5 Absurd Trade Ideas That NFL Teams Should Be Exploring Instead of Davante Adams Move
5 Absurd Trade Ideas That NFL Teams Should Be Exploring Instead of Davante Adams Move0 of 5
Tyreek HillMegan Briggs/Getty Images
The rumor mill is starting to pick up speed before the NFL trade deadline, and Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams is currently the biggest name on the market. Adams’ request has naturally led to plenty of questions about his next destination.
But what if he wasn’t the only superstar talent or high-upside wideout truly available on the market?
Let’s start here: These trades will not happen.
Why bother writing, then, you might be thinking. Because in a moment when everything is so serious, it’s nice to take a break and dream up hypotheticals as if we’re operating in a Madden-type world. Adams’ contract is already expensive and lingers into 2025, after all.
The trades are a bit outlandish, for any number of reasons, but at least are financially plausible.
Deebo Samuel to the Jets1 of 5
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The summer drama surrounding Brandon Aiyuk made it necessary for the San Francisco 49ers to keep Deebo Samuel. However, his long-term future with the Niners is once again a fair question.
In short, the organization could move on from Samuel this offseason because his production hasn’t been worth the price.
The challenge is the structure of his contract may compel San Francisco to keep him through the 2025 season. That particular timeline doubles as what seems like would be Aaron Rodgers’ last possible year.
If the Jets are truly all-in, they might as well pursue Davante Adams. But a home-run swing of a backup plan would be Samuel, who built his reputation on being dynamic in the open field. Rodgers isn’t thriving on downfield passes anymore, so an elusive playmaker could be a much-needed boost. Samuel may benefit from the ol’ change of scenery, too.
New York could send one of its two 2025 third-round selections to San Francisco, which might be fine without Samuel as long as veterans Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings produce and rookie first-rounder Ricky Pearsall develops.
Courtland Sutton to the Cowboys2 of 5
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Longtime owner Jerry Jones and his son Stephen, the team’s executive vice president, have routinely pointed to the salary cap as the main obstacle for the Dallas Cowboys. Making a trade of this nature would require them to acknowledge the flaws in that argument.
The second part, consequently, is enough to turn “Courtland Sutton to the Cowboys” into an absurd idea.
On the other side of the conversation, the Denver Broncos likely aren’t interested in parting with their No. 1 receiver. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix is a work in progress, and trading Sutton hurts the offense.
Sutton isn’t exactly a cornerstone piece, though. While his cap number rises to $20.2 million next season, Denver would save $14 million if he’s designated as a post-June 1 cut. Perhaps the Broncos want to avoid offseason cap questions involving Sutton if they can trade him now for the right price.
If success is measured by a Super Bowl, the Cowboys need to gamble on bolstering the receiving corps around CeeDee Lamb. Sutton probably wouldn’t be more expensive than a third-rounder, either.
It’s good to dream, you know?
Tee Higgins to the Bills3 of 5
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In recent years, the AFC’s top contenders have generally been the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs. After missing the 2023 playoffs, however, the 1-4 Bengals are in a horrible spot again.
Tee Higgins, meanwhile, is playing on the franchise tag. He’s a legitimate risk to leave in free agency this offseason.
Rather than eventually lose him for nothing, Cincy may ship out Higgins before the deadline. And the thought of the Bengals just being incredibly petty toward the Chiefs makes for a hilarious hypothetical.
You’re off to Buffalo, my friend.
As the Bills are constructed, it’s tough to see an offense that lacks a legitimate No. 1 target surviving the postseasonāno matter how much Josh Allen continues to excel.
Higgins would command at least a third-round selection, given that Cincy may receive a compensatory pick for him anyway. Add a condition that him signing an extension with Buffalo makes it a second-rounderāand the Bills have an extra one because of the Stefon Diggs dealāand the details might actually sound reasonable.
The idea of the Bengals moving on from Higgins yet trading him to a prime AFC competitor, though, is awfully unlikely.
Amari Cooper to the Vikings4 of 5
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The conversation is not a hypothetical. Considering how badly the Cleveland Browns have played so far in 2024, Amari Cooper is very much a candidate to be dealt in October.
What if he left an immense disappointment for a breakout team?
To the surprise of everyone, the Minnesota Vikings are 5-0 behind a resurgent Sam Darnold. The safest path is sticking with the existing roster and seeing how long it can overachieve. The receiving corps is a little thin, but Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor are quality complements to superstar Justin Jefferson.
Minnesota doesn’t need Cooper and is extremely thin on 2025 draft capital. So, again: not happening.
It’d be nice to have Cooper, nevertheless, and the NFC is underwhelming this season. Hey, perhaps a franchise that has never won a Super Bowl would consider attacking an unexpected window of contention.
Given the void years and dead money left on Cooper’s deal, a 2025 fifth-rounder and 2026 fourth-rounder is a logical price. If only!
Tyreek Hill to the Commanders5 of 5
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As the Miami Dolphins labor through Tua Tagovailoa’s absence, Tyreek Hill’s name has surfaced in trade rumors. I wouldn’t invest too much attention in that storyline since Hill recently said he loves Miami, which isn’t actively shopping him anyway.
Despite that reality, I can’t be alone in thinking about what destinations would be reasonable for Hill.
The big one is the Washington Commanders.
Put simply, there’s no better time to aggressively build a roster than when a quarterback is on a rookie contract. Jayden Danielsāin a small sampleāhas performed like a franchise-changing QB, and the Commanders have plenty of cap space this season and beyond.
Washington is a “sleeper” in the Davante Adams sweepstakes and absolutely should be exploring that option.
The vision of Hill storming down the field to catch a perfectly thrown pass from Daniels is enticing, too. It wouldn’t be cheapāboth in dead money and the cost in the range of a first-round and third-round pickābut this absurd idea doubles as a really, really intriguing one.
