- Star edge rushers have yet to receive lucrative deals: Trey Hendrickson and Micah Parsons are waiting their turns after T.J. Watt became the league's highest-paid defender.
- Multiple receivers could be on the move: While Terry McLaurin is a headliner, other former top picks could switch teams, too.
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Estimated Reading Time: 14 minutes
The 2025 NFL offseason has already brought a slew of blockbuster moves. Among the players moved in the five months since the 2024 season ended are Geno Smith, Jalen Ramsey, D.K. Metcalf, Joe Thuney and Jonnu Smith.
Pre-draft trades tend to be more common in the football landscape, but players inevitably get squeezed out of starting roles as training camps gain momentum and coaches better understand their current rosters. On top of that, extensions often face a fork in the road as Week 1 rolls around, with teams having to weigh whether a player might hold out.
From lingering superstar edge rushers to young players on the fringes, here are 15 names to monitor on the trade block as training camps begin.
EDGE Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals
While T.J. Watt was rewarded with a record-setting three-year, $123 million extension, strife remains at the same position within the AFC North. Hendrickson, who is entering the final year of his deal, has yet to be given a monstrous contract by the Bengals.
Even though he’s on the wrong side of 30, Hendrickson has displayed little sign of decline. Last season, his 83 pressures tied for fourth, while his 90.4 PFF pass-rushing grade ranked fifth among qualified defensive linemen. Moreover, Hendrickson’s pass-rush win rate has sat above 20% in each of the past two years and has never fallen below 16% across his four campaigns with Cincinnati.
The Bengals finished the 2024 season ranked 28th in defensive success rate and 26th in team PFF pass-rushing grade, and that was with Hendrickson putting together an All-Pro season. This contract situation has dragged on for months and become publicly acrimonious, leaving Cincinnati under pressure to pay Hendrickson before the start of the year. If that doesn’t happen, then a trade could finally materialize.
WR Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
McLaurin has been the backbone of Washington’s offense since being drafted in 2019, despite enduring a bevy of quarterbacks. Still, the team hasn’t budged regarding his expiring contract.
With Jayden Daniels throwing him the ball, McLaurin flourished in 2024. His 84.8 PFF receiving grade was the best since his rookie year, and his 65.8% contested catch rate was his best yet in the NFL.
Over the past four seasons, McLaurin’s 88.6 PFF receiving grade ranks 19th among qualified wideouts, and his 4,656 receiving yards are tied for 11th most. It would be dangerous for the Commanders to trade their best offensive weapon after loading up around Daniels, but McLaurin hasn’t concealed his displeasure of not yet being paid, going so far as to hold out.
EDGE Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
Parsons was eligible for an extension as early as last offseason and still has not been granted a market-resetting deal. The longer this saga endures, the more likely it is that Parsons might not be paid by Dallas.
Since being drafted 12th overall in 2021, Parsons has become one of the finest defenders in the NFL. In that span, the former Nittany Lion has accrued 2.70 PFF Wins Above Replacement, which trails only Myles Garrett. On top of that, Parsons has secured an 89.7 PFF overall grade or better in all four seasons, including at least a 91.6 PFF pass-rushing grade in every season.
Fortunately for Dallas, Parsons has not outwardly held out or made more of a display surrounding his contract. If the front office can’t pony up a deal that surpasses Watt’s, then one of the league’s best young players could suit up in a new home — as unfathomable as it still might seem.
WR Ja’Lynn Polk, New England Patriots
Polk doesn’t quite align with the star power of the first few names on this list, but this upcoming training camp will be pivotal for the second-year receiver.
A second-round pick by New England in 2024, Polk endured a miserable inaugural season, recording a 45.4 PFF receiving grade. His foremost concern was drops, with his 14.3% drop rate the sixth highest among receivers with 30 or more targets.
What compounds the pressure on Polk is New England’s investments in a previously poor wide receiver corps. With Stefon Diggs, rookie Kyle Williams and Mack Hollins all entering the fray, that doesn’t leave much margin for error for Polk. Don’t be shocked if the revamped Patriots part ways with the former Washington stud after only one year — especially with a new coaching staff in place.
WR Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers
Jennings may not be as much of a household name, but he’s a standout receiver in his own right. Entering the last year of his two-year, $15.39 million deal, Jennings reportedly is seeking either a raise or a trade.
