The 2025 NFL season is nearing, with the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles kicking off on Thursday at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock.
From now till the tip of the season, Yardbarker will spotlight key tendencies, performances and tales in a weekly sequence we’re calling “The Huge 5.”
In a blockbuster deal before the season, the Cowboys despatched defensive edge Micah Parsons to the Inexperienced Bay Packers. However who else may use a change of surroundings? Listed here are 5 gamers whose groups ought to take into account buying and selling them:
5. New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara
The Saints could possibly be a catastrophe of their first season beneath rookie head coach Kellen Moore. As of Wednesday, ESPN’s Football Power Index initiatives that New Orleans will win 6.8 video games, the fourth fewest within the NFL.
With the Saints possible getting into rebuilding mode quickly, they need to use property like Kamara to amass extra draft picks.
At 30, he stays productive. In 14 video games final season, he rushed for a career-high 950 yards and 6 touchdowns on 228 carries. The RB additionally had 68 receptions for 543 yards and two TDs.
Maybe the Chicago Bears would take into account pairing the five-time Professional Bowler with RB D’Andre Swift. That may give Bears rookie head coach Ben Johnson an analogous tandem to the Jahmyr Gibbs-David Montgomery duo he had whereas serving as Detroit Lions offensive coordinator from 2022-24.
4. Las Vegas Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers
Meyers requested a trade on Aug. 25 amid a contract dispute. The North Carolina State product is getting into the ultimate yr of a three-year, $33M deal.
The previous New England Patriot had 158 receptions for 1,834 yards and 12 TD catches in his first two seasons with Vegas. Nevertheless, he does not appear irreplaceable after tight finish Brock Bowers set the rookie file for receptions (112 in 17 video games) in 2024.
Plus, the Raiders have reunited with five-time Professional Bowl WR Amari Cooper, giving them extra WR depth. He had 44 receptions for 547 yards and 4 TD catches in 14 video games with the Buffalo Payments and Cleveland Browns in 2024.
Maybe the San Francisco 49ers could be a great spot for Meyers. San Francisco WR Brandon Aiyuk (ACL/PCL) is not anticipated to return until Week 6. Fellow WR Jauan Jennings, in the meantime, is battling a calf damage, and his availability for Week 1 in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks stays unsure.
3. New York Jets RB Breece Corridor
Corridor — getting into the ultimate yr of his rookie contract — appears set to separate carries this season.
At the annual league meeting in March, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn prompt the group goes to make use of RB by committee. Second-year RB Braelon Allen additionally reportedly impressed during training camp.
Corridor may nonetheless be a viable RB1 for a lot of groups. In his first three seasons with the Jets, the 2022 second-round decide rushed for two,333 yards and 14 TDs on 512 carries.
The Cowboys could be an excellent vacation spot for Corridor. They signed RB Javonte Williams in free company, however he ran for under 513 yards in 17 video games with the Denver Broncos final season. Within the 2025 NFL Draft, they took Texas RB Jaydon Blue (decide No. 149), who had 9 carries for 25 yards and one TD in preseason.
2. Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill
Hill indicated he wanted a trade following a Week 18 loss to the New York Jets final season. The WR subsequently apologized to teammates throughout Tremendous Bowl week in February. Apparently, he nonetheless hasn’t totally regained their belief.
On Monday, Hill wasn’t voted a group captain for the primary time in 4 seasons with Miami. The eight-time Professional Bowler stated he wasn’t anticipating this honor after exiting final season’s finale in opposition to the Jets within the third quarter.
This nonetheless raises questions on whether or not his relationship with the group is salvageable. If it is not, buying and selling him would make sense. Loads of WR-needy groups (Los Angeles Chargers, Inexperienced Bay Packers) would have an interest within the Cheetah.
Hill, 31, averaged 56.4 receiving yards per recreation in 17 video games final season, his second-lowest mark since his rookie season in 2016.
1. Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins
Cousins, 37, misplaced his job to second-year QB Michael Penix Jr. final season after tossing a career-high 16 interceptions in 14 begins. Nevertheless, he was coming off a proper Achilles tear and battled a proper elbow damage all through the season. It sounded just like the four-time Professional Bowler seemed a lot more healthy throughout coaching camp.
In August, Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss stated Cousins is a “special player.” Nonetheless, anticipate him to maintain using the bench in Atlanta.
After taking Penix with the No. 8 decide within the 2024 NFL Draft, the Falcons are clearly banking on him being the man. Until he flops in 2025, Atlanta’s not planning on turning again to Cousins.
Having a backup QB with a $40M cap hit in 2025 makes little sense for Atlanta. Cousins’ commerce market has diminished since free company, however the Falcons may nonetheless discover suitors. Maybe the Indianapolis Colts would commerce for him if Daniel Jones struggles and so they do not wish to begin QB Anthony Richardson once more.
