It’s finally time for the 2023 NFL Draft to get underway. As the picks start rolling out, what established NFL players could end up getting traded? Last year, we saw the likes of AJ Brown and Hollywood Brown traded during the NFL Draft, among others. This offseason, there have already been some massive, blockbuster trades, but more big-name players could be on the move.
Which NFL players could be traded during the 2023 NFL Draft? Let’s take a look at 24 names across the league.
24 NFL players that could be traded during the 2023 NFL Draft
Denver Broncos
- WR Jerry Jeudy
- WR Courtland Sutton
The latest rumor is that the Denver Broncos are holding on to both of their top receivers. There have been persistent rumors almost all offseason that these guys were the subject of calls coming into the offices of George Paton and Sean Payton, but nothing ultimately materialized. The Broncos were after Allen Lazard and Adam Thielen before they signed elsewhere in free agency. Could one of these guys be on the move this weekend?
Los Angeles Chargers
- RB Austin Ekeler
The Chargers have given Austin Ekeler permission to seek a trade, and Ekeler understandably wants to be somewhere that’s going to value him for putting forth better production than most wide receivers do as a pass catcher. He’s getting paid like a middle-tier running back and has 38 touchdowns the last two seasons.
Las Vegas Raiders
- WR Hunter Renfrow
Although Renfrow seems like the ideal type of receiver for Josh McDaniels’ offense, perhaps the Raiders will want to get out of his contract just like they did with Darren Waller.
Kansas City Chiefs
- RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
The former first-round pick is no longer RB1 in Kansas City. It looks like that title and distinction will go to Isiah Pacheco after his emergence in 2022. The Chiefs almost certainly won’t exercise the fifth-year option for the former LSU star. Not that they’d help one of their biggest rivals, but Edwards-Helaire reuniting with Joe Burrow in Cincinnati would make a ton of sense.
San Francisco 49ers
- QB Trey Lance
I feel like Trey Lance is the kind of player who is going to be dealt sometime after the 2023 NFL Draft simply because of the fact that the 49ers might be able to capitalize on what transpires during the draft itself. Perhaps they want to secure an additional QB of their own before trading Lance. Either way, I don’t think Lance is long for San Fran anymore.
Arizona Cardinals
- WR DeAndre Hopkins
I think Hopkins is one of the most likely players to be traded during the 2023 NFL Draft. He has been rumored to be on the move for quite some time and if the Cardinals can get a pick in the 3rd or 4th round for Hopkins? That would be a good haul for him considering his sparse availability the last couple of seasons.
Minnesota Vikings
- RB Dalvin Cook
It seems like there could be a lot of running backs potentially on the trade block during the NFL Draft, and in a draft class that’s deep at the position, that’s not the best news for “selling” teams. Dalvin Cook has been a star in the NFL for quite some time now, but he might be on the back nine of that stardom. The Vikings are looking to sell as high as possible, and if they can’t, Cook might be a salary cap casualty.
Detroit Lions
- RB D’Andre Swift
Yet another running back that could be on the trade block. Once again, the Detroit Lions went out in free agency and added David Montgomery. It doesn’t look like D’Andre Swift, a former second-round pick out of Georgia, is going to be in their long-term plans. Perhaps the Lions could recoup a pick in this draft from someone looking to take a risk on Swfit’s upside and reset the clock with another rookie contract.
Baltimore Ravens
- LB Patrick Queen
- QB Lamar Jackson
The Baltimore Ravens handed a massive contract to 2022 trade acquisition Roquan Smith. They have Lamar Jackson’s situation to figure out. With other positions needing to be addressed, there’s no way Baltimore is going to have two linebackers as high-priced as Roquan Smith. With Queen’s long-term situation in Baltimore a question mark, he could very well be on the move.
And then of course, there’s the elephant in the room: Lamar Jackson. I just don’t see any trade happening there during the draft, but maybe. If I’m the Ravens, I might prefer 2024 NFL Draft capital anyway…
Cincinnati Bengals
- OT Jonah Williams
After the Bengals acquired Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency, Jonah Williams requested a trade out of town. He apparently doesn’t want to play right tackle. The Bengals might need to draft their replacement right tackle before making a deal here, but teams that miss out in the first round might be willing to send something nice the Bengals’ way for the former first-rounder out of Alabama.
