle, brought in via free agency, is more for a rotational pass rusher.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys haven't made many moves in free agency but could use some run-defense help, even after using a first-round pick on Mazi Smith last season. With new deals coming for Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons, the Cowboys might not be eager to bring another expensive second contract. However, signing Brown to an extension early could save money long-term. Dallas ranked 29th in success rate against the run in 2023.
Greg Newsome II, CB, Cleveland Browns
Why He Could Get Traded
Greg Newsome II, the Cleveland Browns' 2021 first-round pick, was involved in trade rumors last offseason when it was reported he wanted a trade following displeasure in his role in Joe Woods' defense. Jim Schwartz took over as defensive coordinator, the Browns had one of the league’s best defenses and Newsome had more success in coverage with 14 passes defensed.
However, he still could be on the outside of Cleveland’s plans, given the outlook at it. Denzel Ward is the team’s top cornerback and still has four years remaining on the extension he signed in 2022. Martin Emerson, the Browns’ third-round pick in 2022, has developed into an impressive outside corner. He ranked 12th at the position in adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap last season.
If the Browns are going to extend another defensive back, Emerson would be the priority over Newsome, though that would have to wait until after the 2024 season. As it stands, Cleveland has to make a call on Newsome’s fifth-year option by May.
With Ward and Emerson on the outside, Newsome has been pushed inside. Though he did get to move around more often in the Schwartz defense, which also had him in the box for around 10 percent of his snaps. If the Browns want to move on from Newsome, they have 2023 fifth-round pick Cameron Mitchell on the roster. Mitchell flashed some during his rookie season while giving up a few explosive plays.
Cleveland is another team that could use some extra draft capital via trade. The team has just five draft picks in 2024 and only two in the top 100.
Where He Could Go
After the Las Vegas Raiders' hiring of Antonio Pierce, the team has focused on building its defense. Jack Jones was impressive after he came over as a waiver claim from the New England Patriots, but right now, Brandon Facyson is the No. 2 cornerback on the roster. The Raiders could play Newsome more outside with Nate Hobbs in the slot. Las Vegas has about $24 million in effective cap space, and a fiery player such as Newsome seems like a culture fit in the Pierce-led locker room.
The San Francisco 49ers could use another outside cornerback opposite Charvarius Ward. Deommodore Lenoir and Ambry Thomas were average when out there in 2023 as the 49ers cycled through players on the outside. San Francisco could work to load up some contracts while taking advantage of Brock Purdy’s seventh-round rookie contract while it lasts.
Other teams brought up earlier that could also use cornerback help include the Titans (24th in pass defense DVOA), Falcons (30th) and Cardinals (31st).
