ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that this could be a very active offseason on the trade front, especially with the league considering allowing teams to move even more future draft picks. Amid all the NFL rumors, one thing that’s evident is there is a lot of talent available for trade this spring.
Let’s dive into the top NFL trade candidates in 2026, going over some of the best players who could be dealt throughout the offseason.
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins badly want to move on from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa; that’s obvious. It comes down to whether they are willing to send a mid-round pick to an acquiring team or if they’ll just outright release him. We think it will be the former. There are enough rebuilding NFL teams with a glaring need for a starting quarterback; it’s just about finding adequate compensation. We suspect that Miami finds a suitor for Tagovailoa, likely in the AFC, and signs Malik Willis to replace him.
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Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
We tend to believe there’ll be more of a trade market for Kyler Murray than Tua Tagovailoa, but that’s not saying a lot. Murray at least offers high-end athleticism and better arm strength than Tagovailoa—skill sets that a play-caller will have an easier time implementing into an offense. So, the Arizona Cardinals might not have to incentivize a deal involving their quarterback as much as the Dolphins will. It’s only a matter of time until Murray is traded, with his replacement likely to be Jacoby Brissett and a rookie quarterback behind him.
Related: Bold NFL Offseason Predictions for QB Landing Spots
Mac Jones, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Will Kyle Shanahan be willing to pull the trigger on a Mac Jones trade? The former first-round pick kept the San Francisco 49ers afloat for a few weeks in 2025, posting a 5–3 record as a starter with a 97.4 passer rating and a 13–6 TD–INT ratio. He’s going to count less than 4 million against the NFL salary cap in 2026, making him even more valuable to San Francisco. With that said, his contract makes him far more attractive for quarterback-needy teams than Tagovailoa or Murray. It will just come down to whether or not a club is willing to trade a Day 2 pick for Jones, who is only under contract for next season.
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A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
The wisest thing for the Philadelphia Eagles to do is to resolve their differences with A.J. Brown and convince the All-Pro wide receiver that things will be a lot better in 2026. However, the additions to the Eagles coaching staff this offseason and the shaky relationship between Brown and quarterback Jalen Hurts raise doubts about it working. Brown deserves to be the No. 1 wideout on a team with a passer who can consistently get him the football; that’s not the situation in Philadelphia. While the NFL trade rumors surrounding him have died down for now, we expect them to ramp up, and a deal will eventually happen.
Related: NFL Trades We’d Like to See This Offseason
D.J. Moore, WR, Chicago Bears
There’s been a changing of the guard with the Chicago Bears‘ offense. Colston Loveland is now the top pass catcher, with Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III poised to be the primary receivers moving forward. That makes D.J. Moore the odd man out. He’s expendable for a team that has no issue drafting and developing skill players but has clear needs defensively. We think Moore gets flipped this offseason for a draft pick, which Chicago can use to make improvements defensively.
Related: NFL Free Agency Predictions for Top Wide Receivers in NFL Free Agency
George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys
This is a tag-and-trade scenario. The Dallas Cowboys will use the franchise tag to keep George Pickens off the open market, but that’s when things will get interesting. Reports out of Dallas have already suggested Jerry Jones might be willing to deal the All-Pro wide receiver if it means getting a second-round pick back. Given his production in 2025, that’s a reasonable asking price. However, the cost of also signing him to a contract extension worth 35 million plus in average annual value could complicate things.
Related: Growing Buzz Regarding George Pickens Future with Dallas Cowboys
Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, Cincinnati Bengals
Similar to George Pickens, Trey Hendrickson is among the NFL trade candidates who could be moved after receiving the franchise tag. The Cincinnati Bengals probably won’t let him walk out the door outright, as that would mean waiting to receive a third-round compensatory pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Instead, an offseason after seeking a first-round pick for Hendrickson, we think the new cost for the 31-year-old pass rusher will be a second-round pick. Any acquiring team would still want to sign him to a long-term deal, likely in the ballpark of $35 to $36 million per season.
Related: CIN Bengals May Create More Contract Drama with Trey Hendrickson
Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Las Vegas Raiders
Can the Las Vegas Raiders convince Maxx Crosby to be patient? With Fernando Mendoza and Klint Kubiak coming in, we absolutely anticipate the Raiders’ offense taking a huge step forward in 2026. However, that’s realistically not enough for Las Vegas to be a viable playoff contender this coming season. That puts Crosby at least two seasons out from a potential playoff run, when he’ll be nearing 30. After years of sacrificing his body for this franchise, we think Crosby officially requests a trade this offseason and is moved for a package centered around a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Trent McDuffie, CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Trent McDuffie has won two Super Bowl rings and earned a pair of All-Pro selections on his rookie contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, the 5-foot-11 cornerback has also shown real limitations that prevent him from being a shutdown perimeter corner against big-bodied receivers. That’s not the caliber of defensive back we think the Chiefs’ front office will be willing to spend 30 million plus per season on. There’s not a ton of buzz about a potential McDuffie trade right now, but we think that changes closer to the 2026 NFL Draft.
Related: Trent McDuffie Trade Landing Spots 2026
Nate Hobbs, CB, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers signed Nate Hobbs to a four-year, 48 million contract last offseason, and there already appears to be some buyer’s remorse. After they attempted to play him on the perimeter, he was moved back to the nickel, where safety Javon Bullard played quite well. Even with a new defensive coordinator coming in, Jonathan Gannon may decide that Bullard is a better option than Hobbs. If that’s the case, after his signing bonus is paid for by Green Bay, there could be a relatively strong trade market for Hobbs as a starting nickel who would effectively be on a one-year deal.
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