Notable NFL Trade Candidates

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertOctober 25, 2020
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Julio Jones (WR, ATL)

Age: 31
(UPDATE: Atlanta has ruled out this move) The biggest name on the hypothetical trade block will have $5.9M remaining on his 2020 salary at the deadline, then 3 years, $38M thereafter (fully guaranteed through 2021). His move would leave behind dead cap hits of $11.48M in 2020 & $23.25M in 2021 (a loss of $200,000).

 

James Carpenter (OG, ATL)

Age: 31
Carpenter is in year two of a 4 year $21M contract, but could be on the move this week as the Falcons continue to shuffle pieces and clear cap. He holds $2.11M remaining in 2020, then non-guaranteed salaries of $5.25M & $6.25M through 2022. His trade would leave behind dead cap hits to the Falcons of $3M in 2020, & $2.4M in 2021 ($4M saved).

 

Takkarist McKinley (DE, ATL)

Age: 24
The Faclons declined McKinley's 5th year option for 2021, so he's operating on an expiring contract that holds just $983k remaining in 2020. It's a buy low opportunity for contenders looking to shore up depth on their D-Line heading toward the postseason. A trade would leave behind $2.26M of dead cap to the Falcons.

 

Alex Mack (OC, ATL)

Age: 34 (35 in 3 weeks)
Mack has been consistent & reliable during his tenure in Atlanta, but age + a team going backwards is always a recipe for change. Mack will have $4.2M remaining on his contract at the deadline, leaving behind $6.3M of dead cap to the Falcons if moved.

 

Trent Murphy (DE, BUF)

Age: 29
Murphy was a release candidate this past summer, and with his role largely reduced now, must be a trade candidate as well. He holds $3.65M remaining in 2020 at the deadline, set to leave behind $5.62M of dead cap to the Bills per a trade.

 

Curtis Samuel (WR, CAR)

Age: 24
Samuel will have $645k remaining on his 2020 salary at the deadline, the final year of his rookie contract in Carolina. His move would leave behind $1.4M of dead cap to the Panthers, would may be unwilling to extend the young receiver with plenty of defensive holes to fill next offseason.

 

David Njoku (TE, CLE)

Age: 24
Njoku will have $933k remaining on his 2020 salary, then a $6M option for 2021 that’s currently guaranteed for injury only. A move out of Cleveland would leave behind $2.09M of dead cap in 2020.

 

A.J. Green (WR, CIN)

Age: 32
Green will have $9.5M remaining on his franchise tag at the deadline, and just doesn’t seem to have a good fit in the current Cincy offense. While health remains an issue, his experience will be tempting to contenders down the stretch. A move will leave behind $8.65M of dead cap to the Bengals.

 

Carlos Dunlap (DE, CIN)

Age: 31
(UPDATE: Dunlap was traded to Seattle) Dunlap has been rumored to be on the move a few offseasons now, and this trade deadline might actually see it come to fruition. He'll have $4.37M remaining on his 2020 salary at the deadline, then a non-guaranteed $11.25M for 2021. The Bengals would take on dead cap hits of $6.42M in 2020, & $2.25M in 2021 ($11.25M saved).

 

Dontari Poe (DT, DAL)

Age: 30
(UPDATE: Poe has been released) A move at the deadline would bring salaries of $2M in 2020, $4M in 2021, though none of the latter is guaranteed. The Cowboys would take on dead cap hits of $2.12M in 2020, $750,000 in 2021 ($4M saved).

 

DeMarcus Lawrence (DE, DAL)

Age: 28
Extended just last year, Lawrence hasn’t held up his end of the bargain to date. With Dallas going the wrong way currently, and the payroll only increasing, it seems likely that one of the bigger chips will fall at some point. Lawrence will have $1M remaining on his 2020 salary at the deadline, and a fully guaranteed $17M in 2021, with a veritable 2 year, $40M option thereafter. His move would leave behind $8.9M of 2020 dead cap, plus another $27M in 2021 (a loss of $2M).

 

Justin Simmons (S, DEN)

Age: 26
Simmons and the Broncos weren't close in contract negotiations this summer, & if a reunion isn't likely for 2021, getting an asset now makes sense. He'll have $6M of his franchise tag left to go this week, leaving behind $5.38M of dead cap to the Broncos.

 

Kerryon Johnson (RB, DET)

Age: 23
Johnson’s in a big time committee role in Detroit, so it’s possible teams inquire on the cost-controlled youngster. He’ll have $567k left on his 2020 salary at the deadline, plus a non-guaranteed $1.3M in 2021. A move would leave behind dead cap hits of $1.2M in 2020 & $702k in 2021 to the Lions.

 

Marvin Jones (WR, DET)

Age: 30
Jones will have $3.4M remaining in the final year of his contract with the Lions at the deadline. A move would leave behind $5.74M of dead cap to Detroit.

