7 Big Deals We Want to See Before the NFL Season Opens

Henry McKenna

NFL Reporter

This is the moment when NFL teams need to be honest about who and what they’re doing. no He owns.

Each team trimmed its roster to 53 players on Tuesday. As Week 1 approaches, teams are starting to develop their game plans with their personnel. That means eliminating concepts and ideas that their personnel can’t execute.

But what if they didn’t have to?

Wouldn’t it be fun if these teams could just go out in a moment of inspiration and get exactly what they need?

I decided to explore which stars were either unhappy or not in tune with where they were. I looked for a landing spot (and compensation package) that would make everyone happy. Now, I realize some of these concepts may be far-fetched. But that’s the fun of this exploration: figuring out what these players might be worth on the open market and which teams might be willing to pay that high price.

These are the seven big deals we’d like to see happen before the 2024 season.

the Brandon Eyock big movie

Pittsburgh Steelers Get: Ayuk
San Francisco 49ers Get: Steelers 2025 first-round pick, 2026 third-round pick

There have been enough chapters in Aiyuk’s book — at least when it comes to this potential trade. Let’s get this done. The Steelers were always going to have to give up a first-round pick, but they’re also going to add a third-rounder as an extra measure.

Now, this won’t solve Pittsburgh’s real problem. Their offensive line is likely to be atrocious. But the Steelers won’t find a top-notch right tackle on the trade market. So instead, they’ll go with Aiyuk and George Pickens to help their quarterbacks. And we all know Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are going to play this year. The starter — whoever gets the first shot — will struggle. Then the other quarterback will struggle, too. And this cycle will continue like this for most of the season.

Are the 49ers still the favorite to win the NFC Championship if they decide to trade Brandon Aiyuk?

the Cooper Cup big movie

Kansas City Chiefs Get: Cup
Los Angeles Rams Get: Chiefs 2025 2nd Round Pick

Why are Tua Tagovailoa and Joe Burrow having all the fun with the elite receiving duo?

Why can’t Patrick Mahomes do good things at wing?

Yes, I know the Chiefs just drafted Xavier Worthy, who set a record for the 40-yard rushing game. I know Rashe Rice starred in the playoffs. I know free agent Marquise Brown, who joined the team, was a perfect fit in Kansas City during training camp. But with each of those picks, there’s a question mark.

For Worthy, it’s a rookie — and there’s no guarantee he can produce in the NFL. For Rice, it’s a case of being suspended due to criminal charges stemming from a multi-vehicle crash. And for Brown, his injury history, including a torn collarbone, will likely keep him out of Week 1.

Those players could still get plenty of time in an offense that focuses on Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Cobb. In order to get the deal done, the Chiefs would have to work around their salary cap to accommodate the veteran receiver. But man, this offense would absolutely thrive with that group of threats.

As for the Rams, who have a young, up-and-coming team led by Buka Nakoa, they don’t really need Cobb anymore. They might be better off selling the 31-year-old receiver while they can get great value.

the Hason Reddick big movie

Arizona Cardinals Get: Reddick
New York Jets Get: Cardinals 2025 4th Round Pick

This would be a funny and tragic outcome for the New York Jets. In March, the team traded a conditional third-round pick to the Eagles for Reddick, one of the NFL’s top rushers. But there was a misunderstanding. The Jets thought he would show up and play without a new contract. Reddick, who is entering the final year of a three-year deal he signed with Philadelphia in 2022, wants to see the money before he plays. So this bizarre stalemate seems like it could only happen to Gang Green.

The solution is to send Reddick back to where he started his career. Arizona selected him 13th overall in 2017, and he played there for four years. The Cardinals desperately need a power forward who can pressure forwards — and a lot of cap space to give Reddick the contract he wants. Plus, Reddick would be cheap in terms of trade compensation.

New York Jets ‘Deserved This Mess’ Amid Haason Reddick Contract Dispute

the Micah Parsons big movie

New England Patriots Get: Parsons, Cowboys’ 2025 first-round pick
Dallas Cowboys Get: Patriots 2025 first- and fourth-round picks, 2026 first-round pick, DE Kion White

Okay, here’s a crazy idea. The Patriots are in desperate need of offensive firepower, so this might seem like a strange trade for them. But remember: First-year head coach Jerod Mayo is a defensive coach. Why not bring in Parsons to give Mayo the defensive firepower he needs?

