NFL · 4 hours ago

ESPN Reveals Top 4 Big Names Who Could Be Traded Before NFL Season

John Canady

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Seth Walder's Hypothetical Trade Offer: Los Angeles Rams
Giants Receive: 2028 third-round pick
Rams Receive: Kayvon Thibodeaux, 2028 sixth-round pick

"Thibodeaux, who fits with the pair in the sense that he also is a strong run defender, can rotate in with that group [Jared Verse, Byron Young]. And if he lives up to the upside of his draft status, then Los Angeles would become even more dangerous." - Seth Walder

Who Says No? The Giants. New York won't send back additional draft compensation to offload Thibodeaux unless it nets them a second-round pick or better, which it likely won't.
1) WR Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills
There may not be a bigger wild card on this list than Keon Coleman. Comments from Bills owner Terry Pegula only added fuel to the speculation after he suggested Buffalo’s previous coaching staff heavily pushed for the pick, even if Brandon Beane later clarified the decision was ultimately his. Coleman still has upside, but if the Bills feel he is not the clean fit they envisioned alongside Josh Allen, his name could continue popping up in trade discussions before the season.
Jeremy Fowler's Hypothetical Trade Offer: Baltimore Ravens
Bills Receive: 2027 fifth-round pick
Ravens Receive: Keon Coleman

"Coleman's play style should fit with Lamar Jackson, as he's a big receiver with catch radius. This would also allow Buffalo to develop fourth-round rookie Skyler Bell for a sizable role in the offense."

Who Says No? The Bills. Buffalo has no real incentive to give up on Coleman yet, regardless of the comments from above. The wideout has real potential, and the off chance he figures it out is enough for the Bills to continue working with him until a better offer than a fifth comes along.
Dan Graziano's Hypothetical Trade Offer: Washington Commanders
Bills Receive: 2028 fifth-round pick
Commanders Receive: Keon Coleman

" The Commanders still might end up with Brandon Aiyuk once the 49ers give up and cut him, but that's taking longer than expected. They need receiver depth behind Terry McLaurin, and this is a low-cost flier on a player with good draft pedigree." - Dan Graziano

Who Says No? The Bills. This is a similar situation for Buffalo. While sending Coleman to the NFC could be beneficial, the draft compensation isn't enticing enough to give up on Coleman as a prospect.
Ben Solak's Hypothetical Trade Offer: Las Vegas Raiders
Bills Receive: 2028 fifth-round pick
Raiders Receive: Keon Coleman

"The Raiders don't have a big-framed receiver on their roster, which is one of the lone weaknesses of a skill position group that's otherwise well constructed." - Ben Solak

Who Says No? The Bills. Landing a player like Coleman, who can high-point the ball well and use his physicality, is a no-brainer to pair alongside Fernando Mendoza for Las Vegas. Still, unless given a reason to trade Coleman, it feels unlikely the Bills will.
Seth Walder's Hypothetical Trade Offer: Atlanta Falcons
Bills Receive: 2027 fifth-round pick
Falcons Receive: Keon Coleman

"They can afford to take a shot on Coleman's upside, and he would immediately add value to a receivers room that doesn't feature much after Drake London (Olamide Zaccheaus, Jahan Dotson, and third-round pick Zachariah Branch)." - Seth Walder

Who Says No? Buffalo. Considering the playmakers in Atlanta, it feels almost pointless to send Coleman to the Falcons without bringing in a solid wideout back to join the mix in Buffalo.
2) TE Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
It still feels unlikely the Bears will move Cole Kmet, but the pieces are there for teams to wonder about his future in Chicago. Ben Johnson’s offense leans heavily on tight ends, though Colston Loveland appears locked in as the long-term centerpiece of that room. After restructuring Kmet’s contract and drafting another tight end, Chicago suddenly has more flexibility than expected if the right offer comes along.
Jeremy Fowler's Hypothetical Trade Offer: Carolina Panthers
Bears Receive: 2028 third-round pick
Panthers Receive: Cole Kmet

