2026 NFL offseason: Rating the highest 15 commerce candidates

Commerce buzz is heating up across the NFL, with the mix underway and free company lower than two weeks away. Which gamers might be concerned in offers?

Nationwide NFL reporter Dan Graziano and NFL analyst Ben Solak labored collectively to stack the 15 finest gamers who might be traded this month. This rating relies on every participant’s worth to a brand new workforce, tying in what he brings on the sphere and his present contract state of affairs. It’s not a rating of the gamers most definitely to be dealt (although we did embrace a tough estimated share probability for every of the 15 gamers to vary groups). In different phrases, Kyler Murray is ranked greater than Spencer Rattler right here as a result of Murray would carry extra to a roster, however Rattler has the next chance of truly getting moved.

For every participant, we even have what we’re listening to, what we see on the tape and a few workforce suits that may make sense. We start with a proficient 2024 first-rounder who may want a change of surroundings.

Leap to the top-ranked:
QB | RB | WR | TE
Edge | DT | CB | S

The contract: Two extra years for a complete of $4.9 million, plus a fifth-year workforce choice for 2028

The thrill: A primary-round decide two years in the past by the earlier Jaguars administration, Thomas struggled sufficient all through his second season that the workforce wanted to commerce for Jakobi Meyers on the deadline then signed him to a long-term deal. The Jaguars additionally received a powerful season out of Parker Washington. And whereas the brand new plan for Travis Hunter is likely to be to concentrate on the cornerback place, Jacksonville nonetheless expects him to contribute one thing as a large receiver.

There was no indication that buying and selling Thomas is one thing the Jaguars are planning, however there are groups monitoring the state of affairs in case the hypertalented LSU product has fallen far sufficient down the Jacksonville depth chart that the entrance workplace would take into account a transfer. — Graziano

The tape: The expectation for Thomas getting into his sophomore season was WR1 manufacturing. However he struggled with drops and make contact with to start out the season and ended up in additional of a WR3 field-stretching function by season’s finish. If one other workforce desires to spend massive draft capital on Thomas within the hopes that he returns to his rookie type in a brand new zip code, I might get it. Thomas was higher as a prospect than any huge receiver within the upcoming 2026 class. He had 707 yards and two scores in 2025, however he went for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie. — Solak

Predicted probability of getting traded: 20%
Potential workforce suits: Patriots, Payments, Steelers, Raiders

The contract: Yet another yr for about $5.9 million

The thrill: The league appears to imagine the Dolphins are in a full rebuild, which implies they’re getting calls on all of their star gamers. My sense is that they are much more prone to prolong Achane’s contract than to take heed to these commerce provides, however of their state of affairs, you reply the telephone when it rings. So, name any Achane commerce a big lengthy shot that may take an awfully engaging bundle to get carried out. — Graziano

The tape: The Dolphins valued Achane extremely on the commerce deadline, and they’ll possible achieve this once more. The 24-year-old operating again has game-breaking pace, high-volume receiving potential and a lot better toughness and tackle-breaking abilities than his slight body may counsel. He is a greater — and youthful — expertise than anybody within the loaded free agent RB market. Achane ran for 1,350 yards and eight scores final season, and his 5.7 yards per carry ranked first within the NFL. — Solak

Predicted probability of getting traded: 10%
Potential workforce suits: Chiefs, Texans, Vikings

The contract: Three extra years for a complete of about $57.3 million, with $16.6 million absolutely assured for 2026

The thrill: There have been whispers of a possible Waddle deal on the commerce deadline in October, however these may need been generated from the groups moderately than from the Dolphins. With Tyreek Hill launched, a Waddle deal would characterize a big reset in Miami. And if the Dolphins are going to deal with a $99.2 million lifeless cash hit for Tua Tagovailoa, they will have to chop prices someplace. (On the third day of the league yr, $15.2 million of Waddle’s $23.39 million 2027 wage will turn into absolutely assured too.)

