Roster cutdown week in the NFL always involves plenty of trades, and this year was no exception. Backup quarterbacks like Taylor Heinicke and Malik Willis found new homes, while the Los Angeles Rams surprisingly sent LB Ernest Jones IV to the Tennessee Titans in a late-round pick swap.
While most clubs are comfortable with the current state of their rosters, more trades should be on the horizon. As the season progresses and contenders separate themselves from pretenders, teams in their championship window might be willing to make an additional move before the NFL’s trade deadline.
The league pushed the deadline back one week this season. In 2024, teams will have until the Tuesday after Week 9 — instead of the Tuesday after Week 8 — to make trades.
Let’s look ahead to the end of October. Which teams will be buying, which will be swelling, and which players could be on the move? Here are five early NFL trade deadline ideas that could make sense a few months from now.
5 Early NFL Trade Deadline Proposals
Chiefs Acquire RB Alvin Kamara
- Chiefs acquire: RB Alvin Kamara
- Saints acquire: 2025 fifth-round pick
If the Saints aren’t in the playoff mix by the time the NFL trade deadline arrives, they could get a headstart on a future roster purge by parting ways with some of their high-profile veterans.
Kamara, who wanted a new contract from New Orleans this offseason but failed to receive one, might be available in that scenario. While he’s technically under contract with the Saints for two more years, Kamara’s artificially inflated 2025 base salary ($22.4 million) makes him a likely cut candidate next spring.
Isiah Pacheco will be the Chiefs’ bell cow in 2024, while Andy Reid and Co. signed Samaje Perine last week. Perine should handle much of Kansas City’s passing-down work behind Pacheco, but Kamara could offer enhanced production in that role.
Although Kamara’s rushing efficiency has declined in three consecutive seasons, he’s remained incredibly productive as a receiver. He was second among running backs in targets and receptions in 2024 and has been a top-five back in yards per route run in each of the last two campaigns.
Patrick Mahomes already proved he could win a Super Bowl with depleted weapons. The Chiefs upgraded his WR corps with Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown this offseason. Could Kamara become K.C.’s finishing touch?
Cowboys Acquire RB Chuba Hubbard
- Cowboys acquire: RB Chuba Hubbard
- Panthers acquire: 2026 seventh-round pick
The Cowboys signed veteran RB Dalvin Cook to their practice squad last week, but it’s difficult to imagine the 29-year-old will bring much to Dallas’ backfield after struggling for the New York Jets in 2024.
Offseason addition Ezekiel Elliott (also 29) will split work with holdover Rico Dowdle this year as the Cowboys try to replace Tony Pollard. Dallas projects as one of the NFL’s pass-heaviest teams next year but could be searching for another running back near the trade deadline.
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Hubbard might be available by the end of October, especially if Carolina is struggling and second-round rookie RB Jonathon Brooks (ACL) is ready to return from the non-football injury list. Brooks will miss at least four games, while Carolina has every reason to take it slow with the Texas product.
Still, Brooks is the Panthers’ future in the backfield. Hubbard is scheduled to hit free agency next spring, so Carolina might be interested in getting something for him before he leaves in 2025.
Lions Acquire WR Amari Cooper
- Lions acquire: WR Amari Cooper
- Browns acquire: 2025 third-round pick
Cleveland was reportedly willing to include Cooper in a trade for San Francisco 49ers Brandon Aiyuk earlier this summer. While that doesn’t necessarily mean Cleveland will aim to move Cooper during the 2024 season, Browns general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski have at least considered the idea.
Cleveland plays in the NFL’s toughest division. The Browns have an outstanding roster, but questions about quarterback Deshaun Watson’s health and production could put Cleveland behind the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, and Pittsburgh Steelers as autumn progresses.
If the Browns fall out of the race, a team like the Lions could come calling on Cooper. Any club that acquires the 30-year-old wideout would only owe him a prorated portion of his $1.21 million salary for the remainder of the year.