"The Panthers, long in transition, are closer to contention after their first playoff appearance since 2017. Tight end is the glaring offensive need after they didn't address the position in free agency or the draft. " - Jeremy Fowler

Who Says No? The Bears. Chicago feels no real desire to move on from Kmet just yet, and while a third is a solid offer, it feels like the Bears would still hold out on any trade, given Ben Johnson's desire to run two tight end sets.
Dan Graziano's Hypothetical Trade Offer: Baltimore Ravens
Bears Receive: 2028 third-round pick
Ravens Receive: Cole Kmet

"A 2027 third-rounder seems a tad rich straight up, and the Bears are short on 2027 middle-round picks after the Garrett Bradbury trade. So here they still get a valuable Day 2 pick, just delayed a year, while the Ravens get some badly needed help at a position that was hollowed out by the departures of Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar." - Dan Graziano

Who Says No? The Bears. Kmet's role may not be as prominent as it once was, but the tight end is still a valuable piece in Ben Johnson's offense. A third is enticing, but two years away, it's probably not enough to persuade Chicago's hand.
Ben Solak's Hypothetical Trade Offer: Kansas City Chiefs
Bears Receive: 2027 third-round pick
Chiefs Receive: Cole Kmet, 2027 fifth-round pick

"This is a strong offer, but Kansas City likely has the biggest tight end need in the league." - Ben Solak

Who Says No? The Bears. Chicago already has no real incentive to give up Kmet, but adding additional draft compensation on a deal makes this even less likely.
Seth Walder's Hypothetical Trade Offer: Miami Dolphins
Bears Receive: 2027 fourth-round pick, 2027 sixth-round pick
Dolphins Receive: Cole Kmet

"Kmet would immediately be the presumptive starter in a trade like this, adding value to Miami's offense as a receiver and as a blocker." - Seth Walder

Who Says No? The Bears. Chicago probably hangs up on the Dolphins and puts them on a "do not respond" list moving forward. Given it's clear at least a third would be the starting price, a fourth and a sixth do nothing for the Bears.
3) QB Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
At this point, it is hard to picture Anthony Richardson Sr. having a long-term future in Indianapolis. Injuries, inconsistency, and multiple changes in direction from the Colts have made the situation messy, and Richardson already requested a trade earlier this offseason. The issue now may be timing, as most teams around the league already have their quarterback plans set heading into training camp.
Jeremy Fowler's Hypothetical Trade Offer: Green Bay Packers
Colts Receive: 2027 fifth-round pick
Packers Receive: Anthony Richardson

"Richardson wants to be in a variation of the McVay-Shanahan-LaFleur system and took notice of what Packers coach Matt LaFleur did with Malik Willis." - Jeremy Fowler

Who Says No? The Colts. It's clear Indy is moving towards a split with Richardson, but Chris Ballard appears to be holding out until he receives an offer he likes. Daniel Jones is on pace to start, and Indianapolis has no urgency to get a deal done.
Dan Graziano's Hypothetical Trade Offer: Chicago Bears
Colts Receive: QB Tyson Bagent
Bears Receive: Anthony Richardson

"Richardson gets to learn from Bears coach Ben Johnson and maybe show enough in the preseason that he becomes appealing to another team in trade." - Dan Graziano

Who Says No? The Colts. Draft compensation seems to be the only return Indianapolis would accept. Still, if it were a player, it probably wouldn't be another quarterback, given that Indy has high hopes for Riley Leonard as the team's long-term backup.
Ben Solak's Hypothetical Trade Offer: Detroit Lions
Colts Receive: 2027 fourth-round pick
Lions Receive: Anthony Richardson, 2028 seventh-round pick

"Campbell is an elite motivator who might help light a new fire under Richardson, either as a backup who prepares the right way or as a spot starter in the event of a Jared Goff injury." - Ben Solak

Who Says No? The Colts. Indy has no reason to give up additional draft compensation to move on from their former top five pick. Moving Richardson would be in efforts to land additional draft comp, not send any out.
Seth Walder's Hypothetical Trade Offer: Minnesota Vikings
Colts Receive: 2027 fifth-round pick
Vikings Receive: Anthony Richardson