Amid one of the more injury-plagued seasons for a team in recent memory, Jennings quietly flourished with the 49ers in 2024: His 83.7 PFF receiving grade slotted 15th among qualified wideouts. On top of that, Jennings also placed in the top 20 in yards per route run (2.26) and passer rating when targeted (103.2). His prowess as a blocker — recording a 73.8-plus PFF grade in both pass blocking and run blocking — only enhances his value.
With Brandon Aiyuk still recovering from a detrimental knee injury and Ricky Pearsall also starting camp on the physically unable to perform list, the odds seem slim that San Francisco would deal a valuable asset in Jennings. However, he’s certainly worth more than his current contract indicates, and if the 49ers aren’t incentivized to keep and extend him, he would make several teams content.
WR Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers built on their late-season growth via a solid offseason, acquiring marquee talent on both sides of the ball. But a side effect of those personnel changes is a logjam at wide receiver, which could relegate Thielen.
Even at age 34, Thielen performed admirably with Carolina in 2024. The veteran produced a 76.5 PFF receiving grade with 2.06 yards per route run while also sitting 73rd in separation rate and 65th in separation rate against single coverage.
On the surface, it would seem quixotic for the Panthers to trade a player still going strong in Thielen. But with eighth-overall pick Tetairoa McMillan entering the fold, head coach Dave Canales effectively has two starting spots for three players: Thielen, Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette. Thielen is the oldest and on an expiring contract, which would figure to make him the most expendable; after all, the Panthers could likely obtain a solid draft pick instead of keeping him in a limited role.
WR Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
The Packers made their home fans ecstatic when they picked Matthew Golden in the first round of this year’s draft. However, their wide receiver group is still a question mark, especially as it pertains to Doubs.
Since being taken in the fourth round in 2022, Doubs has become a solid option for Green Bay. Last season, he turned in a 71.0 PFF receiving grade with 1.62 yards per route run. However, his drop rate has sat above 9% in two of his three seasons, and health has also been an issue, with Doubs logging less than 700 snaps in two of three campaigns.
Golden figures to be Jordan Love’s WR1, especially with Christian Watson sidelined yet again. Green Bay also added rookie Savion Williams to the mix, which suggests that the team wasn’t satisfied with its receiver play from a year ago. Will the Packers finally move on from one of Doubs, Jayden Reed or Dontayvion Wicks, each of whom has shown flashes but not developed in full? The most likely would figure to be Doubs, who is effectively playing on a one-year deal in 2025.
TE Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
Although the Rams have ushered in a new receiving corps in the past few years, Higbee has long been a staple of Sean McVay’s offense. At the same time, the team’s recent tight end investments could signal that Higbee's time in Los Angeles is nearing its end.
Higbee was effective when on the field last year, turning in a 76.4 PFF overall grade with a 79.1 PFF receiving grade — his best since 2019. But the 32-year-old played only 128 snaps due to a knee injury and is in the final year of his current contract.
The Rams’ jubilation in landing second-round tight end Terrance Ferguson is eye-opening, especially because the team has searched for a coveted weapon for multiple offseasons. On top of that, Los Angeles returns Davis Allen (63.3 PFF run-blocking grade) and Colby Parkinson (66.2 PFF pass-blocking grade) as depth behind the newcomer. Los Angeles parted with Cooper Kupp earlier this offseason, and Higbee may be next in line.
QB Kenny Pickett, Cleveland Browns
Pickett has already endured a whirlwind of a past few seasons, including going from the Super Bowl champion Eagles to a murky Browns’ quarterback competition. Now, he could be on the move yet again.
Cleveland took a flier on the former first-round pick after he played a reserve role in Philadelphia, in which he generated a 63.0 PFF passing grade on only 51 dropbacks. Pickett’s PFF passing grade has steadily declined in each of his three NFL seasons, peaking with the Steelers as a rookie in 2022.
With Deshaun Watson likely out for all of 2025, the Browns added both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders with mid-round picks on top of signing veteran Joe Flacco. Even at 40, Flacco (70.7 PFF passing grade last year) profiles as the likely starter. Cleveland could cut or trade either of its young arms, but Pickett seems the most probable to be both lower in the pecking order and dealt, given that he will be a free agent next offseason.
WR Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans
Like many other names on this list, Burks was a decorated player coming into the NFL but has not seen his career skyrocket as anticipated. After recurring speculation about his being traded, the time may finally arrive in 2025.