That’s a bargain for a wideout like Cooper, who set a career-high 17.4 yards per catch in 2023 and has topped 1,000 receiving yards in six of his eight pro campaigns. Cleveland would only be sacrificing a few months’ worth of Cooper’s production, so a third-round pick seems appropriate — but a WR-desperate team could be willing to give up a Round 2 choice.
While Detroit already has plenty of pass catchers in RB Jahmy Gibbs, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, and TE Sam LaPorta, adding a wideout of Cooper’s caliber could align the Lions with the 49ers on the NFC’s offensive powerhouse hierarchy.
General manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell have methodically rebuilt Detroit’s roster. If they’re ready for an all-in sort of move, Cooper might be in the mix.
Texans Acquire DT Jonathan Allen
- Texans acquire: DT Jonathan Allen, 2025 seventh-round pick
- Commanders acquire: WR John Metchie III, 2025 fourth-round pick
The Texans look like one of the AFC’s best teams heading into the 2024 season, but if you had to identify a potential weakness on Houston’s roster, you’d probably point to the team’s defensive tackle depth chart.
Offseason addition Denico Autry will miss the first six games of the year due to a PED suspension. Mario Edwards, Tim Settle, and Folorunso Fatukasi — all new faces, like Autry — are competent players, but the Texans don’t have a Tier 1 DT in the fold.
Allen could change that. In 2023, he finished seventh among defensive tackles in pass-rush win rate (22.3%) and 12th in pressures (41). A Texans defensive line featuring Allen, Will Anderson Jr., and Danielle Hunter could be among the most dominant units in the NFL.
The 29-year-old Allen admitted in December that he’d contemplated the idea of playing for other teams and said he wasn’t interested in going through another Commanders rebuild. Having already dealt edge rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young in 2023, Washington could be open to an additional D-line move after drafting second-round DT Johnny Newton in April.
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Houston only has $7.5 million in cap space and would need to clear room for Allen’s $14 million base salary. Restructuring a veteran’s contract — left tackle Laremy Tunsil’s would do the trick — could give the Texans the funds needed to acquire Allen.
Metchie, who valiantly returned from a 2022 leukemia diagnosis to appear in 16 games last season, is now Houston’s WR4 after the Texans surprisingly released Noah Brown at cutdowns. While Houston might have a role in mind for Metchie, trading his upside for Allen’s certainty might make for a potential Super Bowl run.
First-year Commanders GM Adam Peters traded WR Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles last week. Washington signed Brown after his Texans release, but the club is still looking for additional options alongside stalwart Terry McLaurin.
Falcons Acquire CB Nate Hobbs
- Falcons acquire: CB Nate Hobbs
- Raiders acquire: 2025 sixth-round pick
The Falcons haven’t been afraid to reinforce their defense this summer.
First, GM Terry Fontenot trades a third-round pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for Matthew Judon, giving Atlanta its best pass rusher since John Abraham. Then, the Falcons swooped in to sign safety Justin Simmons — easily the best free agent remaining on the market — in late August.
If Atlanta wants to make one more move this season, it might be at cornerback. The Falcons gave CB1 A.J. Terrell an extension last month, but fellow starters Mike Hughes (perimeter) and Dee Alford (slot) remain question marks.
While Clark Phillips III and Antonio Hamilton could also get involved, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Fontenot target one more corner at the deadline.
As Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan reported at the time, the Raiders wouldn’t consider offers for Hobbs at last year’s NFL trade deadline. But now that Hobbs is entering his contract year, Las Vegas might reconsider.
Hobbs is one of several key Raiders defenders poised to hit the 2025 free agent market. With defensive end Malcolm Koonce, linebackers Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo, and safeties Tre’von Moehrig and Marcus Epps heading into platform seasons, Vegas might have trouble re-signing everyone.
New Raiders GM Tom Telesco didn’t draft Hobbs. If he can get a draft pick for the pending free agent, Telesco could be willing to pull the trigger.
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