"In this scenario, the Vikings could keep both Richardson and J.J. McCarthy (though that's a pretty risky backup room) or deal the latter in another trade. For Indianapolis, it can land a little draft capital now in exchange for a third-string quarterback." - Seth Walder

Who Says No? The Colts. It's a similar situation to Green Bay's offer, but given Richardson's connection with Kevin O'Connell, it feels like this is the most likely spot Indy would work with AR's camp to send him to. If either side were to say no, it would be the Colts, but I could see this deal getting done.
4) EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux, New York Giants
The Giants are not actively shopping Kayvon Thibodeaux, but his situation is still worth watching. With Brian Burns and Abdul Carter expected to headline New York’s pass rush, Thibodeaux suddenly finds himself in an unusual spot for a former top-five pick. The Giants reportedly value him much higher than what teams have offered so far, meaning any potential deal would likely require a strong return.
Jeremy Fowler's Hypothetical Trade Offer: New Orleans Saints
Giants Receive: 2027 third-round pick
Saints Receive: Kayvon Thibodeaux

"The Giants would likely need a quality Day 2 pick to part with Thibodeaux, especially with Arvell Reese starting his career at inside linebacker. But New Orleans has inquired about Thibodeaux and still has a need at edge rusher after failing to reach a deal with Cameron Jordan thus far." - Jeremy Fowler

Who Says No? The Saints. New Orleans has already shown interest, and if they truly believe they can unlock Thibodeaux's potential, it wouldn't be a shock to see a third sent for the edge rusher. The Giants would almost have to move the edge rusher for this offer, given the talent already on the roster.
Dan Graziano's Hypothetical Trade Offer: New England Patriots
Giants Receive: 2027 fifth-round pick
Patriots Receive: Kayvon Thibodeaux

"Former Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen is now on Mike Vrabel's defensive staff in New England, though things didn't go great in New York, and I don't know whether that makes it more or less likely they'd be interested in Thibodeaux." - Dan Graziano

Who Says No? The Giants. A fifth will not be enough to move Thibodeaux, especially to arguably the team's biggest AFC rival outside of the Jets.
Ben Solak's Hypothetical Trade Offer: Kansas City Chiefs
Giants Receive: 2027 fourth-round pick
Chiefs Receive: Kayvon Thibodeaux

"The Chiefs do have an extra third-rounder next year as a result of the Trent McDuffie trade, but I don't think the Giants will be able to wrench a Day 2 pick from anyone for Thibodeaux, who has been only a rotational player to this point in his career." - Ben Solak

Who Says No? The Giants. New York won't budge on a Thibodeaux deal unless it's for a day two pick, and a fourth-round offer won't get the deal done.
Seth Walder's Hypothetical Trade Offer: Los Angeles Rams
Giants Receive: 2028 third-round pick
Rams Receive: Kayvon Thibodeaux, 2028 sixth-round pick

"Thibodeaux, who fits with the pair in the sense that he also is a strong run defender, can rotate in with that group [Jared Verse, Byron Young]. And if he lives up to the upside of his draft status, then Los Angeles would become even more dangerous." - Seth Walder

Who Says No? The Giants. New York won't send back additional draft compensation to offload Thibodeaux unless it nets them a second-round pick or better, which it likely won't.
1) WR Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills
There may not be a bigger wild card on this list than Keon Coleman. Comments from Bills owner Terry Pegula only added fuel to the speculation after he suggested Buffalo’s previous coaching staff heavily pushed for the pick, even if Brandon Beane later clarified the decision was ultimately his. Coleman still has upside, but if the Bills feel he is not the clean fit they envisioned alongside Josh Allen, his name could continue popping up in trade discussions before the season.

May 29 6:40 PM

SpreadMoneyTotal

ATL

-1.5

-138

O 9.5

CIN

+1.5

+118

U 9.5

May 29 6:45 PM

SpreadMoneyTotal

MIN

+1.5

+114

O 8

PIT

-1.5

-134

U 8

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