The three-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker is one of the best players in the NFL. And New England is bereft of his star players. It’s a real fit, especially after the Patriots traded Matthew Judon to Atlanta earlier in August.

The pick might seem big at first glance, especially when you look at New England’s picks with Dallas in 2025. The Cowboys will likely pick around No. 25; the Patriots will likely pick around No. 1. That’s a jump worth a first-round pick or two. And New England wouldn’t be there anyway. Since they have franchise quarterback hopeful Drake May, the Patriots will try to trade up from No. 1.

Why not ditch that iconic pick now and replace it with a well-known figure in his prime? Why not avoid the risk that comes with picking an NFL player?

Meanwhile, Dallas would be crazy not to consider this deal. The Cowboys could probably make the money work by signing Dak Prescott and Parsons to huge deals — even after giving up C.D. Lamb. But New England could offer a solution to Jerry Jones’ contract backlog. The Patriots are offering Jones a godfather offer that takes one of those contract disputes off the table. The Cowboys also get White, a 2023 second-round pick. White and Parsons are clearly not comparable players, but his inclusion in the deal helps nonetheless.

How important is CeeDee Lamb’s contract to the Cowboys?

the Pat Freiermuth big movie

Indianapolis Colts Get: Freyrmouth
Steelers get: Colts’ conditional 2025 fifth-round pick (becomes fourth pick if Freiermuth plays 50% of snaps and third if he plays 75%)

Freiermuth’s reputation has outstripped his NFL production. The 6-foot-5, 258-pound tight end had a solid year in 2022, catching 63 passes for 732 yards and two scores. In his rookie year, he scored seven touchdowns. The potential is still there. He just hasn’t quite put it together. And in Indy, with solid quarterback Anthony Richardson, Freiermuth could be right up his alley.

That’s why I can see him playing a huge role – big enough to stay on the field for over 75% of the team’s snaps.

But that’s a risk on several levels for the Colts. Freiermuth is set to enter free agency, so they have to decide which path to take. They can extend his contract at trade time in a deal that won’t reset the market. Or they can wait and see how things play out, hoping he blows up (and thus has to pay him a premium over the market).

The Steelers could promote Darnell Washington, a third-round pick in 2023. If they can land Aiyuk, they’ll have a bigger offensive firepower.

the Davante Adams big movie

New York Jets get: Adams
Las Vegas Raiders Get: 2025 first-round pick

The deal that was supposed to happen. Aaron Rodgers — who often seems to be acting as New York’s de facto general manager — will be working with one of his favorite receivers again. The New York Jets have been working hard this season. The 40-year-old Rodgers has indicated he wants to stay for two more seasons. This deal will likely encourage him to stay longer and then some. On paper, there won’t be a more talented team in the NFL than the New York Jets. They may move into first place as the favorite to win the Super Bowl — or close.

At the same time, the Raiders don’t have a quarterback to get Adams the ball. It’s a waste of talent to have him on the roster. He won’t get any more satisfaction as this season goes on. The Raiders would be smart to let him go now, because his trade leverage will continue to dissipate.

Why the Jets, Bills and Steelers Could Be Good Fits for Davante Adams

the T Higgins big movie

Washington leaders Get: Higgins
Cincinnati Bengals Get: Commanders 2025 first-round pick

The Commanders are certainly rebuilding. But they have money to spend, and Higgins is worth the long-term extension. So he and Terry McLaurin could work together as great leaders for Jayden Daniels in the passing game.

And if you don’t think Higgins deserves what could be a top-15 pick, remember that Drake London, Jameson Williams, Jahan Dotson and Treylon Burks were all first-round receivers in 2022. They all came in between eighth and 18th overall.

Dotson, in particular, is a timely warning sign. Washington recently traded him for a third-round pick and two seventh-rounders.

Why risk it again?

The Commanders can improve even faster. It will cost them cap space, but at least they will know for sure that they have a proven NFL receiver.

As for the Bengals, if they do get rid of Higgins, they will only have one receiver extension to worry about: Ja’Marr Chase’s. And his extension will be very important.

Prior to joining FOX Sports as an AFC East reporter, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. You can follow him on Twitter at @Henry CM Kenna.

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