 

Montravious Adams (DT, GB)

Age: 25
Adams is in the final year of his rookie contract & has never really found his footing on the GB D-Line. He comes with a very afforadble $436k price tag for the remainder of 2020, and would leave behind $589k of dead cap to Green Bay.

 

Brandin Cooks (WR, HOU)

Age: 27
Cooks will have $4.2M remaining on his 2020 salary at the deadline, then a non-guaranteed 3 year, $39M contract thereafter. The Texans would take on a $3.7M dead cap hit in 2020, clearing the rest from their books.

 

Duke Johnson (RB, HOU)

Age: 27
Johnson will have $2.13M remaining in 2020 salary & per-game active bonuses at the deadline. He holds a non-guaranteed $5.15M cash/cap for 2021 that seems unlikely wherever you ends up. A trade would leave behind $2M of dead cap to the Texans in 2020.

 

J.J. Watt (DE, HOU)

Age: 31
Watt is on the wrong side of 30, and injuries have been a factor in recent years, but the bigger red flag to seeing a trade out of Houston this week lies in his high price tag. Watt has $8.2M left on his 2020 salary, then a non-guaranteed $17.5M in 2021. His trade would leave behind $7.29M of dead cap to the Texans.

 

Desmond King (CB, LAC)

Age: 25
King is in the final year of his rookie contract, with about $1.13M left on the 2020 salary. He's a solid upgrade for fringe contenders such as Arizona or Buffalo, and his trade would leave behind $1.07M of dead cap to the Chargers.

 

Jordan Howard (RB, MIA)

Age: 25
Howard has barely found the field after signing a 2 year, $9.75M free agent contract this offseason. His trade would leave behind $3.8M of dead cap to the Dolphins, bringing salaries of $926k & $5M (non-guaranteed) with him to a new team.

 

Xavien Howard (CB, MIA)

Age: 27
The Dolphins would be moving a big contract in trading Howard this week as his deal will hold $55.6M remaining at the deadline. A move would bring along cap & cash hits of $6.3M in 2020 & $12.1M in 2021, then $12.9M, $12M, & $12.25M respectively through 2024. Miami would take on dead cap hits of $7M in 2020, & $6.7M in 2021 ($6.8M saved).

 

Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB, MIA)

Age: 37
The Dolphins are squarely in the conversation for the AFC East, so it's not likely they punt on their QB safety valve, but there are a few teams that could stand to upgrade this position, and Fitzpatrick, quite frankly, deserves the opportunity to be playing right now. He'd bring along a fully guaranteed $4.2M with him to a new team, leaving behind $3.76M of dead cap to Miami.

 

Riley Reiff (OT, MIN)

Age: 31 (32 in a month)
Reiff will have $3.12M remaining on is 2020 salary at the deadline, then a non-guaranteed (and highly unlikely) $11.75M in 2021. His move would leave behind dead cap hits of $5M in 2020, & $2.2M in 2021.

 

Kyle Rudolph (TE, MIN)

Age: 30
Rudolph restructured to stick around the past few seasons, but a downward spiral for the Vikings could mean an exit now. Rudolph will have $3.7M remaining on his 2020 salary, then a non-guaranteed 3 years, $27M thereafter. The Vikings would take on dead cap hits of $5.1M in 2020, & $4.35M in 2021 ($5.1M saved).

 

Anthony Harris (S, MIN)

Age: 29
Harris will have $6M of his 2020 franchise tag remaining at the deadline, leaving behind $5.4M to the Vikings should he be moved.

 

Adam Thielen (WR, MIN)

Age: 30
(UPDATE: The Vikings have ruled out this move) An unlikely candidate (but certain to draw interest anyway), Thielen will have $2.6M remaining at the deadline in 2020, then 4 years, $52.5M left thereafter. His trade would leave behind $10M of dead cap to the Vikings in 2020, & another $5.4M in 2021 ($8.1M saved).

 

Kirk Cousins (QB, MIN)

Age: 32
While highly unlikely, no Vikings player is safe right now. Cousins will have $5M left in 2020 at the deadline, then a fully guaranteed $21M in 2021, & a $35M salary in 2022 that fully guarantees next March. His trade this week would leave behind dead cap hits of $15.9M in 2020, & $20M in 2021 ($11M saved).

 

Stephon Gilmore (CB, NE)

Age: 30
There were rumors that Gilmore was on the block this offseason, so if the Patriots falter over the next few weeks, his name could pop back up in conversations. Gilmore will have $8.13M remaining at the deadline, with a ridiculously small $7.5M to be made in 2021, so a trade now almost certainly means an extension this spring. A move would leave behind $7.3M of dead cap in 2020, plus another $7.6M in 2021 ($9.5M savings).

