Four trade candidates to watch out for before NFL free agency

While all eyes in the football world were on the field at the NFL Scouting Combine, behind closed doors, team officials were having more than just interviews with potential draftees. They were chatting with potential trade partners as general managers across the league prepare to negotiate millions of dollars when free agency begins on March 11th. 

With some of the trade chatter bubbling to the surface, and even one player-for-player trade made between the Tennessee Titans and New York Jets, here are four players that could be on the move.

New York Giants OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux

The fifth overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Giants' edge-rusher has been good, but not great. In four years in the league, Thibodeaux has had just one double-digit sack season — 11.5 sacks in 2023. And while general manager Joe Schoen has said he wants to keep the 25-year-old in New York, he hasn't ruled out taking calls from other general managers about his trade status.

According to ESPN reporter Jordan Raanan, Thibodeaux would be worth a late Day 2 or early Day 3 draft pick, or could be part of a player-for-player swap. It's clear there's interest in a trade, but how intrigued the Giants are depends on how redundant they feel Thibodeaux is between edge rushers Brian Burns and Abdul Carter. 

Philadelphia Eagles WR A.J. Brown

The 28-year-old has just one year of guaranteed money left on his three-year, $96M deal, but the reason Brown's name is popping up in the rumor mill has to do with his very public frustrations with his role in the Eagles offense.

While it may be a case of both sides needing a fresh start, Brown still recorded 1,000 receiving yards last season, and General Manager Howie Roseman would rather work something out with the talented receiver. With a reported asking price of a first- and second-round pick, Roseman may scare off most teams looking to trade.

Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray

The 28-year-old has not lived up to the billing of a franchise quarterback for the Cardinals since being drafted first overall in 2019. Now, Murray is a likely cut candidate, so the team can try to salvage his five-year, $230.5M deal.

However, a team in desperate need of a quarterback might do something desperate to secure Murray ahead of free agency. The dual-threat quarterback could still be capable, despite several season-damaging injuries throughout his career, or at least a team will convince themselves that they could make Murray the next quarterback reclamation project who wins the Super Bowl.

Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle

Last season, Waddle was in the mix of trade rumors as the Dolphins struggled to stay in playoff contention. But the 27-year-old has shown himself to be a reliable receiver, and with Miami cutting Tyreek Hill, they may not want to part with Waddle.  

Still, new head coach Jeff Hafley will likely be looking for a new quarterback if the team cuts QB Tua Tagovailoa to dump his four-year, $212.4M contract. If that happens, the team will take a $99.2M cap charge next season, leaving them less room to upgrade in free agency. Maybe a trade for a couple of draft picks is exactly what the Dolphins need, and in that case, Waddle will get Miami those pieces.