It’s time to fire up your imaginations because NFL trades are about to start going down. In the 2022 offseason, we saw some of the biggest blockbuster deals all in a matter of a couple of weeks as the Denver Broncos struck a deal for quarterback Russell Wilson, the Raiders traded for Davante Adams, and the Dolphins traded for Tyreek Hill. With the NFL free agency frenzy upon us, what kinds of blockbuster deals could we see go down in 2023?
I would say it’s safe to expect the unexpected. Although not every trade is going to come out of left field, there will almost undoubtedly be some deals that drop jaws to the floor. Let’s take a look at 10 of them.
10 blockbuster trades we could see during NFL Free Agency frenzy
10. Courtland Sutton to the Dallas Cowboys
Heading into the 2018 NFL Draft, there were plenty of rumors swirling that the Dallas Cowboys could use their top pick on SMU wide receiver Courtland Sutton. In fact, many people thought that was their clear Plan A. Instead, the Cowboys took Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, and Sutton fell into the second round.
The Denver Broncos scooped him up with the 40th overall pick, near the top of the second round, and Sutton went on to make the Pro Bowl in just his second NFL season. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL early in the 2020 season and missed most of the year. He came back in 2021 and 2022 to have some okay seasons, but Sutton has not returned to his 2019 form.
Denver Broncos GM George Paton signed Sutton to a team-friendly four-year deal worth $60.8 million in total money before the end of the 2021 season. Sutton has a trigger in that contract that guarantees his $14 million salary in 2023 on March 20.
The Broncos don’t have first or second-round picks thanks to their wide variety of trades in the last calendar year, specifically the Russell Wilson and Sean Payton trades. With Tim Patrick coming back healthy and the emergence of Jerry Jeudy, could the Broncos send Sutton to Dallas where he would provide Dak Prescott with a desperately needed additional threat?
Dallas would have to clear some cap space, but they might be able to get the Broncos to take on some of Sutton’s salary this season if they are willing to pay up something like a second-round pick.