The 2024 NFL Draft is days away, which means lives are about to change for 257 NFL hopefuls. However, while the player selections are the biggest highlight, NFL Draft trades are inevitable. While most deals generally involve swapping picks, veterans can also switch teams during the big event.
Last year, the Detroit Lions sent D’Andre Swift to the Philadelphia Eagles shortly after selecting Jahmyr Gibbs with their first-round pick. This year, several big-name players have openly expressed frustrations with the organizations and could have a new NFL home at this point next week. Chances are, at least one of these NFL Draft trades will go down at some point during the three-day event.
6 Blockbuster Trades That Could Happen During the 2024 NFL Draft
Bradon Aiyuk to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Brandon Aiyuk has not officially requested a trade, but he doesn’t need to. The wide receiver is openly unhappy with his current organization, and the San Francisco 49ers do not have the cap space to pay him and quarterback Brock Purdy. Since quarterback is easily the most important position in the game, Aiyuk will be the odd man out and should be the biggest of all the NFL Draft trades. San Francisco also has a history of sending away players they can’t afford, as they dealt DeForst Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts for a first-round pick back in 2020. The Pittsburgh Steelers need another wide receiver and are currently the frontrunners for Aiyuk.
Matthew Judon to the Baltimore Ravens
Matthew Judon has been one of the best Patriots of the post-Brady Era, but all good things must come to an end. New England is entering a long rebuild and probably won’t be competitive before age catches up with the 32-year-old veteran. Reuniting him with the Ravens makes all the sense in the world, as Baltimore needs a veteran edge defender to replace Jadeveon Clowney.
Tee Higgins to the Carolina Panthers
The Panthers want to draft a cost-effective wide receiver with one of their second-round picks. However, if all the good players fly off the board in the first round, they could make one of the biggest trades in the NFL Draft. Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen are fine players, but neither guy offers the upside of Higgins. This receiving trio, combined with significant investments in the offensive line, should be able to get the most out of former first-overall pick Bryce Young.
Khalil Herbert to the Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys seem uninterested in improving their roster. The team lost Tony Pollard in free agency, and Royce Freeman is not capable of handling that workload. With D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson in Chicago, the Bears should be willing to trade Khalil Herbert during the 2024 NFL Draft. Nobody needs a running back more than the Cowboys, and Herbert is capable of handling starting duties.
Greg Newsome to the New Orleans Saints
Acquiring Deshaun Watson was one of the biggest trades in recent memory, and the consequences of the decision could be felt in the upcoming NFL Draft. The Cleveland Browns don’t have the cap space to use the fifth-round option on Greg Newsome’s contract and they need as many young players as they can get. The Saints have four fifth-round picks and should be willing to part ways with one of them to land a competent starter opposite Marshon Lattimore.
John Metchie to the Los Angeles Chargers
Nobody knows if John Metchie can play football at the NFL level, and he’ll never get a chance to prove himself with the Houston Texans. The former second-round pick is buried behind Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell and could benefit from a fresh start. The Los Angeles Chargers, meanwhile, have a barren receiver room and could use a low-risk, medium-reward player like Metchie on the roster.
Main Photo: Junfu Han – USA Today Sports
