With the 2023-24 season finally over, it’s officially time to delve into the offseason. With draft coverage soaring and free agency on the horizon, there’s plenty to talk about in NFL circles. There are lots of players in precarious situations due to the size of their contract, level of play in 2023, no longer being a scheme fit and various other factors. In this piece, I’ll go into five trades we could see happen before free agency starts on March 15th.
Trade #1
Chicago Bears Receive: 2023 2nd Round (Pick 34) + 2023 5th Round (Pick 182)
New England Patriots Receive: Justin Fields
This trade makes sense for a variety of reasons. Fields has likely outstayed his welcome with Caleb Williams likely to become Chicago’s next attempt at finding a franchise quarterback. It’s highly unlikely that Chicago can get a first-round pick in return for Fields, so they settle for the next best thing, an early 2nd and a 5th.
New England is in an interesting scenario. They likely wouldn’t like to draft a rookie quarterback after the Mac Jones debacle. Even if they wanted to pick one at three, top options Caleb Williams and Drake Maye would likely be gone. Acquiring a high-upside quarterback for at least 2024-25 would free them up to take the draft’s best offensive weapon in Marvin Harrison Jr., or trade down from three to recoup the picks they sent to Chicago.
Trade #2
Los Angeles Chargers Receive: 2023 3rd Round (Pick 85) + 2024 6th Round
Houston Texans Receive: Khalil Mack
To be frank, the Los Angeles Chargers are in salary cap hell. They’re currently 27.5 million over the cap. Their roster is extremely top-heavy. While Khalil Mack had a vintage season with 17 sacks, he’s set to make 23.2 million this next year. It wouldn’t be a massive overpay for his talents, but the Chargers could use that 23.2 million to sure up other gaping holes on the roster.
As for Houston, this move could be a slam dunk. With Jonathan Greenard likely to hit free agency, Houston will have a need at edge opposite of Will Anderson Jr. Now would be the right time to bring in Mack, since the Texans have plenty of cap flexibility due to C.J. Stroud’s rookie contract. A duo of Anderson Jr. and Mack would be fearsome.
Trade #3
Denver Broncos Receive: 2023 4th Round (Pick 112)
New York Jets Receive: Jerry Jeudy
The time is now or never for the New York Jets. Owner Woody Johnson said so himself earlier this week. Outside of Garrett Wilson, the Jets have very little talent at receiver. Allen Lazard is a good wide receiver three and that about covers it.
Jeudy has always shown above-average potential, but he’s never had the quarterback to help him reach it. If Aaron Rodgers can’t help him with that, no one can. For the Broncos, they’re happy to get value for Jeudy while they still can. He’s entering the final year of his rookie contract and they already could have a replacement for him, in Marvin Mims Jr.
Trade #4
Los Angeles Chargers Receive: 2024 Conditional 3rd Round + 2023 6th Round (Pick 180)
Carolina Panthers Receive: Mike Williams
The moves out of salary cap hell continue for the Los Angeles Chargers. This time, moving on from one of their top-tier players would clear his base salary of 17 million for 2024. While Williams has been solid, he’s approaching the wrong side of 30 and is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered this past season. To add to that, Williams only has one year left on his current deal.
Even with these risks, Carolina needs to develop Bryce Young by surrounding him with talent. Williams would immediately become the best-contested catcher on the team and would play a role similar to Mike Evans in the Dave Canales offense. If the Panthers were to resign Williams to a long-term extension, the Chargers would receive a 2024 3rd. If they let him walk, the pick would turn into a 2024 4th.
Trade #5
New England Patriots Receive: 5th Round (Pick 153)
Los Angeles Rams Receive: Mac Jones
With the Mac Jones era certainly over in New England, they need to find a way to get value for him. Due to a terrible 2023-24 showing, his value is lower than ever. It would be a shock to see him go for anything besides a day-three pick.
For the Rams, this makes a ton of sense. They have a small history of acquiring quarterbacks for reclamation projects, i.e. Baker Mayfield in 2022. With Stetson Bennett out for an unknown amount of time, they badly need someone to back up Matthew Stafford, one of the most injury-prone quarterbacks in the league. Jones would be able to learn behind Stafford and McVay for at least a year while he attempts to get back on track.