NFL Analysis
3/7/24
8 min read
2024 NFL Free Agency: Realistic Trade Ideas to Help Star NFL QBs
NFL free agency starts next week and should be one of the wildest in recent years. With the salary cap rising, teams have more cash to spend than ever. But with several of the top passing weapons tagged (Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman Jr.), teams will need to get more creative when finding receivers.
In the AFC alone, several elite quarterbacks could use an upgrade at receiver or tight end. But how can each of those quarterbacks' respective teams add talent? Let's look at five realistic trades to help out the top quarterbacks in the NFL.
How Free Agency Can Help Top Quarterbacks
Brandin Cooks to... Kansas City Chiefs 
The Kansas City Chiefs released Marquez Valdes-Scantling this offseason, freeing up cap space to hopefully retain L’Jarius Sneed and Chris Jones. While Valedes-Scantling wasn't overly productive during the last few years, he started 21 regular-season games and made some huge plays in the playoffs.
The Chiefs will miss his speed on offense, especially with Kadarius Toney's status still unknown. But it's clear Patrick Mahomes lost his trust in Valdes-Scantling. There were plenty of times when he was open, and Mahomes refused to throw him the ball. The Chiefs must find someone other than Rashee Rice or Travis Kelce, whom Mahomes can trust in this passing attack.
Enter Brandin Cooks.
Cooks has played with an incredible list of NFL quarterbacks, including Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Jared Goff and Dak Prescott. All he is missing is Mahomes to have maybe the best quarterback résumé for a receiver in NFL history. Cooks has been traded four times, so he's used to moving around.
Cooks will turn 31 in September but is still a real threat as a speed receiver. During his last nine games in Dallas, Cooks recorded more than 500 yards and scored six touchdowns. As the season wore on, Cooks gained more of Prescott’s trust, allowing him to flourish as the offense's No. 2 receiver.
Cooks isn’t a No. 1 receiver anymore, and it's fair to wonder how long he can be a No. 2. But in Kansas City, he doesn't have to be. He just needs to be a reliable down-field threat. Plus, the Chiefs could likely acquire him for just an early Day 3 pick.
It's worth mentioning Cook's cap hit is just $8 million this season, which the Chiefs have already freed up after the release of Valdes-Scantling. Kansas City would be the perfect landing spot for Cooks if the Dallas Cowboys decide to move on and save some cap space.
Tyler Lockett to... Houston Texans 
Outside of the Chiefs, there might not be a team more set up for long-term success than the Houston Texans. C.J. Stroud is a superstar and is only in Year 2 of a rookie deal. That means Houston can be aggressive this offseason, surrounding him with talent. And with more than $70 million in cap space, look for the Texans to explore the trade market to help improve the talent already on the roster.
Houston already has two solid playmakers at receiver in Nico Collins and Tank Dell, but it couldn't hurt to add a third. Tyler Lockett could be available via trade this offseason and would be a perfect No. 3 receiver for Stroud. Lockett is still one of the league's best route runners and would destroy 1-on-1 matchups in Houston.
Lockett has no guaranteed money left on his deal, but his base salary is $15.3 million. That might be too much for a one-year rental, but Houston likely wouldn't need any significant draft capital to acquire him, and they certainly have the cap space to fit him on the roster.
Lockett is still a productive receiver, and he could continue to put up solid numbers with more stable quarterback play in Houston. Adding him to this roster would be almost unfair, as he would give Stroud a plethora of weapons in his arsenal.
Diontae Johnson to... Buffalo Bills 
The Buffalo Bills' wide receiver corps is currently in flux. Gabe Davis is an unrestricted free agent and is expected to leave this month. There are rumblings that Stefon Diggs is unhappy, and his production took a massive hit in the second half of last season.
The Bills would love to add to their offense this offseason, but their defense has just as many needs. With limited draft capital and next to no cap space, filling all those positions will be difficult. That's why a trade for a veteran receiver could make sense.
One receiver who could be available is Diontae Johnson, who is in the final year of his deal in Pittsburgh. It’s unlikely the Pittsburgh Steelers will give him another extension, especially with George Pickens eligible for a deal in 2025.
Johnson is one of the NFL’s best separators and would make a lot of sense with Josh Allen.
Like Diggs, Johnson can win on the outside vs. 1-on-1 coverage, giving Allen another target reliable passing game target. Johnson’s base salary is only $7 million, which makes him very attractive for the Bills. They might have to surrender a third- or fourth-round pick to acquire him, but that’s not much for a proven receiver.
Kyle Pitts to... Cincinnati Bengals 
Right now, the Cincinnati Bengals don't have a single tight end under contract. They'll likely add some veteran-minimum players early in free agency, but the position has been a major weakness for them during the Joe Burrow era.
There's some hope Georgia TE Brock Bowers could slide to the Bengals in Round 1 (No. 18), but that's a pipe dream. And with Dalton Schultz signing a long-term deal in Houston, the market is drying up rather quickly. So could the Bengals explore a possible trade to upgrade the position?
The only notable tight end in the NFL who might be available is Kyle Pitts. Pitts hasn't replicated his rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons because he's dealt with several lower-body injuries and poor quarterback play.
Atlanta has a new coaching staff — Zac Robinson will run the Falcons' offense. Robinson coached under Sean McVay in Los Angeles, and it's fair to wonder how Pitts will fit that scheme given that the tight end primarily lines up on the line of scrimmage.
If Pitts were to be traded to the Bengals, he could go back to his natural position as a big slot receiver who can run down the seam. Burrow has never had a field-stretcher like that in the Bengals' offense, and bringing Pitts to Cincinnati could make the offense even more dynamic. Pitts has two years left on his deal (counting the fifth-year option) and is only 24.
The Falcons would need a second-round pick (and likely more) for Pitts, but the Bengals should look to acquire a player like Pitts. Adding Pitts to an offense with Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins is unfair.
It would instantly make Burrow a serious MVP candidate.
Deebo Samuel to... Baltimore Ravens 
The San Francisco 49ers are in a tough spot on offense right now.
Brandon Aiyuk is coming off a Pro Bowl season and is set to play on the fifth-year option. Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Trent Williams are all among the highest-paid players at their positions, and the team is currently over the cap. The 49ers would love to keep all their weapons, but that just doesn't seem possible.
Samuel is the most likely to be traded among their four Pro Bowl skill players. A trade could save San Francisco $7 million this year and nearly $25 million in 2025. There isn't a better fit for Samuel than the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens pride themselves on being tougher and more physical than their opponents. And there isn’t a more physical receiver in the league than Samuel. With Odell Beckham Jr. set to become a free agent, Baltimore has a need at wide receiver again.
Zay Flowers had a strong rookie year, but the Ravens must find someone to complement him. Lamar Jackson needs more weapons, and adding Samuel could be enough to finally get Baltimore over the hump.
Acquiring Samuel would likely require a high-draft pick, but he would be a perfect fit in this offense. The Ravens have shown in recent years they aren't afraid to go after elite talent, and Samuel might be the best receiver available in the league right now via trade.
