Given how many big-time trades have happened in recent years, there is no reason to believe that this trend is going to stop. In fact, we could see more big-time trades as each season progresses, as teams are clearly running out of patience and want to try and make a bold move to make a playoff push.
There were some big-time trades this offseason, like Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos, DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills, and Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, and we could still see AJ Brown get traded from the Philadelphia Eagles later this offseason.
Let's dive into a fun exercise and predict trade value for some of the most untouchable stars in the NFL We'll use other trades at the same position as a point of reference.
Predicting trade value for the most untouchable players in the NFL
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills - Three 1st-Round Picks and a 2nd-Round Pick
Deshaun Watson got traded to the Cleveland Browns for three first-round picks years ago, so that could be a good place to start with Josh Allen. The 2024 MVP is clearly still at the top of his game and someone who is one of the very best players in the NFL, period.
Sure, Allen isn't always going to be able to do damage with his legs as he gets older, but the Buffalo Bills have won double-digit games each year since 2019, and Allen has amassed 220 touchdowns through the air and 79 as a rusher. He would surely go for a trio of first-round picks, and we could even sprinkle in a second-round pick for good measure. Allen turns 30 years old in May, so he's probably just now entering the start of the second-half of his NFL career. The Bills, however, would surely not make this deal if it was offered.
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs - Three 1st-Round Picks
Patrick Mahomes is already turning 31 years old in September and is now coming off a major knee injury, so that would have to factor into any sort of trade value. He's not as dynamic a player as Allen, so he probably isn't worth quite as much. There is also no guarantee of if Mahomes returns to 100 percent following a major knee injury.
He may soon become someone who doesn't leave the pocket as much as he used to, and this was and may continue to be his bread and butter - the off-schedule ability. Three first-round picks could be solid trade value for Mahomes.
Given that he's a bit older than Allen and not quite the athlete and playmaker, we shave off that second-round pick in this value assessment.
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals - Two 1st-Round Picks, two 2nd-Round Picks
The primary structure of the Russell Wilson trade from the Seattle Seahawks to the Denver Broncos back in 2022 was two first-round picks and two second-round picks. This could be a fair value for Joe Burrow. The one thing that sticks out with Burrow is that he has suffered some notable injuries and has played just one 17-game season in his career.
He's played in 10 games or fewer in three of six seasons, so the injury concern is real. Burrow might not be able to fetch three first-round picks in a trade, but instead evening-up the first and second-rounders could be realistic value.
Burrow turns 30 years old late in the 2026 regular season, so while age isn't a concern, he's not 26 years old anymore. Part of me does have to wonder, though, if Burrow would be 'fed up' with the Bengals franchise if it's yet another year of missing the playoffs.
It's now three years in a row of no playoffs, and at some point, someone as talented as Burrow may have to prioritize winning more consistently.
Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns - Two 1st-Round Picks and an impact starter
Micah Parsons got traded primarily for two first-round picks. Myles Garrett is a better player, so it's reasonable to think that Garrett could fetch more. He is a bit older, but with how all-time Garrett is, it'd be hard to imagine that the Cleveland Browns would not get a mega-haul for the player.
If the Browns are clearly out of the mix mid-season, a trade could be on the table. Cleveland needs to keep building this operation for the long-term, and given that Parsons went for two first-round picks, Garrett should be able to fetch noticeably more.
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings - Two 1st-Round Picks and a 3rd-Round Pick
A four-time Pro Bowler in six seasons, Justin Jefferson could realistically hit the 10,000-yard mark in 2026, as he's already amassed 8,480 yards. Jefferson did have to deal with horrific quarterback play in 2025, so he only finished with 1,048 yards, but with Kyler Murray in the picture, Jefferson should see a ton of targets.
With someone as dynamic and consistently threatening as Jefferson is, and given that he's only entering his age-27 season, multiple first-round picks would have to be in the discussion.
Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders - Two 1st-Round Picks
A two-time Pro Bowler, Brock Bowers is truly a 'one of one' talent at tight end and had nearly 1,200 yards as a rookie. He did have to deal with bottom-tier quarterback play in 2025, but Bowers still managed 680 yards in 12 games. Had he played a full 17 games, he would have been on pace for 964 yards. Already a two-time Pro Bowler, Bowers is a legitimate difference-making weapon and had a passer rating of nearly 110 when targeted in 2025, according to Pro Football Reference.
Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys - One 2nd-Round Pick
This would be a fun one, and it's obviously not clear how much Brandon Aubrey would fetch in a trade, as we don't really ever see kickers dealt. Aubrey has the biggest leg in the NFL, arguably, and has kicked a 65-yard field goal. He's already attempted 44 kicks of at least 50 yards, making 35 of them.
He's got a career field goal percentage of 88.2 percent and is now a three-time Pro Bowler. Obviously, kickers only have so much value, and they can only make so much of an impact. It'd be a stretch to think that a first-round pick could be had for Aubrey. A team desperate enough for stable kicking could offer a second-round pick.