However as I mentioned on Achane above, my sense is that the Dolphins see Waddle as a constructing block who’s beneath contract and are not keen to maneuver on from him. They’re going to get calls, little doubt, however it will take quite a bit for them to deal him. — Graziano

The tape: Waddle has a number of seasons of cost-controlled play on his present contract, is just 27 years previous and will be each a yards-after-catch slot choice and a downfield vertical risk. He would not have the body to be a high-volume WR1, however he can be a wonderful, explosive half of a league-leading tandem at huge receiver. He caught 64 passes for 910 yards and 6 touchdowns final season. — Solak

Predicted probability of getting traded: 10%
Potential workforce suits: Steelers, Chiefs, Raiders, Ravens

The contract: 4 extra years at about $29 million per yr, with $30 million absolutely assured for 2026

The thrill: Final season ended badly for Crosby and the Raiders, because the workforce put him on injured reserve with two video games left though he felt wholesome sufficient to play. There was a ton of chatter round this case although no public proclamations from Crosby about wanting out. And common supervisor John Spytek mentioned on the mix Tuesday he expects Crosby to play for Las Vegas subsequent season. Except Crosby forces the difficulty and tells the Raiders he would not wish to play for them anymore, it is exhausting to see the workforce transferring him. But when that does occur, there can be a ton of curiosity. — Graziano

The tape: The worth proposition on Crosby is apparent. One of many league’s finest three-down defensive linemen, Crosby is an iron man who creates tackles for loss within the operating recreation and may beat even elite offensive tackles in one-on-one pass-rush conditions. Crosby will flip 29 earlier than subsequent season and nonetheless has two years of assured cash on his deal, so he might be the crowning jewel of a contending protection. He had 10 sacks in 2025. — Solak

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Predicted probability of getting traded: 60%
Potential workforce suits: Bears, Patriots, Commanders

The contract: 4 extra years at $28.25 million per yr, with $29 million absolutely assured for 2026

The thrill: Brown made no secret of his frustrations with the Eagles’ offense in 2025. Heck, he made no secret of them in 2024, when the workforce ended up profitable the Tremendous Bowl. Philadelphia has discovered to stay with Brown’s grousing due to his manufacturing. So, the questions are whether or not he is sad sufficient there to pressure the difficulty and whether or not the Eagles wish to transfer on from the state of affairs. — Graziano

The tape: Brown’s particular person play appeared to fall off a contact final season, but it surely’s honest to imagine his frustration with the offense led to some disinterested play. An buying workforce is risking that Brown is past his athletic prime (he’ll flip 29 this summer time), however he has just one yr of assured cash on his deal, so it will not be too massive of a dedication. And the latest ceiling of Brown’s play has been top-five receiver stage. He had 1,003 yards final season, and he has tallied at the least seven touchdowns in every of the previous 4 campaigns. — Solak

Predicted probability of getting traded: 60%
Potential workforce suits: Patriots, Payments, Ravens

The contract: 4 extra years at $28.75 million per yr, nothing assured

The thrill: When he signed his deal final spring, Metcalf’s $25 million in 2026 wage was absolutely assured. However his two-game suspension on the finish of the season for an in-game altercation with a fan voided that assure and will in flip make Metcalf simpler to commerce, if the Steelers are so inclined. They’re going to be putting in a brand new offense beneath new coach Mike McCarthy, and whereas dealing Metcalf would weaken them at a spot the place they’re already skinny, the wideout might find yourself in the marketplace if he isn’t a match for the scheme. — Graziano

The tape: Metcalf is a team-specific participant; not all methods will endure his restricted route tree. These groups that have already got a dominant route runner or can feed him a gradual weight loss plan of vertical routes will worth a participant who continues to be beneath 30 and has a novel mix of dimension and pace — particularly once we take into account how a lot workforce management he provides. He logged 850 yards in 2025, and he exceeded that quantity in every of his six prior seasons. — Solak

Predicted probability of getting traded: 25%
Potential workforce suits: Patriots, Commanders, Payments

The contract: Two extra years at about $39.4 million per yr, with $36.8 million assured in 2026 and a workforce choice for 2028

The thrill: The Cardinals would like to commerce the contract, however with that massive assure this yr and one other $19.5 million of 2027 cash that absolutely ensures on the third day of this league yr, it will be robust to discover a taker. If Arizona is prepared to pay down an enormous chunk of the cash, that might assist; however odds are Murray finally ends up getting launched earlier than that 2027 assure kicks in subsequent month. — Graziano

The tape: Whereas Murray is not as thrilling as latest QB commerce candidates comparable to Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson, he is nonetheless a starting-caliber passer beneath 30 years previous. Murray has assured cash in 2026 and may need some in 2027 relying on when he’s traded, so this would not be a small dedication for any buying workforce. However it’s a shallow offseason at quarterback, and Murray has a excessive ceiling as a rehabilitation undertaking given his quickness and stay arm. He was restricted to 5 video games in 2025 with a foot damage, however he threw 21 landing passes and ran for 5 scores in 2024. — Solak

