The NFL season is soon approaching, but there are still many unresolved trade demands and contract situations around the league. There are also still plenty of notable veterans available on the open market waiting to be signed.
Ahead of the start of the 2024 NFL season, we examine 10 potential transactions we would like to see before opening night.
10 Potential Transactions Before the NFL Season
Steelers Trade for Brandon Aiyuk
The Brandon Aiyuk saga has yet to end and who knows when it will. Whether it’s an extension with the 49ers or a trade to a new team, it has to end eventually. In this case, it ends before kickoff in a move that sends him to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With Russell Wilson in his first season in Pittsburgh, his current starting three wide receivers are George Pickens, Van Jefferson, and Roman Wilson. With Wilson also dealing with some injuries, Aiyuk would slot in perfectly as one of the team’s top threats alongside Pickens.
Eagles Sign Justin Simmons
The Eagles’ secondary has been the focus of their offseason, with them mostly fixing the cornerback issue in free agency. However, the Eagles could still use some improved depth at safety, especially with second-round pick rookie Cooper DeJean out with an injury.
The team has Reed Blankenship and C.J. Gardner Johnson as their starting tandem, but has been experimenting with moving James Bradberry to safety as an option for depth. The Eagles’ defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, hasn’t sounded too confident with where he’s at yet. Simmons, at the right price, could solve that issue entirely.
Simmons is also a familiar piece for Fangio, as he coached him in Denver for three seasons.
Cowboys Extend CeeDee Lamb
In an offseason that saw many of the league’s best wide receivers sign new contracts, CeeDee Lamb remains without an extension.
Lamb hasn’t been participating in training camp as a response, so the Cowboys getting a deal done with him would solve that issue and keep him in town for the foreseeable future.
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Considering Justin Jefferson’s record-breaking four-year, $140 million deal, Lamb is likely demanding a contract in that same range of $35 million per year.
The Cowboys, with both Micah Parsons and Dak Prescott up for new contracts as well, have a lot on their plate.
Vikings Trade for Marshon Lattimore
The Vikings enter the 2024 season with a glaring need in the secondary. While Byron Murphy Jr. is the current CB1, there’s a competition playing out between Shaq Griffin, Andrew Booth Jr., and Akayleb Evans for the other starting spot.
A simple solution could be trading for Marshon Lattimore, who has been one of the better cornerbacks in the league during his time with the New Orleans Saints.
Why would the Saints move him? His contract. His $14.6 million cap hit in 2024 doesn’t even come close to what it becomes in 2025 and 2026 ($31.4 and $28.5 million).
The Saints could cut Lattimore in 2025 as there’s an out in his contract, but why lose him for nothing instead of getting back some draft compensation?
Broncos Extend Patrick Surtain II
While so many young stars have been extended this offseason — most recently Tristin Wirfs — Surtain II could be the next.
A first-team All-Pro in 2022 and two-time Pro Bowler, Surtain II could become the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
Surtain will likely challenge Jaire Alexander’s status at the top, as the Green Bay Packers star makes $21 million per year.
Cardinals Trade for Jonathan Allen
The Commanders were the beneficiary of defensive tackle Johnny Newton falling into the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. With him passing his physical recently and the team still having Daron Payne on a big deal, as well as former second-round pick Phidarian Mathis, the team could opt to move Allen and acquire some draft capital.
With a $21.4 million cap hit in 2024 and $23 million in 2025, the Cardinals would be a suitor who needs his services on the field and has enough cap space to handle the move.
Allen is 29 years old and will be 31 when his current contract expires. The Cardinals could ride out his deal and either let him walk or extend him if they find he’s worth it at that point.
Falcons Sign Stephon Gilmore
With Stephon Gilmore still on the market at 33 years old, many might think his career is all but done. Gilmore, however, still believes he’s a starter in the league and just needs an opportunity.
For the 2024 season, the Falcons could give him that opportunity.
While A.J. Terrell is solidified as the team’s star cornerback, they need some help behind him. Mike Hughes is currently set to start with Clark Phillips III and Kevin King as depth behind him.
Gilmore could either start in place of Hughes or provide much-needed depth. It’s a win-win either way.
Seahawks Sign Connor Williams
After tearing his ACL late in 2023, Williams’ offseason hasn’t gone how he had hoped it would. Despite that, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he’s healthy and will be signing a deal in the next 48-72 hours. In this scenario, it’s with the Seattle Seahawks.
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While he can play any position on the interior offensive line, Williams would likely play at center with the Seahawks. Olu Oluwatimi is currently the team’s starting center, but he has very limited experience under his belt with just one career start.
Buccaneers Extend Chris Godwin
The Buccaneers have spent the 2024 offseason bringing back core players from last year’s group, most notably Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans.
While they very well could be done, they could also go ahead and get out ahead of next year and bring back Chris Godwin, too.
The Buccaneers have invested heavily in last year’s core that led them to a surprise playoff berth and Wild Card Round victory. After Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Tristan Wirfs, and Antoine Winfield Jr. signed new contracts, perhaps Godwin is next for Tampa Bay.
At 28 years old, Godwin is in the final year of his deal. He will make a $20 million base salary and has a cap hit of $27.5 million. If they extend him now, they could lower that cap number and push it out, or they could eat it now and have lower cap hits for the next couple of seasons.
Jaguars Sign Yannick Ngakoue
This situation is intriguing because Ngakoue used to play for the Jaguars, and his departure was tumultuous, involving a public spat on social media with the team’s Chief Football Strategy Officer, Tony Khan.
However, the Jaguars need EDGE depth. While they’re solid at the top with Joshua Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, they lack depth at the position, especially after De’Shaan Dixon went down with a knee injury in practice.
Ngakoue and the Jaguars could set aside their past differences and come together in a pairing that would benefit both parties.
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