Viewed as Tennessee’s A.J. Brown replacement as the 18th-overall pick in 2022, Burks has repeatedly underwhelmed during his time in the Music City. In 2024, he was targeted only eight times, posting a 53.3 PFF receiving grade with 34 total yards. Over the past two years, the Arkansas alumnus has caught a meager 20 passes.
The Titans upgraded their receiving corps for No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward via veterans Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson, in addition to rookies Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor. With 2025 being his last season under contract, Burks is running out of chances to prove himself in Tennessee, continuing to slide down the depth chart.
OL Liam Eichenberg, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins seem between trying to contend while keeping the future in mind. After already trading several stars this offseason, Eichenberg could be a logical player to depart next.
Eichenberg, a former second-round pick, has not been what Miami likely had hoped he would become. In four years with the Dolphins, he has never posted above a 53.1 PFF overall grade, nor a PFF pass-blocking grade of even 50.0. Playing over 1,000 snaps at exclusively right guard last year didn’t seem to offer Eichenberg much consistency, either.
The Dolphins upgraded their interior offensive line in a major way this offseason by signing James Daniels and drafting Jonah Savaiinaea in the second round, both of whom appear to be multi-year starters at guard next to Aaron Brewer up the middle. Eichenberg faces an uphill battle to compete for playing time, especially considering he is starting camp on the PUP list.
QB Jameis Winston, New York Giants
After spending the start of his NFL career as the Buccaneers’ primary signal-caller, Winston is deep into his second act as a journeyman backup. That road may include another stop soon.
While with the Browns in 2024, Winston tallied a 69.5 PFF passing grade with 11 big-time throws and 18 turnover-worthy plays. The 31-year-old displayed that he’s still capable of slinging the ball at a high level in spurts, producing 82.0-plus PFF passing grades against the Steelers and Bengals last year.
The Giants are likely to start either Russell Wilson or first-round pick Jaxson Dart, leaving Winston as the team’s presumptive QB3. New York could keep the former first overall pick in that role, but Winston figures to be most teams’ top trade target when a quarterback injury inevitably happens.
CB Riley Moss, Denver Broncos
The Broncos have spent a significant portion of their offseason assets bolstering one of the NFL’s best defenses from a year ago, including drafting cornerback Jahdae Barron in the first round. That could leave a player like Moss on the block.
In his first season as a starter, Moss produced a 56.0 PFF coverage grade with a 57.8 PFF overall grade. Still, the Iowa product turned heads early in the year, securing three single-game 72.0-plus PFF coverage grades in the first five contests of 2024.
How Denver configures its secondary will be telling for Moss’ outlook. The Broncos figure to have two good inside options in Barron and Ja’Quan McMillan, but will the Texas rookie also man the outside CB2 spot next to reigning Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II? Denver may retain the 25-year-old Moss as depth, but if his role is constricted, other teams could come calling.
Dl DaQuan Jones, Buffalo Bills
Even after making the AFC Championship yet again, the Bills retooled a defensive line that ranked 27th in team PFF run-defense grade. Jones didn't help matters in that department.
After dominating with an 82.9 PFF overall grade in 2023, Jones took a step back last year. The 33-year-old registered just a 53.4 PFF run-defense grade with a dismal 24.2% missed tackle rate — the 14th highest among any defender to play 600 or more snaps.
Buffalo went to the interior trench well again and again this offseason, signing free agents Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi while also drafting T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker in the first four rounds. With Jones having only one year left on his contract, the Bills may infuse youthful energy right away along a position group that needs it.
WR John Metchie III, Houston Texans
Houston’s offense declined in 2024, finishing 19th in overall EPA per play and only 21st in passing EPA per play. While the team’s receivers weren’t a culprit, the team has a fresh crop at the position, which could leave Metchie without a designated spot.
Since being picked in the second round in 2022, Metchie has failed to reach even a 60.5 PFF receiving grade in a full year. Across the past two seasons, the Alabama product sits in just the 26th percentile in yards per route run (1.02) and has hauled in only 49 catches for 519 yards.
After losing Stefon Diggs and with Tank Dell suffering a serious knee injury late last season, the Texans acquired Christian Kirk via trade and drafted Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Considering that Nico Collins will also return, that likely positions Metchie behind all of those options, if not also newcomers Justin Watson and Braxton Berrios. Still only 25, Metchie would likely garner interest from around the league.
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