The 2024 NFL Draft is now officially behind us, but could there still be some fireworks left to go off before the bulk of the offseason begins? There is still plenty of opportunies for teams still looking to add to their rosters before the main chunk of the NFL offseason begins.
Right now, we're a bit over four months away from the start of the 2024 NFL Season, which is shaping up to be another fun one. Even though we're now in May, big moves can still happen, and the NFL teams wanting to truly go all-in this season could have some fireworks left. These three massive moves would shake-up the NFL.
3 massive moves we'd love now that the 2024 NFL Draft is over
1. Safety Justin Simmons signs with the Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have again re-made their secondary, adding two rookie CBs in Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr during the 2024 NFL Draft. They also have second-year pro Brian Branch and traded for Carlton Davis earlier this offseason. It's safe to say that the Lions did seem to fix their CB issue.
However, there could be one more spot in the secondary that the Lions could fill, and with Justin Simmons still being a free agent, why not make the move? Simmons played for the Broncos from 2016-2023 and was cut at the end of the season. Broncos head coach Sean Payton had Lions HC Dan Campbell and Lions DC Aaron Glenn on his staff in New Orleans, so there's one connection present.
It would be another stellar move made by Lions GM Brad Holmes, who is separating himself as the best GM in the NFL.
2. Deebo Samuel gets traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Rumors are swirling everywhere about the Pittsburgh Steelers apparently being in the market for another wide receiver. Well, Deebo Samuel would be fun. Both Samuel and his teammate, Brandon Aiyuk, have had their names wrapped up in trade talks this offseason, and with the 49ers having a ton of big contracts on the books and a future extension for Brock Purdy, moving one of them is almost a must.
They also took Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, so perhaps that was them bracing for Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk to be moved. The Steelers should continue their aggressive roster-building and send a 2025 draft pick for Samuel.
3. Broncos send Courtland Sutton and a pick to the Bengals for Tee Higgins
Let's get extra crazy. Tee Higgins had formally requested a trade earlier this offseason, but nothing has happened yet. The Cincinnati Bengals did draft Jermaine Burton in the 2024 NFL Draft, so like the 49ers, maybe that was them eventually preparing for life without Tee Higgins, who does need a contract extension.
Paying a WR2 $20 million per year, which is probably around what Tee Higgins would fetch on an extension, might not be the best practice. The Bengals should consider moving Higgins to the Denver Broncos for their own disgruntled WR, Courtland Sutton. Since Higgins is better and younger, the Bengals could likely land a draft pick along with Sutton in this hypothetical deal.
In a win-win for both sides, this trade would be massive.