The Big Five: Tyreek Hill, Kirk Cousins among NFL players who need a change of scenery

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 until the end of the season, Yardbarker will highlight key trends, performances and stories in a weekly series we're calling "The Big Five." 

In a blockbuster deal before the season, the Cowboys sent defensive edge Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. But who else could use a change of scenery? Here are five players whose teams should consider trading them:

5. New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara

The Saints could be a disaster in their first season under rookie head coach Kellen Moore. As of Wednesday, ESPN's Football Power Index projects that New Orleans will win 6.8 games, the fourth fewest in the NFL. 

With the Saints likely entering rebuilding mode soon, they should use assets like Kamara to acquire more draft picks. 

At 30, he remains productive. In 14 games last season, he rushed for a career-high 950 yards and six touchdowns on 228 carries. The RB also had 68 receptions for 543 yards and two TDs. 

Perhaps the Chicago Bears would consider pairing the five-time Pro Bowler with RB D'Andre Swift. That would give Bears rookie head coach Ben Johnson a similar tandem to the Jahmyr Gibbs-David Montgomery duo he had while 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 entering the final year of a three-year, $33M deal. 

The former New England Patriot had 158 receptions for 1,834 yards and 12 TD catches in his first two seasons with Vegas. However, he doesn't seem irreplaceable after tight end Brock Bowers set the rookie record for receptions (112 in 17 games) in 2024.

Plus, the Raiders have reunited with five-time Pro Bowl WR Amari Cooper, giving them more WR depth. He had 44 receptions for 547 yards and four TD catches in 14 games with the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns in 2024.

Perhaps the San Francisco 49ers would be a good spot for Meyers. San Francisco WR Brandon Aiyuk (ACL/PCL) isn't expected to return until Week 6. Fellow WR Jauan Jennings, meanwhile, is battling a calf injury, and his availability for Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks remains uncertain.   

3. New York Jets RB Breece Hall

Hall — entering the final year of his rookie contract — seems set to split carries this season.

At the annual league meeting in March, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn suggested the team is going to use RB by committee. Second-year RB Braelon Allen also reportedly impressed during training camp. 

Hall could still be a viable RB1 for many teams. In his first three seasons with the Jets, the 2022 second-round pick rushed for 2,333 yards and 14 TDs on 512 carries. 

The Cowboys would be a good destination for Hall. They signed RB Javonte Williams in free agency, but he ran for only 513 yards in 17 games with the Denver Broncos last season. In the 2025 NFL Draft, they took Texas RB Jaydon Blue (pick No. 149), who had nine 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 last season. The WR subsequently apologized to teammates during Super Bowl week in February. Apparently, he still hasn't fully regained their trust. 

On Monday, Hill wasn't voted a team captain for the first time in four seasons with Miami. The eight-time Pro Bowler said he wasn't expecting this honor after exiting last season's finale against the Jets in the third quarter. 

This still raises questions about whether his relationship with the team is salvageable. If it isn't, trading him would make sense. Plenty of WR-needy teams (Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers) would be interested in the Cheetah. 

Hill, 31, averaged 56.4 receiving yards per game in 17 games last season, his second-lowest mark since his rookie season in 2016. 

1. Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins  

Cousins, 37, lost his job to second-year QB Michael Penix Jr. last season after tossing a career-high 16 interceptions in 14 starts. However, he was coming off a right Achilles tear and battled a right elbow injury throughout the season. It sounded like the four-time Pro Bowler looked much healthier during training camp. 

In August, Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss said Cousins is a "special player." Still, expect him to keep riding the bench in Atlanta. 

After taking Penix with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Falcons are clearly banking on him being the guy. Unless he flops in 2025, Atlanta's not planning on turning back to Cousins. 

Having a backup QB with a $40M cap hit in 2025 makes little sense for Atlanta. Cousins' trade market has diminished since free agency, but the Falcons could still find suitors. Perhaps the Indianapolis Colts would trade for him if Daniel Jones struggles and they don't want to start QB Anthony Richardson again.