 

Sony Michel (RB, NE)

Age: 25
Michel has found himself on the IR & the COVID list in 2020, but he also posted one of his better performances as a pro as well. It seems unlikely there’s a long-term marriage between he and the Patriots, so a move at some point seems imminent. Michel will hold a $717k salary at the deadline, plus a mostly guaranteed $1.8M price tag in 2021. His move would leave behind dead cap hits of $1.9M in 2020 & another $1.27M in 2021.

 

Joe Thuney (OG, NE)

Age: 27
Thuney was surprisingly tagged this season, & there's not a clear path to a long-term extension for him in New England going forward. He holds $7.82M salary at the deadline, & a trade would leave behind $6.95M of dead cap to the Patriots.

 

Michael Thomas (WR, NO)

Age: 27
Maybe the most unlikely name on this list, but a rocky 2020 at least puts him in the conversation. Thomas will have just $529k remaining on his 2020 salary at the deadline, plus a mostly guaranteed $12.6 salary for 2021. After that, his $15.35M salary in 2022 is guaranteed for injury now, but doesn’t fully lock in until March of 2022. A trade this month leaves behind $6.47M of dead cap to the Saints in 2020, and another $20M in 2021 (loss of $1.2M).

 

Evan Engram (TE, NYG)

Age: 26
Engram would be a $1.02M fully guaranteed salary with him to a new team at the deadline, plus a $6M salary in 2021, currently guaranteed for injury only. The Giants would take on a $2.39M dead cap hit in 2020.

 

Golden Tate (WR, NYG)

Age: 32
Tate will have $4.2M left on his 2020 salary at the deadline, then 2 years, $14.5 million, non-guaranteed, thereafter. The Giants would take on dead cap hits of $6.1M this year, & $4.7M next year ($6.4M saved in 2021).

 

Dalvin Tomlinson (DT, NYG)

Age: 26
Tomlinson will have $576k remaining on his contract at the deadline, in the final year of his rookie contract. The Giants would take on an $878k dead cap hit per the move.

 

George Fant (OT, NYJ)

Age: 28
Fant holds $2.6M remaining on his 2020 salary, then hits of $8.4M & $9.65M over the next two seasons respectively. His trade would leave behind $4.6M of dead cap to the Jets.

 

Quinnen Williams (DT, NYJ)

Age: 22
UPDATE (The Jets have ruled out this move) A trade of Williams after moving on from Jamal Adams would be a full defensive tear down, as the young, talented lineman is in just year two of his rookie contract. He'll hold just $357k at the deadline, with a fully guaranteed $3.6M & $5.1M respectively through 2022 thereafter. The Jets would take on dead cap hits of $7.1M in 2020, & $10M in 2021 (a loss of $1M). This one seems unlikely for a lot of reasons.

 

Alshon Jeffery (WR, PHI)

Age: 30
The oft-injured wideout has been a financial sore for the Eagles the past few seasons, and his time in Philly may soon be coming to an end. Jeffery will have $5.24M left on his 2020 salary, then a non-guaranteed $13M in 2021. The Eagles would take on dead cap hits of $10.15M in 2020, & $10.6M in 2021 ($7.8M saved).

 

Malik Jackson (DT, PHI)

Age: 30
The Eagles need to be considering shedding cap while maintaining a serviceable team for their unimpressive NFC East run. Philly has depth on the D-Line, so grabbing a draft asset to clear Jackson off of the 2021 books makes sense. He has just $555k remaining in 2020, then a non-guaranteed $9M in 2021. His trade would leave behind dead cap hits to the Eagles of $4.1M in 2020, & $12.6M in 2021 ($1M saved).

 

Jacob Hollister (TE, SEA)

Age: 26
Hollister has $1.7M left on his restricted tender salary and is scheduled to become a free agent after 2020. His price tag is a little more costly than Engram or Njoku, but the trade price will likely be much less. His move would leave behind $1.5M of dead cap to the Seahawks.

 

Dante Pettis (WR, SF)

Age: 25
Pettis has never found his footing in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, and his controlled cost could be attractive to teams in need of WR depth. He’ll hold a $562k salary at the deadline, with a non-guaranteed $1.35M scheduled for 2021. His trade would leave behind $1.1M of dead cap to the 49ers in 2020, & $683k in 2021.

 

Ryan Anderson, (LB, WAS)

Age: 26
Anderson holds just $630k left on his rookie contract in Washington, who would take on a $1.06M dead cap hit to move on from the expiring edge defender.

 

Ryan Kerrigan, (DE, WAS)

Age: 32
(UPDATE: The WFT has ruled out this move) The long-time Washington DE will have $6.2M left on his expiring contract at the deadline. The WFT will take on a $5.47M dead cap hit to move on, though moving Ryan Anderson seems more likely at this point.


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