Cleveland Browns
- RB Nick Chubb
- CB Greg Newsome II
The Cleveland Browns don’t pick until no. 74 overall. They might be interested in getting back into the top two rounds of the draft and these two players could certainly help them do that.
Nick Chubb has been the subject of some non-substantive (so far) trade rumors this offseason, but you never know what’s being cooked up behind the scenes. Greg Newsome II, on the other hand, has been very vocal about trade rumors. Some were very strong in the direction of him wanting out of Cleveland, and others with Newsome himself recanting the request, stating he wants to stay in one place his whole career. We’ll see if the Browns hang onto him.
New York Jets
- QB Zach Wilson
- OT Mekhi Becton
A couple of the New York Jets’ most recent first-round picks could be on the move. I think the Jets could go one of two ways with Zach Wilson, but perhaps the wiser play is to say, “Nobody is making anybody’s life heaven or hell at practice or after practice.” It just hasn’t worked out with Zach Wilson.
Mekhi Becton’s offseason workout hype photos have surfaced which leads me to believe he’s trying to increase his value to all teams, not just the Jets. I would guess Becton is one of the likeliest players to be on the move depending on what the Jets can get in this draft.
Buffalo Bills
- WR Gabe Davis
Gabe Davis has great chemistry with Josh Allen, but he’s really just been a great role player and not a WR1b alongside of Stefon Diggs out there for the Bills. Davis is in a contract year and doesn’t yet have 1,000 yards in any of his three NFL seasons. Is that a harsh critique? Sure, but Davis is going to want to be paid like a WR1, and he simply might not be. If the Bills can acquire DeAndre Hopkins, trading Davis makes even more sense.
Miami Dolphins
- OT Austin Jackson
Another former first-round pick on the offensive line who just hasn’t quite panned out is former USC tackle Austin Jackson. The Dolphins have pitched him as a starter once again this offseason but we’ll see what happens there.
Washington Commanders
- DE Chase Young
This one is kind of a shocker. The Washington Commanders picked Chase Young second overall in 2020 and he was considered a no-brainer no. 2 overall pick behind Joe Burrow, despite the presence of Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa in the same draft class. Young has been dealing with injuries and if the Commanders are giving up, it could mean a variety of things. I think this would be one of the most worthwhile risk/reward propositions out there.
New York Giants
- RB Saquon Barkley
Are the New York Giants going to try and work out a long-term deal with Saquon Barkley? I’m not sold on that. If they aren’t willing to do a long-term deal with him, it might make sense for Barkley to ask for a trade out of New York. I don’t think the Giants could get a first-rounder for Barkley but they should be able to get something really good if they are willing to part ways.
The running back position has never really been a huge priority for Joe Schoen/Brian Daboll as far as their involvement with the Buffalo Bills. They liked to go financially responsible and cycle through guys in the middle rounds of the draft. We’ll see if they employ a similar strategy in New York or if they really commit to Saquon.
Indianapolis Colts
- C Ryan Kelly
Ryan Kelly recently acknowledged that it was impossible for him to not hear about the potential trade rumors, but he seems to feel reassured about being back with the Colts in 2023. We shall find out after the NFL Draft if the reassurance he received was founded on truth or not.
Tennessee Titans
- QB Ryan Tannehill/Malik Willis
The Titans could be in the market to move up for a QB (CJ Stroud?). If that ends up being the case, then you obviously need to be on the lookout for one of Tannehill or Willis (or both) to be traded. There should still be options out there for Tannehill to potentially start in 2023 and if the Titans move up to get their guy, Tannehill could potentially be had for a bargain price.
New Orleans Saints
- DE Cam Jordan
I don’t think this one is super likely to happen at all, but you never know when veteran players might end up getting dealt/replaced during the NFL Draft. Cam Jordan seems like a Saints lifer, though, so seeing him traded after all the losses they’ve had on that defensive front this offseason would not be the best idea on the Saints’ part. Still, rumors are what they are…
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- LB Devin White
Devin White has apparently requested a trade away from the Bucs, and I tend to think they’d be somewhat likely to oblige his request. The star-level play simply hasn’t been there in recent years from the former high first-rounder out of LSU. The Bucs could look to move on for the right price, but what even is the right price here? Could the Bucs get the same value from White that the Bears got for Roquan Smith?