Predicted probability of getting traded: 5%
Potential workforce suits: Dolphins, Jets, Vikings

The contract: Yet another yr at about $5.8 million

The thrill: The Lions have 4 2023 draft picks they wish to prolong — LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell and Brian Department — and there are individuals across the league who ponder whether they will be capable to get all of these offers carried out or in the event that they’d must commerce somebody. Even when the Lions cannot prolong LaPorta, I feel the chances of them buying and selling him are extraordinarily skinny, as Detroit nonetheless sees itself in a win-now window. — Graziano

The tape: LaPorta had again surgical procedure this previous season (489 receiving yards, three touchdowns) and hasn’t seemed as explosive as he did as a rookie (889 yards, 10 scores in 2023), however he stays one of the crucial thrilling younger receivers on the place. Groups on the lookout for a high-volume receiving tight finish is likely to be prepared to spend a draft decide now on LaPorta, as an alternative of risking a bidding battle in free company in 2027 ought to he come again to type. — Solak

Predicted probability of getting traded: 10%
Potential workforce suits: Chiefs, Ravens, Texans

The contract: Two extra years at a complete of $3.04 million, nothing assured

The thrill: He’s nonetheless solely 25 and would have worth in a commerce. The Niners have a brand new defensive coordinator in Raheem Morris, and Inexperienced won’t be a scheme match. The 2024 second-round decide has only one interception in two NFL seasons, and he appeared to fall out of favor a bit with the teaching employees at occasions final season. — Graziano

The tape: Inexperienced is not a very massive exterior nook, however he makes up for it with quickness and aggressiveness. Double-digit move breakups in every of his first two seasons is a testomony to that. The teaching employees received pissed off with psychological lapses and pointless aggressiveness final season, and groups will name accordingly to see if Inexperienced has run out of time in San Francisco. — Solak

Predicted probability of getting traded: 80%
Potential workforce suits: Cowboys, Falcons, Eagles

The contract: Two extra years at a complete of $2.27 million, nothing assured

The thrill: Rattler began 14 video games for the Saints throughout his first two years within the league, and New Orleans misplaced 13 of them. He has 12 profession landing passes and 10 interceptions, and he has been supplanted because the beginning quarterback by promising 2025 second-round decide Tyler Shough. However Rattler confirmed the Saints sufficient the previous two offseasons that they had been prepared to offer him a shot, and there might be groups on the market that suppose sufficient of his expertise to carry him in to see if they’ll coach him up right into a extra constant starter. — Graziano

The tape: The Saints do not wish to commerce a younger quarterback on a rookie contract who improved as a sophomore, however groups want developmental passers, and Rattler is the very best candidate this spring. Rattler excelled as extra of a quick-distribution level guard final season, however he additionally confirmed good creation potential on longer, motion dropbacks. He might struggle — and simply beat out — a free agent veteran in coaching camp for a rebuilding workforce. — Solak

Predicted probability of getting traded: 70%
Potential workforce suits: Dolphins, Chiefs, Rams, Raiders

The contract: Yet another yr at $15.6 million

The thrill: He’s 29 years previous and positively slowing down, however he has loads of high-level expertise and a popularity as a robust locker room chief. The Dolphins have a brand new teaching employees and can be putting in a brand new protection beneath incoming coach Jeff Hafley. It is potential they’d must pay down a few of the wage to make a deal work, however in addition they might do the sort of player-for-player deal that introduced them Fitzpatrick final summer time. — Graziano

The tape: Fitzpatrick will flip 30 subsequent season and his finest play is behind him, however he is nonetheless an impactful single-high protection defender with sufficient dimension and protection potential to step into the field. Fitzpatrick has one yr left on his deal and is just engaging as a mercenary choice for contending groups, however the ground and ceiling of his play are excessive sufficient to demand stable return. He registered 82 tackles and an interception final season. — Solak

Predicted probability of getting traded: 65%
Potential workforce suits: Payments, Cowboys

The contract: Three extra years at about $47 million per yr, with $54 million assured for 2026

The thrill: Benched on the tail finish of final season for Quinn Ewers, Tagovailoa not appears like the long run in Miami. The Dolphins have a brand new GM and a brand new coach, and so they might flip over the roster considerably this offseason. The issue is that $54 million assure, which might switch to whichever workforce trades for Tagovailoa and certain prevents any deal from getting carried out except the Dolphins are prepared to pay down a large portion of it.

