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NEWS
Is it commonplace for big name NFL players to be traded leading up to the NFL draft? Not necessarily, but the trade has become a much more expansively used tool across recent NFL offseasons. We’ve seen high profile players moved just minutes after the start of the new league year, shortly after the first wave of free agency, as voluntary workouts have been set to begin, and even as teams broke camp late in the summer - so why not this week as well?
Spotrac takes a look at 5 players rumored to be on the trade block right now, including financial ramifications associated with a potential move.
Brandon Aiyuk (WR, 49ers)
Aiyuk’s contract dispute has been made public, putting his future in San Francisco very much in question. The 26-year-old is set to play out a fully guaranteed $14.1M option salary for 2024, with his eyes set on DeVonta Smith’s recent $25M per year extension in Philadelphia. There are more than a few teams on speed dial here.
Courtland Sutton (WR, Broncos)
Sutton has made it clear that his wish is to stick around for the next iteration of Broncos football, but wants to be paid accordingly to do so. If the two sides remain far apart this week, look for Denver to dangle Sutton and his 2 year, $27.6M remaining contract on the block. A draft week trade would leave behind $7.65M of dead cap to the Broncos, freeing up $9.7M of space.
Patrick Surtain II (CB, Broncos)
Denver exercised a $19.8M option for 2025, putting Surtain on a 2 year, $23.3M guarantee. This doesn’t change their ability to shop the All-Pro cornerback at the draft, a move that could hand them a much needed package of draft capital for the long weekend. If Denver is willing to meet Surtain’s extension asking price (likely north of $21M per year, $70M guaranteed), a trade this spring could be in the cards. The Broncos would take on a $3.1M dead cap charge should a trade come to fruition, freeing up $3.5M of 2024 space.
Budda Baker (S, Cardinals)
Entering a contract year in Arizona, Baker is set to earn $14.6M against a $19M+ cap hit in 2024. He’s locked in as the starting free safety right now, but the right return package could force Arizona to take on much needed draft picks. A draft week trade would leave behind $3.925M of dead cap to the Cardinals, freeing up $15.1M of space.
Marshon Lattimore (CB, Saints)
The Saints processed a conversion maneuver on Lattimore’s contract that moved $13.8M of salary into an option bonus that doesn’t vest until a week before the regular season. In other words - they bought themselves time to figure out how to proceed here. There’s still $31M of dead cap to deal with here, so a trade after June 1st makes the most business sense, but if an opportunity arises to pick up a few draft picks this week, crazier things have happened. The current contract carries 3 years, $51.5M on it, but just 1 year, $15M for practical purposes.
Honorable Mention: Tee Higgins (WR, Bengals)
All signs point to Higgins playing out 2024 on the $21.8M franchise tag. But a late pre-draft offer not unlike what Tennessee agreed to when A.J. Brown was moved to Philly could certainly change this line of thinking.