Extra possible, Miami will find yourself having to chop Tagovailoa and swallow $99.2 million in lifeless cash cap fees because of a long-term extension that appears extraordinarily ill-advised looking back. — Graziano

The tape: The strengths and limitations of Tagovailoa’s play are clear at this level, so it is unlikely a workforce trades for him as a long-term beginning choice. However as a bridge, his fast launch and pinpoint accuracy within the run-pass choice work effectively for a workforce on the lookout for a straightforward id on offense. As long as the Dolphins work with the contract to make it extra palatable, Tagovailoa ought to have a stable market. He threw 20 landing passes and a career-high 15 interceptions final season. — Solak

Predicted probability of getting traded: 5%
Potential workforce suits: Vikings, Falcons, Cardinals

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The contract: Yet another yr at $1.9 million

The thrill: The Eagles suppose very extremely of Jalen Hurts’ backup QB, and that opinion is well-known across the league. Do they suppose extremely sufficient of McKee to increase him? Would McKee even go for that? Or does he wish to play this deal out, go some other place and see if he will be an NFL starter? If the Eagles really feel as if it is the latter, they may look to get one thing for him from a workforce searching for an reasonably priced upside resolution on the QB place. — Graziano

The tape: McKee appears like a younger quarterback worthy of growth in his preseason and late-season begins. I see good dimension, good accuracy and luxury studying the sphere to make aggressive throws from the pocket. McKee has just one yr left on his deal, so a commerce would solely make sense with a workforce that may begin him now to find out if he is worthy of an extension. He has 5 profession landing passes throughout appearances in six video games. — Solak

Predicted probability of getting traded: 20%
Potential workforce suits: Dolphins, Jets, Vikings, Chiefs

The contract: Three extra years at about $9.9 million per yr, nothing assured

The thrill: Hobbs was a free agent signing for Inexperienced Bay simply final yr. However he handled accidents in 2025 and bounced between slot nook and outdoors nook duties when he was on the sphere. He appears higher solid as a slot nook, however the Packers aren’t brief on these, and it is potential they may see him as a priceless commerce candidate who might assist them decide up an additional draft decide or two. He has a $6.25 million roster bonus due on the third day of the league yr, so if a deal occurred after that, it might be even cheaper for the buying workforce.

Inexperienced Bay wasn’t the one workforce all in favour of Hobbs throughout free company final yr, and if there is a slot nook market on the market, it would make sense for the Packers to see what they’ll get. — Graziano

The tape: Hobbs by no means settled into both the slot or the surface spot in Inexperienced Bay’s protection. He’s a greater match within the slot and has a great nostril coming downhill in zone protection. However there are numerous good slots accessible in free company and the draft this offseason, which could restrict curiosity in Hobbs’ providers. — Solak

Predicted probability of getting traded: 50%
Potential workforce suits: Lions, Dolphins, Panthers, Payments

The contract: Yet another yr at $14.75 million

The thrill: The Giants have a surplus of impression defensive linemen with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, and it appears extra possible they will attempt to discover a commerce companion for Thibodeaux than prolong the 2022 first-round decide forward of his fifth-year-option season. The query is whether or not the Giants can discover a taker for him at that wage in a deep offseason edge rusher market, however the chatter on the mix signifies they’ll strive. — Graziano

The tape: Thibodeaux’s motor can run cold and warm, which makes him a tough participant to belief on a down-to-down foundation. However a contract yr might mild a fireplace beneath Thibodeaux, who generates fast pressures with hand utilization and a killer first step. He posted 2.5 sacks final season but in addition had 11.5 in 2023. That form of manufacturing can hold a man in a delegated pass-rushing function for a very long time on this league. However it’s a loaded offseason for edge rushers in free company, which could mood Thibodeaux’s market. — Solak

Predicted probability of getting traded: 70%
Potential workforce suits: Chargers, Bengals, Bears

Honorable mentions

• Jordan Davis, DT, Philadelphia Eagles

• Tyson Bagent, QB, Chicago Bears

• Will Levis, QB, Tennessee Titans

• Anthony Richardson Sr., QB, Indianapolis Colts

• DJ Moore, WR, Chicago Bears

• Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Payments